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Match round-up - First Division, Day 8

More problems for Real Sociedad, the Basque side ending the day just above the relegation zone after losing 1-2 to Getafe in the Monday night match. Both teams rattled the woodwork in an even first half, Sarabia hitting the post with a low shot on the half hour mark and Chory Castro also curling a long effort against the upright a couple of minutes later. After the restart Guaita had to keep out Finnbogason, and Zubikarai made saves at the other end from Yoda and Michel, but the locals appeared to be heading for a first win in seven games when Canales and Vela set up young substitute Hervías to score with eight minutes to go. However with normal time coming to an end Yoda equalized with an angled shot from the edge of the area, and three minutes later the Ivory Coast winger got on the end of Sammir’s cross to beat the local keeper for a second time. It was another nail in the coffin for coach Jagoba Arrasate, and he may soon be following Córdoba’s Ferrer and Levante’s Mendilibar, who were both sacked earlier in the day. (20.10.14)

Sevilla are up to second in the table after a 0-2 victory at Elche on Sunday evening. Their hosts were still looking for their first home win of the season, but they hardly created any chances, and Aleix Vidal broke free twice before the break only to be thwarted by keeper Manu Herrera. Manu also made a brave save from Krychowiak after the interval, but with an hour on the clock he could only push out a fierce Deulofeu free kick, the ball deflecting off José Angel to Bacca, who turned it in to the net from close up. Emery immediately brought on Gameiro for his first appearance following a long injury lay-off, and he made his mark quickly, heading a Denis Suárez cross in for his side’s second. Cristian, Víctor and Rodrigues did try their luck for the locals after that, but only a couple more saves by Manu prevented Gameiro and Suárez from increasing the lead near the end.

The Andalusians go above Valencia, who were beaten 3-0 by Deportivo earlier in the day. Four defeats in a row had left the Galicians at the foot of the table, but they got off to a good start with Cavaleiro shooting over the top and Medunjanin bringing a good save out of Yoel, last minute replacement for the indisposed Diego Alves. With seven minutes to go to the break Mustafi headed a Medunjanin corner against his own crossbar, the rebound hitting Gayà and crossing the line, and with the first half coming to an end Lucas Pérez made it two after Cavaleiro headed a long punt in to his path, his angled shot going in off the far post. The Ches started to get back after the break, Rodrigo going close and Alcácer turning the ball against the post. But with ten minutes to go Toché ran on to a José Rodríguez through ball to hand the visitors their first defeat of the season, and give his team a much needed win which takes them right out of the relegation zone.

Atlético Madrid are now level with Valencia after they won 2-0 against Espanyol in today’s mid-day kick-off. Visiting keeper Kiko Casilla had to be at his best to save from Turan and Coke early on, and although Moyà responded keeping out Lucas Vázquez, Mandzukic went close with a couple of headers soon afterwards. With the first half coming to a close Tiago opened the scoring with a looping header over Casilla from Gabi’s cross, and Casilla had to save again from Mandzukic before substitute Mario Suárez turned José María Giménez’s header over the line for the second. Griezmann came on to cause more problems for the Catalans, the French striker testing Casilla again and then seeing his shot hit the post, but Atleti had already done enough to extend their unbeaten home run in the league to 24 games.

Meanwhile Villarreal are in to the European spots after they beat Almería 2-0 in the last match of the evening. The visitors had won their last two games away from home, and Ximo almost caught out Asenjo with a long shot early on. Rubén had to stop an effort from Trigueros before that though, and midway through the first half he could only block a first time volley from Mario, the ball spinning across goal for Uche to head the locals in to the lead. An active Edgar came up against Asenjo again before the break, but with an hour on the clock Uche got his second of the night, beating Rubén at the second attempt after his first shot was saved. Both sides had chances after that, but the locals held fast for another win which gives them a boost going in to Thursday’s Europa League tie against Zurich. (19.10.14)

