La Liga Daily Report - 2026-10-13: Barcelona overturn Galatasaray deficit to make it 10 straight wins

Barcelona came from behind to beat Galatasaray 4-1 in Istanbul on Tuesday, extending their perfect start to 10 matches. Aleksey Batrakov put the hosts ahead, but João Cancelo equalised before half-time before Fermín López, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi completed the comeback. The result was Barcelona’s second Champions League victory of the campaign and kept their record intact across all competitions. Hansi Flick’s side have also won all eight of their La Liga matches, scoring 43 goals in the process, underlining the scale of their attacking form at the start of the season.

Flick cautioned that the early success had not secured any silverware, stressing that football could change quickly and that major titles would be decided in May and June. The warning reflected a desire to keep Barcelona focused despite their remarkable results and goal return. Joan Laporta had described the team as playing the best football in Europe and the world before the match, while the victory strengthened that claim. Barcelona now carry considerable momentum into their domestic campaign, although Flick’s emphasis remained on daily work and maintaining the style that has produced the flawless run.

Levante drew 3-3 with Sevilla on Tuesday after a remarkable finish produced three stoppage-time goals and a late red card. Sevilla led 2-0 through Robbie Ure’s 12th-minute opener and Félix Correia’s 53rd-minute strike, but Iván Romero began Levante’s comeback in the 57th minute. Adrian de la Fuente and Isaac Romero then scored in added time before Liverpool loanee Ifeanyi Ndukwe struck in the 10th minute of stoppage time to rescue a point. The match at Ciutat de València ended with both sides sharing the spoils after an extraordinary final sequence.

The draw was particularly notable for Ndukwe, who scored on his first senior start and his first appearance in a senior competitive starting line-up. His earlier loose back pass had allowed Ure to open the scoring, yet he recovered to finish from a scramble and deliver Levante’s equaliser. Ure also made a decisive contribution for Sevilla, scoring his first La Liga goal and providing the header that set up Correia. Sevilla will view the collapse from two goals ahead as a missed opportunity, while Levante’s late resilience turned a difficult evening into a memorable point.

Dani Carvajal officially joined Getafe on Tuesday after La Liga approved his registration, signing a contract until 30 June 2027. The 34-year-old right-back had been a free agent since his Real Madrid contract expired during the summer, and the move followed a delay caused by financial controls and Getafe’s salary-cap position. Carvajal completed his medical and agreed terms before those requirements were resolved. The transfer keeps him in Madrid and returns him to La Liga after 23 years associated with Real Madrid, where he made 451 appearances and won 27 trophies, including six Champions League titles.

Getafe president Ángel Torres described the signing as one of the most significant in the club’s history, while the club welcomed Carvajal’s experience and leadership. His arrival gives José Bordalás another highly decorated defender, although Carvajal has not played an official match since leaving the Bernabéu and recent seasons were disrupted by serious knee injuries. The move represents a fresh competitive chapter for a player who became one of Real Madrid’s most successful defenders. It also places a familiar figure across the Spanish capital from his former club.

Real Betis beat Osasuna 5-2 on Monday, with Isco scoring twice as the hosts moved into third place in La Liga. Isco opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Unai Santos conceded a foul, and Ez Abde doubled the advantage before half-time. An own goal involving Diego Llorente put Betis 3-0 ahead three minutes after the interval, but Osasuna responded through Ante Budimir and former Betis forward Raúl García. Isco then restored the home side’s control before Betis added a fifth goal to complete a convincing victory.

The result lifted Betis to within five points of leaders Barcelona and maintained their position among the early contenders near the top of the table. Osasuna’s response briefly threatened to change the contest after they had fallen three goals behind, but Betis recovered and finished with a three-goal margin. Isco’s two goals made him the central figure in the victory, while the scoreline demonstrated both Betis’s attacking efficiency and the danger of allowing opponents back into a match. Their next challenge will be sustaining that momentum as the season develops.

Valencia drew 2-2 with Racing Santander on Monday after surrendering and then recovering a lead against the newly promoted side. Dani Raba put Valencia ahead after just over a minute, but Racing equalised through Yassir Zabiri in the 32nd minute after an assist from Iñigo Vicente. Iván Martín then put the hosts in front two minutes after half-time. Valencia substitute David Otorbi responded in the 65th minute to secure a share of the points in the Matchday 8 fixture, denying Racing a notable home victory.

The result reflected a contest in which Valencia made the ideal start but were unable to control the match after Racing recovered. Zabiri’s goal continued a strong season for the forward, who had been attracting attention after scoring seven league goals, according to a separate report. Otorbi’s intervention nevertheless ensured Valencia avoided defeat after falling behind. Racing will take encouragement from twice overturning the early setback, while Valencia will regard the point as valuable after needing a second-half response of their own.

Diego Simeone’s contract at Atlético Madrid expires at the end of this season, with concrete renewal talks yet to take place. The 56-year-old has been in charge since 2011 and has led the club to eight trophies, including La Liga titles in 2014 and 2021, making him the most successful manager in Atlético’s history. His reported salary is around €16.5 million, and his latest extension was agreed in November 2023. Atlético were preparing to face Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday while Simeone’s longer-term position remained undecided.

A source close to Atlético’s squad told The Athletic that the manager’s future was not being discussed among the players, while sources close to Simeone declined to comment. The current situation appears to be one of wait and see rather than an immediate break, with the club and manager allowing the season to develop before making decisions. Simeone’s importance to Atlético extends well beyond results, given his role in transforming the club over almost 15 years. Any change would therefore represent a major sporting and institutional decision.

Barcelona and Real Madrid legends will meet in Kolkata on 25 November at Salt Lake Stadium, according to an announcement by West Bengal sports minister Indranil Khan. The fixture will feature former players rather than the clubs’ current squads and has been presented as a special El Clásico event. Khan announced the match on social media, naming the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan as the venue. The exact player line-ups have not been disclosed, although the event is intended to bring the famous Spanish rivalry to India through a meeting of former stars.

The exhibition will extend the global reach of a rivalry usually associated with La Liga, the Champions League and the biggest matches in Spanish football. Salt Lake Stadium recently hosted international friendlies involving India, Brazil and Uruguay, giving the venue further experience of high-profile football occasions. The announcement has already linked the event with past El Clásico figures including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić and Neymar, although participation by particular legends was not confirmed. For the clubs, the match offers another opportunity to engage supporters beyond Spain.