News Archive

First division – day 2

Only two weeks in to the season, and the big two have already opened up a gap over the rest after their closest rivals all failed to win on Monday. Levante lost 1-2 to Celta, a Morales penalty near the end not enough to overturn first half strikes from Pione Sisto and Maxi Gómez. And Athletic Bilbao and Huesca drew 2-2 later in the evening, the newly promoted visitors coming back from two down with late goals by Miramón and Chimy Ávila to to save a point. Prior to that, the Basque side appeared to be on the way to victory after Williams set up Susaeta and Yuri soon after the break. All four of the teams who played on Monday are now on four points, two behind joint leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona. (27.08.18)

Real Madrid are the new leaders of the first division after they came back to beat Girona 1-4 on Sunday night. Last season the Merengues lost in the Montilivi stadium, and once again they went behind when Borja García beat Keylor Navas on the quarter hour mark. Marco Asensio won two penalties though either side of half time which Sergio Ramos and Benzema converted, and Bale and Benzema added two more for the final result. Meanwhile last week’s leaders Sevilla were held to a 0-0 draw by Villarreal, and they drop to third pending Monday’s games. Despite the result it was a lively game, with keepers Vaclik and Asenjo called on a number of times. Espanyol are just behind the Andalusians in fourth spot after they won 2-0 against Valencia in the first game of the day. Both goals came in a five minute period midway through the second half, Granero opening the scoring with a free kick which the VAR system confirmed had just crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar, and new signing Borja Iglesias making it two soon afterwards. (26.08.18)

Barcelona made it two wins out of two after beating newly promoted Valladolid 0-1 on Saturday evening, although they had more problems than expected against a battling side, and on a pitch which was not fit for top flight football. Dembélé got the only goal on the hour mark after Sergi Roberto headed back a Luis Suárez centre, and Suárez and Keko both had goals ruled out by the VAR system for offside, the latter with the game already in time added on. Atlético Madrid also won 1-0 (more normal for them!) against city neighbours Rayo Vallecano, Griezmann scoring the winner after Savic headed on a second half corner. The pre-match presentation for winning the European Super Cup appeared to distract them however, and only some great saves by Oblak later on prevented the visitors from coming away with a point. It was a low scoring day all-round though, Alavés and Betis kicking things off with a 0-0 draw in the Mendizorroza stadium. The two sides started the day at the bottom of the table after big defeats on the opening day, and although both had chances, in the end they were happy to settle for a point. (25.08.18)

Two matches on Friday night to start off week 2, Getafe getting their first points on the board with a 2-0 victory over Eibar. Both teams had lost their opening games, but Angel fired the locals into the lead early on, and Jorge Molina wrapped things up near the end. Later in the evening Leganés and Real Sociedad shared the points in a 2-2 draw, Zurutuza and Illarramendi putting the visitors two up in the first twenty minutes, but El Zhar scoring twice after the break to make it all square. (24.08.18)