News Archive

First division – day 12

Barcelona were surprisingly beaten 3-4 by Betis on Sunday afternoon, and their lead at the top of the table has been cut back to one point. Junior and Joaquín put the Andalusians two up at the break, and although Messi (back after breaking his arm) got one back from the penalty spot, Lo Celso restored the two goal cushion just three minutes later. Vidal scored again for the hosts, but Canales replied for the visitors, and Messi’s second of the day came too late to change the result. Barça are now just a point ahead of three teams, including Sevilla, who move above Atlético to second after coming from behind to beat Espanyol 2-1. Borja Iglesias first half opener was cancelled out by a strike from Mercado, and Ben Yedder got the winner with two minutes to go. Alavés are also on 23 points after they did likewise against bottom club Huesca in the mid-day kick-off, Moi Gómez putting the visitors ahead, but Jony levelling it before the interval, and Rubén Sobrino making it 2-1 on the hour mark.

It is one of the closest leagues in recent years though, Espanyol still fifth, only three points below their city rivals, and Real Madrid are now sixth, just a point behind the Catalans after they won 2-4 at Celta later in the evening. Benzema got the first and a Cabral put through his own net either side of half time, Hugo Mallo pulled one back, but a Ramos penalty and Ceballos strike put the game beyond the reach of the locals before Brais Méndez scored Celta’s second. Shortly after the game finished Solari was confirmed as Madrid’s permanent manager, but Celta coach Mohamed was fired after some poor recent results. Elsewhere Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal, a result which left both in the lower reaches of the table. Strikes by De Tomás and Alvaro García either side of the break overturned Chukwueze’s opener, but Sansone saved a point for the visitors with ten minutes to go. Rayo stay in next to bottom spot, with their opponents going into the two-week international break just a point above the drop zone. (11.11.18)

Atlético Madrid are up to second pending the rest of the weekend games after a last minute 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao. Iñaki Williams twice put the visitors ahead, but Thomas and Rodri pegged them back both times. And with the game in time added on, Godín (who was carrying an injury) headed the winner after Griezmann played the ball across. Only one goal in the other three games on Saturday though, and that was from the penalty spot, Dani Parejo converting the kick with ten minutes to go after Bruno was sent off for holding back Gameiro, to give Valencia a 0-1 victory at Getafe. The locals felt themselves hard done by though after Cabrera and Molina both hit the post. Valladolid drew 0-0 against Eibar in the early kick-off, keepers Masip and Riesgo the best players there, and the game between Girona and Leganés also ended without goals, both teams hitting the woodwork and having goals ruled out, but the scoreline remaining unmoved in the end. Leganés stay in the bottom three, just below Athletic and Villarreal on goal difference. (10.11.18)

One match on Friday evening, Real Sociedad beating Levante 1-3 to move to within a point of their hosts in the table. Chema fired the locals into an early lead, but after the restart the visitors scored three times in a six minute period, Theo Hernández, Juanmi and Oyarzabal getting the goals to hand the Valencia based team their first defeat in six games. (09.11.18)