Just one week away from the next “clásico” in the Bernabeu stadium, and Barcelona and Real Madrid currently occupy the top two spots pending Sunday’s games. Barcelona stay four points clear of their rivals though after a 3-0 victory over Eibar, a record eighth match in a row since the start of the season without letting in a goal. As usual Luis Enrique’s side dominated play, with over 80% possession in the first half hour. Messi though missed a couple of chances, and the Basque side started to cause some problems themselves, Capa breaking free but shooting wide with the goal at his mercy, and Bravo having to save from Saúl Berjón shortly before the break. With an hour on the clock however Xavi latched on to Messi’s pass to open the scoring, and Irureta had to save from Pedro and Messi before Neymar connected with a Dani Alves cross to volley home the second. Two minutes later Messi ran through to score his 250 th league goal for the club, and only a couple more stops by the visiting keeper prevented Sandro and Messi from adding to the scoreline later on.

Earlier in the afternoon Real Madrid laid down the gauntlet to the leaders with another big win, Ancelotti’s side thrashing Levante 0-5 to make it 25 goals from their last five matches. Cristiano Ronaldo fired a couple of shots wide before Chicharito won an early penalty which Ronaldo himself converted. Camarasa responded with a header which Modric cleared off the line, but a few minutes later Mariño had to tip a Modric shot over the bar, and following the resulting corner James played the ball back in to the box for Chicharito to head in the second. After the restart Mariño was in action again to keep out Ronaldo and Isco, and with an hour gone Ronaldo cut in past two defenders to make it three, his fifteenth in seven games beating a record which had stood for over seventy years. Soon afterwards James volleyed home the fourth after controlling a lofted Kroos pass on his chest, and Isco completed the scoring after picking up a return pass from Chicharito with eight minutes to go.

Meanwhile Celta stay in sixth spot overnight at least after a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao. The Basque side started the weekend down in the relegation zone, but with just six minutes gone Aduríz put them ahead from the penalty spot after a De Marcos header hit Sergi Gómez on the arm from close range. For the rest of the first half the locals were on top, Susaeta shooting just wide and Sergio Alvarez saving an Aduríz header, and Aduríz had two goals disallowed either side of half time, the first after the referee ruled that the ball had gone out of play in the build up, and the second for a borderline offside. There was only one goal in it however, and with twenty minutes to go Nolito picked up a return pass from Orellana to fire a shot across Iraizoz and level the scores. The point does take Athletic out of the bottom three, but with only one win to their names to date they need to improve quickly.

Málaga are now just a point behind the Galicians after they won 1-2 at regional neighbours Córdoba in the last match of the evening. Chapi Ferrer’s side have yet to win since their return to the top flight in the summer, and their opponents dominated from the start, Juanmi going close twice before Samuel stuck out a foot to poke a long Camacho cross past Juan Carlos in to the net. And with just under half an hour gone Amrabat made it two from the penalty spot after Juan Carlos brought down Juanmi inside the area. It was more of the same after the interval, Amrabat in particular causing serious problems for the local defence, and the home side didn’t test Kameni until he had to keep out a long shot from Luso with twenty minutes to go. Xisco did miss the easiest of chances soon afterwards, and Ghilas finally scored with the last kick of the match, but it all came too late, and Ferrer’s time at the Arcangel stadium may soon be coming to a close. (18.10.14)

Rayo Vallecano are up to eighth in the table pending the rest of the weekend games after a last minute 0-1 victory at Granada on Friday evening. The visitors got off to the better start, Roberto having to tip a Licá shot over the bar and then saving at the feet of Alberto Bueno. Murillo did head a long free kick just over at the other end before the break, but there was little action after that until Manucho came on with five minutes to go. The Angolan striker got the ball in the net seconds later only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, and that finally woke up the Andalusians, Rochina and Babín going close at the other end. However with the game in the third and final minute of injury time Kakuta slipped the ball through for Manucho to beat the local keeper with an angled shot in off the far post, handing the Andalusians their fourth defeat in a row. (17.10.14)