News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 6

Alavés are up to ninth in the table after a 3-1 victory over Granada in the Monday night game. The visitors were still looking for their first victory, and in the opening minutes Bueno fired a good chance over the top, and Javi Márquez tested Pacheco with a free kick. Deyverson had a strike ruled out though for controlling the ball with his hand during the build up, and the striker also had an effort saved by Ochoa close to the break. Some seven minutes in to the second half however Camarasa put Edgar through for him to steer a shot past the visiting keeper, and soon afterwards the ex Levante midfielder added the second himself, controlling a long pass from Llorente and running on past Uche to score. A frustrated Paco Jémez took off his half time substitute Atzili to bring on Kravets, and the Ukrainian striker scored within minutes of coming on. But Ochoa had to save again from Ibai Gómez, and with the game in stoppage time Rubén Vezo gifted the ball to Deyverson trying to control a long punt out of the Alavés defence, and the Brazilian forward ran through to wrap things up. The defeat leaves the Andalusians down in next to bottom spot having only taken two points from their first six matches. (26.09.16)

Atlético Madrid are up to third in the table, two points below leaders Real Madrid and one behind Barcelona, after they beat Deportivo 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. Simeone suffered a serious blow when Augusto was stretchered off early on with a serious knee injury, and Giménez also limped off later on in the first half. Even so though Atleti had most of the chances, Griezmann shooting just wide and Fayçal Fajr heading off the line from Correa with Lux beaten. Çolak did bring a good save out of Oblak at the other end, but with half time approaching Fajr got himself sent off after picking up two quick bookings for hard tackles on opponents. After the restart Lux tipped a long shot from Carrasco on to the bar, and the keeper also made a couple of saves from Correa and others. Lucas Hernández had to head an effort from Borges off the line after that, but with twenty minutes to go Griezmann finally got what was to prove the only goal after Juanfran and Gameiro combined to set him up close to goal.

Villarreal are level with Atlético and Athletic though after they won 3-1 against Osasuna later in the evening. All the goals came in the first half, Pato heading the opener in the fifth minute after Samu Castillejo played across a through ball from Trigueros. Rivière missed a good chance for the visitors soon afterwards, but midway through the first half Mario Fernández (who had to be replaced at half time) tripped Roberto Soriano in the area, and Bruno stepped up to drill home the resulting penalty. Mario did well to keep out a back header from his own defender and a shot from Soriano, and a few minutes later Sansone made it three after latching on to a pass from Castillejo. With the first half coming to a close Roberto Torres pulled one back for the Pamplona based side, again from the penalty spot after Alvaro tripped Sergio León, and after the break León tested Sergio Asenjo, and Rivière and Torres steered headers wide. No real danger in the end though, and Osasuna finish the day at the bottom of the table having only taken two points from six games.

Espanyol find themselves in the relegation spots as well after they lost 0-2 to Celta in the last match on Sunday. The visitors got the better start, Aspas firing a free kick against the defensive wall and Bongonda being closed down by Diego López after a good run. Moreno almost caught out Sergio Alvarez though with a cross-come-shot, and Leo Baptistao fired his shot straight at the keeper when free on goal later in the first half. After the interval the locals wrested back control, David López in particular seeing his shot headed off the line by Cabral with the keeper beaten. However with the game seemingly heading for a draw Rossi ran on to a long Cabral clearance to lob a shot over the advancing Diego López and in to the net, and just two minutes later Sisto picked up the ball close to his own area and ran on virtually unchallenged for 80 metres or so before beating the local keeper for a second time.

Celta move out of the bottom three though, as do Valencia, who came from behind to beat Leganés 1-2 in the mid-day kick-off. The match got off to a slow start, but with twenty minutes gone Szymanowski got on the end of an Omar Ramos centre to head the Madrid based team the lead. However with ten minutes to go to the break Serrantes and Rodrigo both went for a loose ball, and with the keeper lying on the ground Nani picked up the rebound and rolled the ball in to the net to make it all square. Some seven minutes in to the second half Mario Suárez stuck out a foot following a short corner to turn Nani’s cross past Serantes for his side’s second, but soon afterwards the locals had a chance to get back level when Diego Alves flattened Alberto as they battled for a high ball. The keeper saved Szymanowski’s spot kick though, and Parejo, Nani and Gayà all could have added to the scoreline after that. It was a second win in four days for caretaker coach Voro, although he may well be back in his old job soon as Valencia expect to name Pako Ayestarán’s replacement by next week. (25.09.16)

