News Archive

First division – day 11

Espanyol are up to second in the table, three points below city neighbours Barcelona, after a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Monday night game. Borja Iglesias headed the only goal from Didac’s cross shortly before the break to make it five home wins in s row for the Catalans. Athletic end the day though still just a point above the drop zone after a tenth game in a row without a victory. (05.11.18)

Leaders Barcelona remain four points clear after the teams immediately below them failed to win on Sunday. Sevilla are up to second pending Espanyol’s game tomorrow despite a 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad, the Andalusians unable to find the net with their two first choice strikers out injured. And Alavés drop to fourth, albeit level with Sevilla and Atleti, after they were beaten 2-1 by regional neighbours Eibar in the midday kick-off. Jony put the visitors ahead early on with a long free kick, but Joan Jordán fired home the equaliser with twenty minutes to go, and Diop headed an injury time winner for the hosts from Jordán’s corner. The other three games on Sunday all ended in draws, Levante now up to seventh after a 1-1 scoreline at local rivals Villarreal. They could have been even higher though after Funes Mori turned a Morales cross into his own net late on, but Alfonso Pedraza levelled it for the locals in time added on. Getafe left it late as well before drawing 1-1 at bottom club Huesca, Jorge Molina preventing the new boys from a first home win in the 91 st minute after Etxeita had headed them into the lead. The best match of the night though was the last, Betis and Celta tying 3-3 to leave both floundering in mid-table. Loren put the locals ahead before the break, and Junior added a second after the restart. Two goals though by substitute Maxi Gómez and another in between from Brais Méndez appeared to have turned things around before Canales fired home a long free kick with three minutes to go. (04.11.18)

Barcelona increased their lead at the top of the table after a last gasp 2-3 victory at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening. Luis Suárez gave the Catalans an early lead, but goals either side of the break by Pozo and substitute Alvaro (less than a minute after he came on) turned the scoreline around. Dembélé and Suárez scored twice though in the last four minutes to leave their hosts down in next to bottom spot, and take Barça four points clear of Atlético Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw at neighbours Leganés in the early kick-off. Griezmann put the visitors in front from a direct free kick with twenty minutes to go, but Carrillo got a late equaliser for the locals. Atleti’s city rivals Real Madrid meanwhile beat Valladolid 2-0 for a second win in a row under caretaker coach Santiago Solari, the result taking them above their opponents to sixth. However it was another unconvincing performance, Alcaraz and Toni Villa both hitting the bar for the visitors before a wayward shot from substitute Vinicius deflected into the net off Kiko Olivas with seven minutes to go. Soon afterwards though Sergio Ramos wrapped things up from the penalty spot after Calero brought down Benzema in the area. Elsewhere Valencia’s poor form continued after they lost 0-1 to Girona, and they ended the day just two points above the drop zone. The Ches dominated throughout, but visiting keeper Bono made a string of impressive saves and Kondogbia had a strike ruled out by the VAR system before the break. And just three minutes in to the second half Pere Pons got the only goal after Neto saved from Patrick Roberts to take the Catalans to within a point of the European spots. (03.11.18)