News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 30

Two more games on Thursday, Eibar closing to within three points of the Europa League spots after a 3-1 victory over Las Palmas. The Basque side went two up with less than half an hour gone, Bebé running on to a long pass from Luna to open the scoring, and Aythami deflecting a long Bebé centre past his own keeper under pressure from Kike García. Pedro León, Bebé and Adrián González could all have added to the scoreline before the break, but after the restart the Canary Islanders came back, Lejeune heading an effort from Momo off the line and Yoel having to save from Livaja, Roque and Jonathan Viera before Lemos pulled one back with an impressive free kick. Soon afterwards though Adrián restored the two goal cushion from the penalty spot after the referee (with help from his linesman) ruled that David Simón had pulled Kike García back by the shirt, and after that the locals closed ranks to ensure the win.

Later in the evening Valencia beat Celta 3-2 to move up safely to mid-table, the result leaving the Galicians nine points adrift of the top six. Cabral headed the opener from a long Daniel Wass free kick with a quarter of an hour gone, but later in the first half Dani Parejo made it all square after Zaza and Cancelo combined to set him up. Sergio Alvarez had to push a shot from Cancelo against the post after the break, and midway through the second half Munir latched on to a Lato cross to put the locals in front. With ten minutes to go Iago Aspas levelled the scores once again from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Carlos Soler in the area, but a few minutes later Soler picked up a through ball from Enzo Pérez to lob the winner over the visiting keeper. (06.04.17)

Real Madrid and Barcelona kept up their battle for the league title after both won on Wednesday evening. Barcelona were first up, and they overtook their arch rivals for a couple of hours or so after beating fourth placed Sevilla 3-0. All the goals came in an eight minute period later on in the first half, Luis Suárez opening the scoring with a spectacular overhead kick after Messi’s cross was blocked by Mercado. Messi had rattled the crossbar before that, and he added two more goals before the break, the first after combing with Rakitic, Neymar and Luis Suárez, and the second with a first time shot inside the near post after a corner came out to him. Sampaoli made two changes at the break, and Sarabia tested Ter Stegen a couple of times. But Sergio Rico had to save as well from Messi and Paco Alcácer, and with the game coming to a close Vitolo was sent off after picking up a second booking for a foul on Neymar.

Real Madrid responded to Barça’s win though with a 2-4 victory at city neighbours Leganés later in the evening, a result which keeps them two points above the Catalans with a game in hand. Zidane made several changes to his line-up, but with only a quarter of the game gone they were already three goals ahead, Marco Asensio winning the ball in midfield and running through to set up James for the opener. Danilo hit the post soon afterwards, and Morata took advantage of a rare start to net twice after that, the first after Nacho headed on a James corner, and the second after Kovacic put him through. The locals came back though with two goals of their own before the break, Gabriel poking a shot past Keylor Navas after a Diego Rico cross deflected to him, and Luciano Nieves scoring a second after Siovas headed down a Szymanowski corner. However Morata completed his hat-trick soon after the restart with a header which went in off Mantovani, and only a good save by Herrerín prevented Lucas Vázquez from making it five near the end.

The other three games on Wednesday all involved teams in the lower reaches of the table, bottom club Osasuna recording only their second win of the season after beating local rivals Alavés 0-1. With his team basically safe for another season, Pellegrino used the occasion to give a run out to some of his lesser used players. Pacheco had to keep out Sergio León and Tienza before the interval, and De las Cuevas missed a good chance after the restart, and Sirigu made saves at the other end from Oscar Romero in the first half. However, with a scoreless draw seemingly on the cards, substitute Alex Bergantiños picked up the ball outside of the area and fired a long shot past the local keeper to give his long suffering fans something to cheer about at last.

Sporting Gijón and Granada both missed out on a chance to close the gap on the teams above them though, the former losing 0-1 against Málaga. The Asturians started the day five points below their opponents, and only some great saves by Kameni from Nacho Cases, Traoré and Burgui prevented them from going ahead in the first half hour. With five minutes to go to the break however Sandro squeezed a shot off Jorge Meré and under Cuéllar, and Santos and Fornals could have added to the lead either side of half time. In the end though Kameni saved the day for the visitors with further stops from Burgui and Víctor Rodríguez to give Michel his first victory since taking over a month ago.

Granada also came in to their game at Deportivo hoping to drag the Galicians in to the relegation battle, but in the end a 0-0 draw left them seven points away from safety. It was a dour match, the only chances in the first half a header from debutant Estupiñan which Lux kept out, and a missed header from Andone. After the interval Lux had to save a Wakaso free kick, and Juanfran and Marlos Moreno went close for the hosts. With a quarter of an hour to go though Depor were awarded a penalty for a push by Estupiñan on Andone, but Ochoa guessed correctly and saved the spot kick from Celso Borges. Not enough for the Andalusians though, and after today’s games both they and Sporting are now looking strong favourties to go down with the already doomed Osasuna. (05.04.17)

A mid-week round of games this week, Atlético Madrid consolidating third spot with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday evening. Fernando Torres and Griezmann both brought saves out of Rulli before Filipe Luis finished off a quick passing move with his second goal in as many games. Oblak had to keep out efforts from Granero and Willian José, and Torres fired a shot against the upright with the goal at his mercy before the break. Rulli.had to save from Griezmann, Correa and Carrasco again after the restart, but Simeone’s team shut up shop in the closing minutes to ensure a victory which takes them three points clear of Sevilla pending their visit to the Nou Camp tomorrow

Real Sociedad drop two places to seventh though after the two teams below them both won, Villarreal now fifth after beating Betis 0-1. Both teams had chances in the first half, Sanabria and Rubén Castro going close for the locals and Adán saving from Sansone and Roberto Soriano at the other end. Just two minutes after the interval however Adrián López got on the end of a lofted José Angel cross to turn a shot in on the far post, and Bakambu could have scored a second when he hit the post later on. Dani Ceballos did hit the woodwork again with the game in injury time, but it was another defeat for the Andalusians, and there were whistles and boos from disgruntled fans as the players left the field at the end.

Athletic Bilbao move above their Basque neighbours as well to sixth place after a 2-0 victory over Espanyol earlier in the evening. Quique Sánchez Flores made several changes to his line up, and he saw his side go behind on the quarter hour mark, Aduríz converting a penalty after Víctor Sánchez brought down Muniain in the area. Alvaro Vázquez curled a free kick just wide, but Diego López had to be at his best to tip a shot from Beñat over the top, and with half an hour gone Aduríz got on the end of a Beñat free kick to make it two. Kepa made the save of the night to keep out a David López header on the stroke of half time, but Aduríz could have completed a hat-trick had Diego López not pushed his shot on to the crossbar near the end. (04.04.17)