MADRID: It took some help from video review to put Real Madrid on top in La Liga on Saturday.

Marco Asensio’s first-half winner to beat Espanyol 1-0 was initially waived off for offside but eventually stood after assistance from the VAR, which is making its La Liga debut this season.

Luka Modric’s pass took a triple deflection but found its way to Asensio, who steered home his first goal in La Liga this season four minutes before the break.

“In the end there was justice. I’m glad the VAR worked,” Asensio said. “I had already told [the referee] I didn’t think I was offside.”

Julen Lopetegui’s Real were tested by Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Borja Iglesias hitting the crossbar, but held on for the victory which left them one point ahead of Barcelona.

“We knew how to suffer and we knew how to close out the match to get the three points,” Lopetegui said. “That was important.”

Thomas Lemar’s first goal for Atletico Madrid helped to end their winless run in the league with the French winger instigating another in a 2-0 win at 10-man Getafe.

After a loss and draw, Atletico moved within five points of Real.

Lemar struck the crossbar with a powerful long-range effort and the ball bounced back, hitting goalkeeper David Soria and crossing the line, to send Atletico ahead after 14 minutes.

There was no doubt about the second after half-time. A sweeping move saw Atletico move the ball from right to left, with Koke applying the final pass in behind. Lemar touched it around Soria and made no mistake.

Rayo Vallecano were thrashed 5-1 by third-placed Alaves at Vallecas after Abdoulaye Ba was sent off in the first half.

Ba became the first player in Spanish football to be dismissed after VAR flagged an off-the-ball incident, with the officials deciding he elbowed Jonathan Calleri.

Villarreal earned a 3-3 draw at Real Sociedad thanks to Leo Suarez’s equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time while Eibar edged Leganes 1-0.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2018