News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 19

Only two points separate the top three clubs at the mid-point of the season, Sevilla staying a point behind leaders Real Madrid after a 3-4 victory at Osasuna in the Sunday mid-day game. The locals twice took the lead through Sergio León and then an Iborra own goal, but two goals from Iborra at the other end pegged them back both times. Franco Vázquez and Sarabia scored for the visitors after that though, and an injury time header from Kenan Kodro could not prevent another defeat which leaves the Pamplona based side at the foot of the table.

Barcelona are still in contention for the league title as well after they won 0-4 at Eibar in the last match of the weekend. Substitute Denis Suárez opened the scoring for the Catalans on the half hour mark, drilling a shot past Yoel for his first goal in a Barça shirt after Messi’s effort was blocked, and Messi made it two after connecting with a return cross from Luis Suárez soon after the restart. Adrián González had a headed goal ruled out for offside and then had a second effort saved by Ter Stegen, but soon afterwards Luis Suárez won the ball of Lejeune to make it three, and Neymar completed the scoring after Paco Alcácer stepped over an Aleix Vidal centre with the game in injury time.

Fourth placed Atlético Madrid lost ground on the leaders though after a 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao earlier in the afternoon. Koke put the visitors in front in the third minute with a centre into the penalty area which bounced past everyone in to the net, Griezmann’s dummy putting off Iraizoz. With half time approaching however Lekue fired home the equalizer after Williams played on a pass from de Marcos, and some ten minutes in to the second half De Marcos headed the Basque side in to the lead after Raúl García crossed in from the right. Both keepers had saves to make after that, but with ten minutes to go Griezmann picked up a pass from Fernando Torres to level the scores with a low shot which squeezed past Iraizoz and in off the post.

Real Sociedad are now level with Atleti after a 1-0 victory over Celta in the last match of the evening. With important cup ties either side of this fixture, Berizzo put out a much changed line up, but even so Rulli had to be at his best to keep out Sisto early on. Sergio Alvarez had to save from Carlos Vela after the restart though, and with twenty minutes to go Juanmi headed what was to prove the only goal from a Canales centre following a short corner. The Galicians came close to saving a point however when Guidetti’s back-heel from a Planas centre went just wide of the post.

Further down the table Betis and Sporting Gijón drew 0-0, a first point for Sporting’s new coach Rubi, who took over after Abelardo resigned a couple of days ago. Chances were even throughout, Duje Cop firing an early free kick just over the top, and Cuéllar having to save headers from Zozulya and Pezzella before the break. After the interval Rubén Castro drove a shot just wide of the upright, and a few minutes later Cop intercepted a poor back pass from Durmisi to turn a shot against the post. The result keeps the Andalusians in thirteenth spot, nine points above their opponents, who remain in the bottom three. (22.01.17)

Real Madrid made sure of the honorary title of winter champions with a match in hand after they beat Gato Romero’s Málaga 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Zidane’s side had lost their last two games, but they started well, Benzema going close a couple of times and Kameni having to save from Ronaldo and Lucas Vázquez. Chory Castro hit the upright at the other end, but in the last ten minutes of the first half Sergio Ramos scored twice, the first a header from a Kroos corner, and the second with a shot from a possible offside position following a long Kroos free kick. Before the half time whistle Villanueva turned a Benzema centre against his own crossbar, but a few minutes after the restart Juanpi got one back after Keylor Navas could only block a shot from Juan Carlos. However, although Chory tested the keeper again soon afterwards, the locals could have added to the lead later on, Kameni just getting back in time to clear after he let a Luis Muñoz back pass through his legs, and Ronaldo firing a shot against the post.

The four teams below Madrid all play on Sunday, but sixth placed Villarreal failed to take advantage after they were beaten 0-2 by neighbours Valencia in the last match of the evening. Both goals came shortly before the break, Carlos Soler turning a shot past Sergio Asenjo following good work by Nani, and Santi Mina poking a shot in to the empty net after the keeper lost the ball trying to dribble round him. Diego Alves had to save from Trigueros, Mario and Santos Borré after the restart, and Pato fired a shot against the upright, but the Ches held on for a much needed win which takes them seven points clear of the relegation spots.

Valencia end the day a point above Leganés, who came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Alavés. It was the first time the two teams had met in the top flight, and although Pacheco had to save from Machís early on, Laguardia opened the scoring for the locals after picking up a wayward shot from Marco Llorente following a corner. With half time approaching Guerrero made it all square after Gabriel and then Machís played on a long clearance from Herrerín, but soon after the restart Edgar restored the lead, getting the slightest of touches to an Ibai Gómez cross to turn the ball past the ex Athletic Bilbao keeper. However the visitors came back again, Gabriel going close with a header before Pablo Insúa headed a late equalizer after Bustinza nodded on a Unai López corner.

Next to bottom club Granada are now eight points away from safety however after they lost 3-1 to Espanyol in the mid-day game. Reyes gave the home team the lead in the tenth minute after Tabanou failed to clear a Piatti cross, but Andreas Pereira made it all square a few minutes later with a clever free kick under the defensive wall as they jumped in the air. Piatti restored the lead however before the break, and debutant Marc Navarro fired home the third just six minutes after the restart to give the Catalans their first victory of the new year. (21.01.17)

A 1-1 draw on Friday night between Las Palmas and Deportivo to start off the last round of games of the first half of the season, the result leaving the Canary Islanders in mid-table and their opponents just three places above the drop zone. Mateo García put the locals in front with a deflected shot early on in the first half, but Andone ran on to a long Çolak through ball with twenty minutes to go to save a point for the visitors, and any hope that the locals had of restoring the lead ended when Aythami was sent off for a second bookable offence some seven minutes later. (20.01.17)