News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 36

Leganés only need one more point to make sure of another season in the top flight after a convincing 4-0 victory against Betis on Monday night. Szymanowski gave the Madrid based side an early lead from the penalty spot after Alex Martínez blocked a Tito cross with his arm, and El Zhar made it two after the visiting defence failed to clear a speculative ball in to the area from Diego Rico. Alex Alegría, Rubén Castro, Jonas Martin and Rafa Navarro all tried their luck for the Andalusians before the break, but El Zhar fired a shot just wide after the restart, and some twenty minutes in to the second half Gabriel made it three with a shot from the half-way line which caught Adán out of his goal. Alex Alegría went close a couple of times after that, but with ten minutes to go Szymanowski rounded things off after cutting across the area to chip a shot past the visiting keeper. The result leaves Sporting Gijón closer to the drop, and only wins in their last two matches will give them any hope of salvation. (08.05.17)

Athletic Bilbao’s last chance of reaching the top four has gone after they lost 1-0 against local rivals Alavés on Sunday lunchtime. The visitors had the better chances, Aduríz coming up against Pacheco a couple of times, and Beñat firing a shot against the post. Ibai Gómez went close at the other end however, and some eight minutes in to the second half Theo Hernández curled a shot past Kepa after an Ibai Gómez corner came across to him. Pacheco had to save again from Aduríz after that, but the locals held on for a win which leaves Valverde’s side still in sixth place. They will be battling it out with Villarreal and Real Sociedad for the two Europa League spots, although if Alavés lose the cup final to Barcelona (who have already qualified for the Champions League), then the seventh placed team will also qualify for the competition instead of the cup winners.

Celta of course are still involved in this year’s edition of the Europa League, and with a semi-final visit to Manchester United coming up on Thursday, coach Berizzo once again rested most of his key players this weekend. They were beaten 3-0 by Málaga though in the last match of the evening, Sandro testing Sergio Alvarez two or three times before Javi Ontiveros cut through to open the scoring midway through the first half. Marcelo Díaz fired a free kick just wide of the post after the restart, but soon afterwards Recio converted a penalty after Cabral tripped Sandro in the area. With eight minutes to go Berizzo and an assistant were sent off after players and staff clashed on the touchline, and with the game already in injury time Sandro rounded things off after Keko and Juan Carlos combined to set him up.

Further down the table Deportivo missed out on chance to save themselves after they were beaten 1-2 by Espanyol, and they go in to the last two games of the season competing with Sporting and Leganés to avoid the drop. With just under a quarter of an hour gone Arribas allowed Leo Baptistao through to give the Catalans the lead, and fifteen minutes later Gerard Moreno made it two after Piatti laid the ball back to him. Celso Borges hit the post at the other end before the break, and some two minutes in to the second half Andone got one back after good work by Ola John. Arribas headed against the bar and Andone went close a couple of times after that, but Pepe Mel’s side were unable to turn things around in the end.

Osasuna were relegated some time ago, and they fell to a 4-1 defeat at Valencia earlier in the afternoon. Garay scored twice for the Ches before the interval, the first after Nani played the ball across goal following a corner, and the second after a shot from Zaza was blocked. Gayà hit the post after the restart, and although Jaume Domenech had to save from Sergio León and Oriol Riera, Zaza made it three from Rodrigo’s centre soon afterwards. Rodrigo himself added a fourth following a poor clearance by Vujadinovic from Montoya’s cross, and Olavide got a late consolation for the visitors after Alex Berenguer played the ball back to him. (07.05.17)

No change at the top of the table, Barcelona and Real Madrid still level on points after both won comfortably again on Saturday evening. Barcelona beat fifth placed Villarreal 4-1 to stay in first place on goal difference, although Zidane’s side have a game in hand over their arch-rivals. Neymar started things off for the Catalans after combining with Luis Suárez and Messi in the twentieth minute, but Bakambu levelled the scores soon afterwards following a long run from midfield. Piqué, Soldado and Neymar all went close as the game hung in the balance, but Messi restored the lead on the stroke of half time with a shot which took a deflection off Mario to wrong-foot Andrés. The visiting keeper had to save from Neymar and Messi though after the restart, and with twenty minutes to go Luis Suárez made it three after Sergi Roberto set him up following a quickly taken free kick. And a few minutes later the locals were awarded a hotly-disputed penalty after a shot from Suárez hit Jaume Costa on the arm, and Messi stepped up to chip in the resulting spot kick.

