News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 35

A set-back for Sevilla in their push for third place, a 4-2 defeat at neighbours Málaga on Monday evening leaving them three points behind Atlético Madrid. Franco Vázquez gave the visitors the lead on the half hour mark after running on to a return pass from Ben Yedder, his shot taking a deflection off Luis Hernández to wrong-foot Kameni, and Joaquín Correa came close to a second minutes later. Shortly before the break however Pablo Fornals made it all square with a long shot, and some six minutes after the restart Sandro ran past Nico Pareja to pick up a long Kameni clearance and fire the locals in front. Vázquez equalized once again six minutes later after Luis Muñoz failed to control a Sarabia centre, but Diego Llorente headed the locals back in front from a Sandro free kick, and Juan Carlos wrapped things up in the last minute after Sergio Rico saved a Sandro penalty following a foul by Nico Pareja on Sandro himself. (01.05.17)

Athletic Bilbao held on to sixth spot after a 0-3 victory over Celta in the last match on Sunday evening, the result keeping them a point below Villarreal and one above their old rivals Real Sociedad. With the historical Europa League semi-final against Manchester United coming up on Thursday, and with his team safely in mid-table, Berizzo once again rested most of his key players. Even so Bongonda fired an early chance just wide, but from then on the visitors were on top, Sergio Alvarez having to save from Raúl García and Williams before Yeray headed on a corner for García to poke a shot past the local keeper. Williams hit the post soon afterwards, and some five minutes in to the second half Raúl García made it two after Alvarez could only block a shot from Williams. Celta had no reply, and with seven minutes to go Mikel Rico rounded things off after picking up a pass from Lekue.

With the three teams above them all winning, Eibar’s chances of a first ever place in Europe are looking slim, and they stay seven points below Real Sociedad in eighth spot despite a 2-0 victory over Leganés. The Basque side got off to a good start, Adrián González, Inui and Pedro León all going close. However the visitors needed a result in their fight to avoid the drop, and they had several chances either side of half time, Mantovani, El Zhar and Machís just failing to find the target, and Lejeune heading off the line from Guerrero with the keeper beaten. Two goals in a four minute period midway through the second half wrapped things up however, Kike García heading in a long Juncà centre, and Sergi Enrich beating the offside trap to make it two. And although Guerrero hit the post later on, the Madrid based team could not avoid a defeat which leaves them just six points above the drop zone.

The remaining relegation spot is now between Sporting, Leganés and also Deportivo, who still need a couple of points to be safe after a 2-2 draw at bottom club Osasuna in the mid-day game. The Pamplona based team are already down after losing at Barcelona midweek, but pride was still at stake, and with only four minutes gone Steven Mondragón put them ahead after an extended attack following a corner. Guilherme headed the equalizer however from a long Juanfran cross a quarter of an hour later, and Sirigu had to save from Celso Borges and Bruno Gama before Andone lobbed a shot on to the crossbar. Roberto Torres and Causic went close in reply either side of the break, but with twenty minutes to go Guilherme got his second of the day after Albentosa headed back a Çolak corner. Soon afterwards however the locals made it all square after Juanfran turned a corner in to his own net, and Sergio León and De las Cuevas could both wasted chances to win it for their side late on.

Elsewhere Alavés beat Betis 1-4 in a match with little at stake, both teams safe for another season but too far away from the top six to have any chance of reaching the European spots. With a cup final against Barcelona on the horizon, Pellegrino decided to give a run out to some of his lesser used players, and with twelve minutes on the clock his side went behind when a long shot from Rubén Pardo deflected off Raúl García past Ortolá. Just three minutes in to the second half however Krsticic intercepted a poor clearance by Tosca to run on and beat Adán, and in the next ten minutes the visitors added two more, Vigaray setting up Rubén Sobrino and then Christian Santos to score. Many of the home fans left the ground after that, and with the game in injury time Katai ran through to beat Adán for a fourth time. (30.04.17)

Barcelona and Real Madrid are still level at the top of the table after both won on Saturday. Real Madrid struggled though before beating Valencia 2-1, Marcelo getting the winner with four minutes to go after Morata laid the ball across the area. The Ches had little to play for, but Santi Mina brought a good save out of Keylor Navas early on, and Orellana turned a shot wide soon afterwards. Benzema tested Diego Alves a couple of times though, and with just under half an hour gone Ronaldo headed the opener from a Dani Carvajal cross. Munir and Dani Parejo went close for the visitors either side of half time, but a few minutes in to the second half Madrid were awarded a penalty when Parejo pulled back Modric in the area. Alves saved Ronaldo’s spot kick however, and with eight minutes to go Parejo levelled the scores with a well struck free kick before Marcelo stepped in to save the day once again.

Later in the evening Barcelona won 0-3 against city rivals Espanyol, the result keeping Luis Enrique’s side top on goal difference, albeit having played one game more. Jurado missed an early chance for the locals, and Rakitic, Sergi Roberto and Neymar all went close for the visitors in an intense first half. However some five minutes after the break Luis Suárez intercepted a long back pass from Jurado to run on and beat Diego López, and with a quarter of an hour to go Rakitic made it two after picking up a pass from Messi. That ended any chance of a come back, and with three minutes left on the clock Aarón Martín failed to clear a Messi centre, and the ball fell kindly for Luis Suárez to complete the scoring.

Atlético hold on to third spot after they thrashed Las Palmas 0-5, a confidence boosting win ahead of their Champions League semi-finals with city rivals Real Madrid. With twenty minutes gone they were already three up, Gameiro celebrating his return from injury with the first from a Sau´Ñíguez cross in only the second minute. Saúl himself headed the second from Koke’s corner, and Gameiro made it three after picking up a through ball from Gaitán. Some theee minutes in to the second half the French striker came close to a hat-trick when he turned Griezmann’s cross against the upright, and Oblak had nothing to do until he had to save from Halilovic a few minutes later. Midway through the second half however the Canary Islanders were left with ten men when Boateng picked up a second booking for taking out Giménez, and substitutes Thomas and Fernando Torres completed the scoring in the last quarter of an hour or so.

Earlier in the day Real Sociedad beat Granada 2-1, the result taking the Basque side back up to sixth, and ending any hope the Andalusians had of avoiding relegation. Chances were virtually non-existent until Carlos Vela latched on to Oyarzabal’s centre to beat his Mexican team-mate Ochoa on the stroke of half time. Adrián Ramos was pulled up incorrectly for offside though as he advanced on goal on the hour mark, and five minutes later the Colombian striker headed the Equalizer from Foulquier’s centre. Juanmi fired a shot against the bar however, and Oyarzabal turned another effort just wide, and with six minutes to go Juanmi latched on to a lofted Canales pass to score the winner. A fourth defeat in a row for coach Tony Adams, and his team will be playing in the second division next season. (29.04.17)

The week 35 round of games began just a day after the midweek fixtures ended, Villarreal beating Sporting Gijón 3-1 on Friday night to consolidate fifth spot. Isma López cleared off the line from Roberto Soriano early on, and Soriano scuffed his shot when free on goal a few minutes later. Moi Gómez hit the crossbar and Andrés had to save from a Xavi Torres header at the other end though, but with just over half an hour gone Soldado put the locals ahead after controlling a headed pass from Rodri. Just two minutes after the restart Bakambu added a second after Jonathan Dos Santos put him through, and the striker turned in a Soldado centre for the third on the hour mark. Douglas got one back late on after Víctor Rodríguez laid the ball back, but it was another disappointing result for the Asturians, and they remain six points away from safety pending the rest of the weekend matches. (28.04.17)