Leaders Real Madrid could only draw 2-2 at Las Palmas in the last game on Saturday, and although they stay at the top of the table, they have now dropped four points in their last two matches. Zidane’s side twice took the lead, the first time through Asensio with just over half an hour gone after Javi Varas pushed out a shot from Nacho. The local keeper had saved from Kroos and Morata before that, but five minutes later Tana made it all square after Momo’s cross was deflected to him. Bale tested Varas again a couple of times either side of half time, and Ronaldo had a strike ruled out for offside, and midway through the second half substitute Benzema restored the lead after the keeper blocked another effort from Ronaldo. Zidane surprised everyone though replacing Ronaldo with Lucas Vázquez soon afterwards, and with five minutes to go Vicente Gómez headed a Tana cross down for Araujo to get a lucky rebound off Casilla to bundle in the equalizer.

Barcelona are now just a point behind Madrid after they thrashed Sporting Gijón 0-5 earlier in the evening. There was a lot of pre-match speculation as to who would replace the injured Messi, but in the end Luis Enrique made several changes to include André Gomes, Arda Turan and Rafinha in the starting line-up. The locals had the first chance with a free kick when Ter Stegen carried the ball outside of the area, but that came to nothing, and Gomes went close a couple of times before Turan played a long ball on for Luis Suárez to round the keeper and score. Just three minutes later Rafinha headed the second from Sergi Roberto’s cross, but after that the locals kept it tight, and Ter Stegen had to save from Moi Gómez and Víctor Rodríguez either side of half time. However with a quarter of an hour or so to go Lora was sent off for a second bookable offence, and the visitors added three more in the last ten minutes, Neymar getting the first of those after Cuéllar pushed a shot from substitute Paco Alcácer on to the bar. Four minutes after that Turan headed in another Sergi Roberto centre, and Neymar rounded things off after Denis Suárez put him through near the end.

Athletic Bilbao are up to third after they beat Sevilla 3-1, the Basque side moving above their opponents after a fourth win in a row. The locals got off to a strong start, Raúl García, Williams, Beñat and Aduríz all trying their luck before San José opened the scoring following a set-piece corner. Some ten minutes after the interval Nasri levelled it with a bouncing shot past Kepa after the keeper could only push out a cross from Sarabia, but midway through the second half Balenziaga restored the lead, running on past Mario before beating Sirigu with an angled shot, his first goal for the club. Kepa had to save from Sarabia after that, but with the game coming to an end Aduríz clattered in to Sirigu, and the keeper retaliated with an elbow which cost him a red card. As all three substitutions had already been made, Iborra had to go in goal, but Aduríz calmly stroked the spot kick past him for the final result.

Sevilla are still fourth pending the rest of the weekend games, a point above Las Palmas and also Eibar, who won 2-0 against neighbours Real Sociedad in the lunchtime kick-off. The game swung the way of the locals when Aritz Elustondo was rather harshly sent off for blocking Bebé’s header with his arm at point blank range midway through the first half. Pedro León slipped though taking the resulting penalty and fired his kick way over the bar, but early on in the second half the hosts did take the lead when Escalante’s wayward shot hit Illarramendi and deflected in to the net. A few minutes later Sergi Enrich fired a shot against the upright, and soon afterwards Bebé made it two, drilling a low shot past Rulli after a short corner came out to him. León, Nano and Enrich could all have added to the scoreline after that, but the three points were already in the bag. (24.09.16)

Just a day after the week five round of games ended, week six began, Betis beating Málaga 1-0 on Friday evening to move up to the middle of the table. Joaquín headed the only goal from Musonda’s cross midway through the first half just seconds after Juanpi had had a penalty appeal turned down. Soon afterwards Donk deflected an effort from Charles round the post, and from the resulting corner Ricca headed against the upright. Musonda fired a long shot wide before the break though, and a couple of minutes in to the second half Miguel Torres cleared a shot from Alex Alegría off the line with keeper Kameni beaten. From then on however the visitors pushed forward, Ricca heading against the woodwork once again and Adán having to make saves from Juanpi and Sandro. A first home win of the season though for Gus Poyet’s team, and Málaga end the day just two points above the drop zone pending the rest of the weekend matches. (23.09.16)