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Match round-up - First Division, Day 13

Las Palmas moved to within a point of eighth placed Athletic Bilbao after beating the Basque side 3-1 in the Monday night game. The Canary Islanders are unbeaten at home this season, and they took the lead five minutes before the break when Boateng slid Macedo’s cross past Kepa. Five minutes in to the second half Momo made it two after Tana set him up, and with a quarter of an hour to go the visitors were left with ten men when Aduríz picked up two bookings in a minute. However Raúl García got one back from the penalty spot after Balenziaga’s cross hit Macedo on the arm, and only a great save by Javi Varas prevented Elustondo from levelling the scores. With the game coming to end though Jonathan Viera picked up a through ball from Livaja on a quick counter-attack, and he ran on to lift a shot over the advancing Kepa to make sure of the victory. (28.11.16)

Real Madrid’s six point lead at the top of the table was confirmed after Barcelona could only draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad on Sunday. The Catalans had lost in their last four visits to Anoeta and had not won there in the league in ten years, and they hardly had a look in as the locals dominated the first half. Ter Stegen had to be at his best to keep out Zurutuza and Xabi Prieto early on, and Prieto, Carlos Vela, Oyarzabal and Willian José all failed to convert chances after that. Neymar tested Rulli at last with a long free kick after the restart, but soon afterwards Willian José headed the hosts in front after Ter Stegen could only block a shot from Vela. Messi made it all square six minutes later after Neymar laid the ball across, but with a quarter of an hour to go a shot from Vela bounced off the bar and on to the line, and although Juanmi ran the ball in to the net, referee Gil Manzano ruled out the strike for a non-existent offside. Both teams had chances after that, Vela hitting the post again and Mascherano heading wide before the final whistle went.

Atlético Madrid are back up to fourth after they won 0-3 at Osasuna, the result leaving the Pamplona based side further down in the drop zone. Joaquín Caparrós was in charge for the first time in the Sadar stadium, and his team had a great chance to go ahead when they were awarded an early penalty for a foul by Giménez on Oriol Riera. However Oblak saved the resulting spot kick from Roberto Torres, and Nauzet had to save from Giménez and Correa before Godín headed a Koke corner past him with ten minutes to go to the break. Just a minute later Gameiro added a second after Correo put him clear, and the visitors felt they should have had two penalties themselves when Oier and then Unai García handled in the area after the interval. Causic and Roberto Torres tried their luck after that, but with the game coming to a close Carrasco won the ball off Unai and ran through to wrap things up.

Villarreal drop below Real Sociedad to sixth however after they were beaten 0-2 by Alavés in the mid-day game. The visitors had already beaten Barcelona and drawn against Atlético away from home, and they went ahead with eight minutes gone through Ibai Gómez after Deyverson headed an Edgar cross against the upright. A few minutes later Theo Hernández hit the post and Sergio Asenjo had to save from Deyverson’s follow up, and with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock Camarasa intercepted a poor headed back pass by Musacchio to make it two. Pacheco had to keep out Soriano before the break, and Samu Castillejo, Cheryshev and Pato after the restart, but Espinoza could have increased the lead when he headed a good chance straight at the local keeper near the end.

Celta are just two points behind Fran Escribá’s side after they won 3-1 against Granada, the Andalusians now further adrift at the bottom of the table without a single victory in thirteen games. Iago Aspas opened the scoring midway through the first half, reacting quicker than anyone to thrash home the rebound after Rubén Vezo blocked his cross. Ochoa had to save from Wass soon afterwards, and with six minutes to go to the break Bongonda combined with Aspas to score the second. Aspas almost caught Ochoa off his line with a long shot which bounced off the bar on the hour mark, but Kravets and Ponce fired good chances wide, and with three minutes left on the clock Kravets intercepted an attempted back pass by Cabral to run through and score. Ochoa had to keep out Josep Señé soon afterwards though, and with the game in time added on Pape Cheikh made sure of the win following good work by Guidetti and Señé.. (27.11.16)

Real Madrid made sure of going in to (and coming out of) next weekend’s “clásico” in the Nou Camp as leaders after they beat Sporting Gijón 2-1 on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Cristiano Ronaldo put Zidane’s side two up early on, the opener from the penalty spot after Sergio Alvarez tripped Lucas Vázquez in the area, and the second with a diving header from Nacho’s cross. Keylor Navas had to save from Moi Gómez a few minutes later though, and with ten minutes to go to the break Carmona connected with an Isma López cross to reduce the gap. Madrid dominated from then on, Diego Mariño keeping out Ronaldo and Benzema either side of half time, and Kovacic, Ronaldo and Modric going close. With a quarter of an hour to go however the visitors were awarded a penalty themselves when Nacho pushed over Víctor Rodríguez, but Duje Cop fired his spot kick wide, and Navas stopped a late effort from Moi Gómez to deny the Asturians a point.

Later in the evening Sevilla beat Valencia 2-1 to move above second placed Barcelona pending their game on Sunday. Both teams had chances in the first half, Sarabia, Vázquez and Escudero failing to find the target for the locals, and Rodrigo and Nani in particular going close for the Ches. Some eight minutes in to the second half the Andalusians took the lead, Garay deflecting Vitolo’s cross past his own keeper, but Sergio Rico was almost caught off his line by a long Parejo free kick, and soon afterwards substitute Munir levelled the scores just three minutes after making his appearance. Ten minutes later though Nico Pareja restored the lead with a low shot in off the post after Mangala headed out a corner, and Rico produced the save of the night in the last minute to keep out a shot from Gayà.

Málaga are up to ninth after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Deportivo in the lunchtime kick-off. The visitors took the lead in only the third minute, Celso Borges converting a penalty after Ricca pushed over Bruno Gama in the box. A quarter of an hour later though Michael Santos made it all square with a second penalty after he was held back by Borges, and with six minute to go to the break Sandro put the locals ahead with a well struck free kick. Santos made it three after Fornals set him up soon after the restart, but Marlos Moreno and Andone brought good saves out of Kameni, and with twenty minutes to go Andone headed a Carlos Gil cross past the local keeper. A few minutes later Borges equalized again after Kameni misjudged a Juanfran centre, but with a draw seemingly on the cards Ontiveros cut in from the left wing to curl the winner past Tyton.

Espanyol are just a point behind Málaga in tenth spot after they won 3-0 against Leganés, a first home win of the season for Quique Sánchez Flores’ side. Serantes had to keep out Gerard Moreno and José Antonio Reyes early on, but the visiting keeper had to be stretchered off a few minutes later after falling awkwardly on his knee. Just a couple of minutes in to the second half Moreno fired the Catalans in to the lead after Piatti played on Jurado’s cross, and four minutes later Piatti got the second with an angled shot past reserve keeper Brignoli after Baptistao set him up. Gabriel and Omar Ramos tested Diego López at the other end, but with two minutes to go Piatti picked up a long ball from Jurado to run through and make it three. (26.11.16)

Eibar moved up level with sixth placed Atlético Madrid pending the rest of the weekend games after beating Betis 3-1 on Friday evening. The game swung in favour of the locals when Piccini was sent off for a foul on Inui with just over a quarter of an hour gone, Pedro Léon opening the scoring with the resulting free kick. Sergi Enrich added a second a few minutes later after connecting with Inui’s centre, and only a good save by Adán prevented Inui from adding a third. With six minutes to go Rubén Castro got one back after winning the ball off Lejeune, but with the game already in injury time Kike García wrapped things up, the striker heading the ball in to an empty net after Adán’s save from León looped over to him. (25.11.16)