La Liga Results 2016: Scores and Updated Table After Saturday’s Week 12 Matches

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga after thrashing Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the derby at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick has put Los Blancos four points clear at the top after bitter rivals Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by Malaga at the Camp Nou earlier in the day.

Atleti are now nine points off the pace in fifth. Earlier results also went against Atletico, especially Sevilla coming from behind to beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 at the Estadio Riazor.

Sevilla stay third, six points adrift of Real, but just two behind Barca.

Here are the final scores from Saturday’s matches:

Here’s what those results mean for the updated table:

Recap

Real were without centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe, as well as holding midfielder Casemiro. Yet Los Blancos still put on a clinic for how to win a big game away from home.

Ronaldo and fellow forward Gareth Bale were superb throughout. In particular, the former’s clever movement gave a usually stubborn Atleti defence fits.

Ronaldo had a great chance early on, but Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak produced this magnificent save, per Sky Sports Statto:

Jan Oblak saves from Ronaldo – he has conceded only 5 goals in 7 apps against Real Madrid (Sergio Ramos scored 2 of those) pic.twitter.com/NLV9Hr2FeT

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 19, 2016

A deflected free-kick eventually helped Ronaldo give Real the lead. The goal marked a new low for Atletico during manager Diego Simeone’s tenure, according to OptaJose:

5 – Atletico de Madrid have conceded at least one goal in 5 La Liga games in a row for the first time with Diego Simeone as manager. Fragile

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 19, 2016

Los Merengues controlled the game because of the way they bossed midfield. Without Casemiro, brawn was never going to be Real’s best way of winning the battles in the middle.

Instead, Los Blancos kept the ball superbly. Their playmakers rotated positions at will and recycled possession in a stylish and efficient way.

One ball-hogging schemer in particular stood out:

21 – Isco attempted more passes in the opposite half than any other Real Madrid player in this first half. Inmaculate. …

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