News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 15

A Catalan derby on Monday to finish off the extended weekend, Girona running out 0-1 winners at Espanyol to climb to within a point of the European spots. Timor got the only goal for the visitors on the stroke of half time to leave their hosts just two places above the drop zone. (11.12.17)

Barcelona maintain their five point lead at the top of the table after a 0-2 victory at Villarreal in the last match on Sunday. Luis Suárez and Messi got the goals after the interval to hold off Valencia, who had put pressure on the Catalans with a win on Saturday. Atlético Madrid bounced back from their midweek elimination from the Champions League, Saúl getting the only goal in a 0-1 win at Betis which takes Simeone’s side back above city rivals Real Madrid to third. Villarreal hold on to sixth spot however after the teams below them also failed to win, Real Sociedad in particular losing 0-2 to Málaga in the mid-day kick-off. Michel’s side started the match at the bottom of the pile, but a Borja Bastón penalty and a strike by Chory Castro (after a second Bastón penalty was saved) took the Andalusians above Las Palmas in the rankings. That left Athletic Bilbao perilously close to the bottom three, but they responded with a 1-2 win at Levante to move above their hosts in the table. (10.12.17)

Second placed Valencia closed to within two points of Barcelona pending their game on Sunday after beating Celta 2-1 on Saturday evening. Zaza gave the Ches a first half lead, but Aspas made it all square after the break, and it was not until ten minutes from the end that Dani Parejo got the winner with a hotly disputed penalty. Real Madrid are now third after they thrashed fifth placed Sevilla 5-0, a morale boosting result prior to leaving for the Club World Cup. All five goals came before the break, Ronaldo celebrated his fifth “Balon d’Or” with two, and Nacho, Kroos and Achraf the other scorers. Getafe are up to seventh after they drew 0-0 with Eibar, the Madrid based side now level with neighbours Leganés, who were beaten 1-0 by Deportivo. Adrián López headed the only goal to take the Galicians three points clear of the drop zone. (09.12.17)

A relegation struggle to open the latest round of fixtures, Alavés beating Las Palmas 2-0 on Friday evening to move above the Canary Islanders in the table. Both teams are already in to their third managers of the season, but the locals came out on top with goals by Ibai Gómez and Munir, the result taking them level with Deportivo pending the rest of the weekend games. (08.12.17)