News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 12

Honours were shared in the South Madrid derby between Getafe and Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, a 1-1 draw leaving the two teams down in the lower half of the table. It was a cold night in the south of Madrid, and the only action worthy of note in the first half was a long shot by Víctor Rodríguez just wide of the post, and an effort by Trashorras which Guaita kept out. Curiously though both goals were scored by the same player, Rayo’s Jozabed turning a Víctor Rodriguez cross into his own net early on in the second half, and then levelling the scores a few minutes later on the follow up after Guaita saved a Trashorras penalty, given for a reckless hand ball by Vigaray. The previous meetings in the first division between the two sides in the Alfonso Pérez Coliseum had always resulted in away wins, but the locals could have taken the three points themselves when Juan Carlos allowed a header from Vigaray through his hands later on, the ball hitting the crossbar and bouncing down onto the line. By then though many of the small crowd had already left to search for warmer climes. (23.11.15)

Atlético Madrid moved up to second spot, two points above city rivals Real Madrid, after a 0-1 victory over Betis in the last game on Sunday night. With Jackson Martínez injured, Fernando Torres led the attack, and with seven minutes gone Adán could only push out an angled shot from “El Niño”, and Koke was in hand to drive in the rebound. Simeone’s side dominated after that, Koke, Griezmann and Carrasco all failing to convert chances before the break, although N’Diaye fired a long effort over the top at the other end, and Oblak had to be at his best to tip a shot from Cejudo over the bar with just under an hour on the clock. Soon afterwards Adán had to be replaced by Dani Giménez after he injured himself in a crunching collision with Godín, the defender carrying on and almost heading a second despite a deep gash to his forehead. Griezmann fired a shot just over and then had a serious penalty appeal turned down, and with Betis down to ten men after Digard limped off with all three changes made, the French striker struck another shot against the upright. It didn’t matter in the end though, and Atleti are above the old enemy after another tight defensive performance.

Villarreal are back up to fourth in the table despite being held to a 1-1 draw by sixth placed Eibar earlier in the evening. Bakambu and Borja Bastón tried their luck at either end in the opening minutes, and midway through the first half the visitors took the lead, Sergi Enrich turning a shot past Areola after Borja played the ball over to him. Keko fired a long shot just over the top and Enrich tested Areola again with a header, and soon afterwards the Basque side could have gone further in front when Jaume Costa gave away a penalty on Borja. This time though the French keeper saved Dani García’s spot kick, and after the restart Denis Suárez and Samu Castillejo both went close as the locals pushed forward. The two teams were left with ten men later in the second half, Bonera picking up an injury after Marcelino had made all of his substitutions, and Keko picking up two bookings in as many minutes, and with two minutes to go Costa ran on to a return pass from Denis Suárez to poke home the equalizer.

Málaga meanwhile find themselves at the bottom of the table after the two teams below them both won, Levante climbing off the foot of the pile after beating Sporting Gijón 0-3 in the mid-day kick off. All the goals came in the first half, Deyverson opening the scoring with a shot which Canella sliced back into his own net after Cuéllar had saved a David Navarro header. A few minutes later Feddal headed in the second from close to goal after the local keeper pushed a Morales free kick onto the bar, Luis Hernández failing to clear the rebound, and with half time approaching Deyverson made it three, poking the ball into the net following a Morales corner, the referee turning down appeals for a previous foul by Feddal on Sanabria. After the restart the Asturians tried to get back in the game, but Rubén saved a Jony penalty after Toño had brought down Carlos Castro in the area, Castro himself firing wide on the follow up, and the visiting keeper made important stops after that from Castro, Camarasa and his own man Feddal to ensure a much needed three points.

Levante’s win left Granada in last place, but they too won 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao later in the evening. The Andalusians had not picked up a single victory at home this season, but within five minutes they were ahead, Laporte trying to pass an Isaac Success cross back to his keeper but only managing to steer the ball into his own net. For the rest of the first half though the visitors dominated, Andrés having to save a Beñat free kick and a long shot by Williams, and Rubén Pérez blocking a shot by Aduríz with the keeper beaten. After the interval it was more of the same, Andrés having to keep out Williams and Raúl García, and Aduríz heading against the upright. But Success fired a good chance wide, and with an hour on the clock the young striker volleyed in his side’s second after youngster Peñaranda battled for the ball in the area. It was Athletic’s first defeat in two months, and the win takes the locals right out of the bottom three, above Getafe, Las Palmas and Levante on goal difference. (22.11.15)

