Madrid (AFP)

Real Madrid was content with the smallest of margins against Valladolid (1-0) while Atlético Madrid remained silent on the field of promoted Huesca (0-0) despite the tenure of its star rookie Luis Suarez, Wednesday evening during the 4th day of the Spanish Championship played behind closed doors.

With seven points, Real joins the leading group alongside Getafe, Valencia and Villarreal.

On Tuesday Getafe beat Betis 3-0, Valencia won 1-0 at Real Sociedad and early Wednesday evening Villarreal at home dominated Alaves 3-1.

Largely domineering at the Alfredo-Di Stefano stadium, Zinédine Zidane's men, without German midfielder Toni Kroos, injured in the buttocks muscles, won only thanks to a goal from the Brazilian Vinicius Junior (65th), seven minutes later his entry into play in place of Serbian Luka Jovic.

The same Vinicius came very close to doubling the mark in added time (90 + 3) after a superb solitary breakthrough, but his crushed shot went straight into the arms of Roberto Jimenez, the Valladolid goalkeeper.

Madrid strikers Jovic and Karim Benzema have hardly ever been in a position to score despite their team's dominance.

The French striker was replaced in the 87th minute by Borja Mayoral.

Very active as usual in the midfield, the Croatian Luka Modric was not however decisive, even if one of his shots found the opposing post in the 82nd.

- Atlético and Suarez silent -

In Huesca, Atlético also lacked offensive inspiration despite, here too, a clear domination and the presence at the kick-off of former Barça striker Luis Suarez.

Diego Simeone's team spent most of the time in the half of the field of a seemingly harmless promoted, especially in the second half, but always stumbled against a well-grouped defense around Andres Fernandez, very sure in its goal.

After a remarkable first mid-game entry against Granada in his team's opener (6-1 win, with a brace and an assist), Suarez this time seemed to lack pace and was replaced in the 61st minute by Diego Costa, left on the bench at kick-off like Stefan Savic, Koke and Yannick Carrasco.

At the same time Villarreal, of coach Unai Emery, won 3-1 at home against Alaves, with a brace from Paco Alcacer and a penalty from Gerard Moreno against a goal from Edgar Mendez for Alaves, on a big goalkeeper Sergio Asenjio's exit foul.

Finally in the already poorly classified match, Elche performed very well by winning 1-0 at Eibar.

FC Barcelona play Thursday at Celta Vigo.

© 2020 AFP