News Archive

First division – day 9

A 0-0 draw in the Monday night game between Real Sociedad and Girona, a result which left both teams in mid-table. Sandro hit the post twice for the locals, but in the end they were unable to find a way past Bono and his defence, leaving them still looking for a first win this season in their revamped Anoeta stadium. (22.10.18)

The city of Barcelona dominates the league this week, Espanyol moving up to second place behind their bigger neighbours after a 0-2 victory over bottom club Huesca on Sunday. Borja Iglesias scored twice either side of half time to give his team their first away win, and to hand a first defeat to Huesca’s new coach Francisco. This is proving to be an atypical season though, and Valladolid are now sixth after winning 0-1 at Betis later in the evening. Antoñito got the only goal from Toni Villa’s pass shortly before the break to bump Real Madrid out of the European spots. Getafe are just three points below Valladolid after they beat city rivals Rayo Vallecano 1-2 in the mid-day game, a Foulquier header and an Akieme goal midway through the second half putting the visitors two up before Raúl De Tomás volleyed one back with a quarter of an hour to go. Rayo stay in the relegation zone, although they still have a game in hand against Athletic Bilbao, which has been scheduled for next Wednesday. Athletic themselves just inched out of the bottom three, ahead of Leganés on goal difference, after a 1-1 draw against their neighbours Eibar, Willams making it all square in the twentieth minute after Charles had opened the scoring from the penalty spot a few minutes earlier. (21.10.18)

Barcelona are back at the top of the table after a 4-2 win over last week’s leaders Sevilla on Saturday evening. The bad news for the Catalans though was that Messi had to go off midway through the first half after breaking his arm in a fall, although before that he had set up Coutinho for the first, and scored the second himself. After the restart Luis Suárez added a third from the penalty spot, and although Sarabia got one back (accredited as a Lenglet own goal), Rakitic scored a fourth against his old side before Muriel completed the scoring in injury time. Sevilla drop to third, ahead of Atlético Madrid on goal difference after Simeone’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Villarreal. Both goals were scored by full backs, Filipe Luis heading the visitors into the lead after the break, and Mario replying for the hosts soon afterwards.

Atlético’s city rivals Real Madrid lost more ground on the teams above them though after they were beaten 1-2 by Levante in the early kick-off, and coach Julen Lopetegui’s job is now hanging by a thread. A Morales strike and a Roger penalty put the visitors two up with less than a quarter of an hour gone, and although Madrid hit the woodwork three times and had two goals ruled out for offside by the VAR system, they were unable to find the net until Marcelo beat Oier with ten minutes to go. That stopped the clock at just over eight hours since their last goal, the worst run in the club’s history, and it is touch and go whether Lopetegui will still be in charge for next Sunday’s “clásico” in the Nou Camp. Elsewhere Valencia and Leganés drew 1-1, Gayà saving what was a seventh draw of the season for the Ches after Gumbau had put the visitors in front from the penalty spot earlier on in the second half. (20.10.18)

Alavés are the overnight leaders of the first division after a 0-1 victory over Celta in the Friday night game! Tomás Pina got the only goal after Laguardia played a long ball back across goal with just under an hour gone, and visiting keeper Pacheco made important saves from Aspas, Boufal and Méndez later on to ensure the three points. Celta themselves though drop further down the table after six games without a win. (19.10.18)