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Match round-up - First Division, Day 1

Eibar are the first leaders of the top flight this season after they beat Granada 1-3 in the Monday night game! The Basque side are only playing at this level after they got a reprieve against relegation at the end of the season thanks to Elche’s financial irregularities, the east coast side going down in their place. But despite having to rebuild most of their squad they put in a competent performance, Adrián González and Gonzalo Escalante both getting on the end of crosses from Luna to put them two up by the break. Sandoval made two substitutions at half time, and Rochina got one back after a good run by one of them, Isaac Success. However just five minutes later the Andalusians were left with ten men when Salva Ruíz was sent off for a high tackle on Dani García, and a few minutes later Eibar substitute Arruabarrena wrapped things up just a minute after coming on. With only Celta scoring more than one goal this weekend, Mendilibar’s team find themselves at the top of the table for the first time in their history, Granada consequentially ending the day down at the bottom of the pack. (24.08.15)

Even the big two were unable to buck the low-scoring trend on the opening round of the season, Real Madrid playing out the fourth 0-0 draw of the weekend at newly promoted Sporting Gijón, and Barcelona starting with a 0-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao. A capacity crowd turned up to see Sporting Gijón’s return to the top flight, and although Real Madrid had most of the play, they were unable to find a way through a packed defence. Ronaldo felt he should have had a penalty midway through the first half, but the closest anyone came to scoring before the break was when Sanabria’s header bounced down off the crossbar onto the line. After the restart Rafa Benítez’s side continued to dominate, but Cuéllar pulled off a couple of great saves from Ronaldo, and the local fans celebrated at the end as if they had won the cup final.

Barcelona got some revenge at least for their Super Cup defeat, the Catalans beating Athletic Bilbao 0-1 to start the season once again in the leading positions. After the two legs of that competition and a Europa League qualifier in the last nine days, Valverde again made several changes to his line up, and Luis Enrique also had to cobble together a side due to illness, injuries and suspensions. With half an hour gone the visitors were awarded a penalty when Elustondo tripped Luis Suárez in the area, but Iraizoz guessed correctly and saved Messi’s spot kick. The keeper also kept out Suárez before the break, but some eight minutes in to the second half the striker got what was to prove the only goal with a first time volley from Alba’s lofted cross. Both coaches saw their problems increase when Dani Alves, Busquets and Balenziaga limped off with injuries, and make-shift right back Sergi Roberto came close to a second when he hit the upright later on. Eraso and Ibai Gómez went close and Laporta brought an injury time save out of Bravo, but Barça were not going to let this one go.

Celta were in fact the only team to score more than one goal, their 1-2 win at Levante incredibly giving them top spot in the table pending the Monday night game between Granada and Eibar. The locals were up against it from the fifth minute, when Simao got himself sent off for stepping on Iago Aspas as he lay on the ground. Deyverson thought he had given the locals the lead however when he headed in a corner only for the referee to rule it out at the instances of a linesman for what he considered to be a foul on the keeper, and a few minutes later Orellana got on the end of Jonny’s cross to open the scoring. Verza levelled it with a well struck free kick soon after the restart, but with a quarter of an hour to go Aspas restored the lead from Orellana’s cross, his shot going in off Iván López to wrong-foot keeper Rubén.

Meanwhile Betis and Villarreal drew 1-1 in the last game of the evening, a result which actually leaves both teams in joint fifth place given the rest of the weekend results. Roberto Soldado celebrated his return to La Liga with the opening goal on the half hour mark, the ex Tottenham striker pulling down a long punt from Jaume Costa before steering an angled shot past Adán. Nahuel should have added to the lead in the second half when he shot against the crossbar with the keeper gone walk-about, but with three minutes to go the newly promoted side equalized after Areola could only push out a long shot from Piccini, the keeper getting a hand to a follow up header from Xavi Torres, but unable to prevent Rubén Castro from turning the rebound in to the net. Nerves were frayed after that, and Villarreal captian Bruno got himself sent off for kicking an opponent in an off the ball incident. (23.08.15)

The new season began not so much with a bang but with a dull whimper, and at the half way point of the opening weekend we are yet to see a goal from open play! Following Friday evening’s scoreless draw between Málaga and Sevilla, Saturday also kicked off with a 0-0 result between Deportivo and Real Sociedad. New signing Jonathas went close for the visitors a couple of times before the break, the best effort an attempted lob which Lux just managed to hang on to. The keeper also had to save from Vela after the break, and at the other end Rulli had to save a long effort from Mosquera, Fayçal Fajr saw his free kick blocked, and substitute Fede Cartabia caused a few problems for Rulli and his defence later on. Not much for the fans to shout about though, and both teams will be looking to improve from now on.

Salva Sevilla eventually got the first goal of the new campaign, his third minute free kick making the difference as Espanyol beat Getafe 1-0. There was little to talk about after that though, Pedro León trying his luck with a couple of long shots before the break, and Guaita having to save a long effort from Paco Montañés. The visitors were left with ten men when new signing Vergini picked up a second booking with eight minutes to go, but even so Fran Escribá’s side could have saved a point had Alvaro Vázquez been able to convert an easy chance in front of goal in the dying minutes.

Atlético Madrid won 1-0 as well against newcomers Las Palmas, again the only goal coming from a Griezmann free kick which took a deflection off a defender with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Filipe Luis fired a shot just wide and Griezmann brought a good save out of Lizoain before the interval, but after the restart Simón headed a corner against the crossbar, and soon afterwards only a brilliant save by Oblak prevented the equalizer after another corner came back off a defender. Aythami headed another effort over the top, and Koke curled another free kick against the upright near the final whistle, but in the end the experience of Simeone’s side prevailed.

The evening finished with another 0-0 draw between Rayo Vallecano and a much changed Valencia side, Nuno resting many of his key players for Tuesday night’s return leg of their Champions League qualifier. The hero of the evening though was Rayo’s veteran keeper Toño, who made a couple of important stops from Santi Mina before the break, and then turned a fierce shot from Negredo around the post near the end. Rayo’s best effort came when Manucho turned a cross just wide of the post after the interval, but Paco Jémez will be happy to take a point from this one. (22.08.15)

A disappointing start to the new season, Málaga and Sevilla playing out what was essentially a dull 0-0 draw on Friday evening. There were chances at both ends, Beto and Kameni having to save from Darder and Banega early on, Krychowiak heading a long free kick over the top and Gameiro wasting a couple of opportunities before the break, Amrabat coming up against Beto two or three times later on in the second half, and Charles getting the ball in the net near the end only to be pulled up for a borderline offside. The visitors were lacking the spark they showed against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup though, and new signing N’Zonzi found out about Spanish referees the hard way when he was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half. In the end however a point apiece to start the season off, and both teams have to make do with that. (22.08.15)