The latest “clásico” ended in a big win for leaders Barcelona, Luis Enrique’s side beating hosts Real Madrid 0-4 to move six points clear of them in the table. The Catalans were the better team throughout, Luis Suárez latching on to a Sergi Roberto pass to open the scoring in the eleventh minute, and Iniesta setting up Neymar for the second shortly before the break. Marcelo headed a Suárez shot off the line with keeper Keylor Navas beaten on the stroke of half time, and Navas tipped a Neymar free kick over the bar before Iniesta ran on to Neymar’s back-heel pass to curl a shot inside the post for the third. Claudio Bravo had to make important saves in particular from James, Ronaldo and Benzema though, and Marcelo and Bale went close as Rafa Benítez’s side looked to get back in the game. Messi (who had started on the bench following his long injury lay-off) came on in the second half however, and he had a hand in the fourth goal, Jordi Alba playing his pass into the path of Luis Suárez for him to chip Navas with a quarter of an hour to go. Soon afterwards a frustrated Isco got himself sent off for kicking out at Neymar, and substitute Munir missed a couple of easy chances to add to the scoreline near the end. Still too early in the season for the title race to be over of course, but the angry fans called for the heads of Benítez and club president Florentino Pérez after the final whistle, and Pérez is expected to make an appearance before the press in the next day or so.

Fourth placed Celta missed out on a chance to draw level with Madrid though after they lost 2-0 at neighbours Deportivo in the last match of the evening. The locals had not won in five games and the visitors came into the match unbeaten away from home, but it was Depor who took the lead midway through the first half after Cani put Alex Bergantiños through, Lucas Pérez bundling in the rebound after Sergio Alvarez had blocked the shot from the midfielder. Just a couple of minutes later though Celta had a chance to equalize when Fernando Navarro brought down Iago Aspas in the penalty area. However Lux saved Nolito’s spot kick, and Jonathan Rodríguez failed to convert a couple of chances to put his team further ahead either side of half time. After the restart Juanfran fired a shot against the upright, and Lux was only troubled by a header from Iago Aspas late on. Then with the game in injury time Jonny tried to turn a long Mosquera pass back to Sergio only to find that his keeper had already come out of his area, the ball rather comically rolling past him and in to the net. Bragging rights to Depor this time around, and they close to within three points of their rivals in the table.

Valencia could have leapfrogged Celta had they been able to beat Las Palmas, but in the end they were lucky to get away with a 1-1 draw as the Canary Islanders had the better chances later on. Paco Alcácer got on the end of an André Gomes cross to open the scoring in the eighth minute, but Jonathan Viera fired a couple of free kicks just wide of the mark, and Jaume Domenech had to be at his best to keep out Viera and Araujo before the break. With just under an hour gone Viera made it all square after controlling a pass from Tana, and although Alcácer and Santi Mina tried their luck after that, only a couple of first class saves by Domenech from Momo and Araujo prevented Quique Setien’s side from coming away with the three points.

The point takes the Canary Islanders out of the relegation spots, above Málaga, who were beaten 2-0 at Espanyol. Hernán Pérez got both goals for the hosts in the first twenty minutes of the game, the opener in the sixth minute after picking up a pass from Marco Asensio, and the second with a first time volley past Kameni after a Fuentes cross came over to him on the far post. Pau López had to make a couple of saves from Amrabat in-between though, and Charles turned a shot past the post and then came up against the keeper again before the break. After the restart Pérez came close to a hat-trick when he headed just wide, and Ricardo Horta fired an angled shot against the post. Another defeat for Javi Gracía’s side though, and a tenth game out of twelve that they have failed to score in.

Earlier in the afternoon Real Sociedad beat Sevilla 2-0 in a rainy Anoeta stadium to get new coach Eusebio off to a good start. The Andalusians had the better of the first half though, Immobile having a strike ruled out for a questionable offside, Reyes curling a shot just over the bar, and Rulli having to save from Iborra and Rami. Both keepers were in action after the restart, Rulli keeping out Immobile and Sergio Rico saving a Xabi Prieto volley. But in the end two mistakes in quick succession by Krychowiak handed the victory to the locals, the Polish midfielder heading a corner back into the path of Agirretxe for him to fire a shot across Rico, and then heading a pass into the area back again for Prieto to beat Rico for a second time. (21.11.15)