Real Madrid responded later in the evening though with a 0-4 victory at the already relegated Granada. Zidane again rested most of his first choice players after the midweek Champions League tie, but with only ten minutes gone James had already scored twice, the first with his knee from a Lucas Vázquez cross, and the second with his head from a Coentrao centre. Soon afterwards Tony Adams made his first substitution to try and turn things around, but with half an hour on the clock Morata fired the third in off the crossbar after Danilo laid the ball back, and five minutes later the Spanish international striker made it four with an angled shot past Ochoa after Marco Asensio put him through to beat Hongla. Before the half time whistle Lucas Vázquez and Casemiro also came close to scoring, and only some good saves by Ochoa from Sergio Ramos, Vázquez and Benzema prevented the scoreline from increasing further after the interval. Madrid’s game in hand against Celta will be played on the Wednesday before the last round of fixtures of the season, and they need seven points from their last three matches to take the league title.

Real’s opponents in Europe, city rivals Atlético, also won 1-0 against Eibar earlier in the day to consolidate third spot. Oblak had to save from Inui early on, but otherwise Simeone’s side dominated the first half, Koke, Carrasco and Saúl Ñíguez all failing to find the target. After the interval Yoel had to save from Filipe Luis and Griezmann, and with twenty minutes to go Saúl Ñíguez fired home the winner after Fernando Torres stepped over a cross from Godín. However the visitors came back after that, Oblak having to keep out a header from Escalante, and Tiago blocking a shot from Juncà, and after Godín was sent off for insulting the officials, there were a few nervous moments for the home fans (who stayed on long after the match ended to show their support ahead of the Champions League return leg). Sevilla’s draw on Friday means that Atleti only need one point from their last two games to make sure of third spot. Sevilla themselves were helped by Villarreal’s defeat though, and only Athletic Bilbao (who play tomorrow) have any realistic chance of ousting them from fourth place.

Meanwhile the fight to avoid the third relegation spot is still on after Sporting Gijón beat Las Palmas 1-0 in the lunchtime kick-off. The Asturians needed to win their last three games to have any realistic chance of survival, and Duje Cop went close a couple of times before the break. Jonathan Viera fired a long shot wide in reply, and soon after the restart Cuéllar had to save from Expósito and Viera. Midway through the second half however Carmona won the ball back off Hélder Lopes from a Burgui pass to run on and beat Javi Varas, and late efforts from Viera and Montoro did not really trouble the local keeper. The result takes Rubi’s side to within three points of Leganés and five of Deportivo pending their games later this weekend. (06.05.17)

A 1-1 draw between Sevilla and Real Sociedad on Friday evening, a result which leaves the two teams still in fourth and seventh places respectively. Both needed to win to put pressure on the teams above them, but the locals had the better chances early on, Ben Yedder shooting wide and Rulli tipping a long shot from Escudero over the bar. With half time approaching Sarabia opened the scoring after latching on to a pass from Ben Yedder, and Vitolo fired a shot just over the bar soon after the restart. However Carlos Vela equalized on the hour mark after Lenglet’s attempted clearance from a Canales cross hit N’Zonzi and rebounded to him, and the Mexican forward came up a couple of times against Sergio Rico after that. With ten minutes to go though the visitors were left with ten men when Zurutuza picked up two bookings in quick succession, and Eusebio closed shop after that to ensure a point. (05.05.17)