News Archive

First division – day 15

Athletic Bilbao got their first league win since the opening day of the season after beating Girona 1-0 in the Monday night game. Either side could have won it, Stuani having a strike ruled out for a questionable hand ball before the break and Aduríz heading against the post after the restart. However with a draw seemingly on the cards Aduríz fired home a hotly disputed injury time penalty to get new coach Gaizka Garitano off to a good start, and hand the Catalans their first away defeat of the current campaign. (10.12.18)

Real Madrid are back up into the Champions League spots after a 0-1 victory over bottom club Huesca on Sunday afternoon. Gareth Bale volleyed in an Odriozola cross to give Solari’s team the lead in the eighth minute, but after that they struggled, and only some good saves by Courtois ensured the win. From sixth placed down though only three points separate nine teams, Levante the current incumbents of that last Europa League spot after a thrilling 4-4 draw at Eibar in the mid-day game. Sergi Enrich’s early opener was overturned by strikes from Moreno and Rober Pier, but after the interval a goal by Escalante and two by Charles (including a penalty) appeared to have won it for the locals. However Oliveira put through his own net, and Borja Mayoral got the equaliser for the Valencia based side in injury time. Betis are level with Levante though after they beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 in the last match of the evening, Lo Celso converting a penalty on the hour mark and Sidnei running through from his own half to make it two a few minutes later. And Valladolid are two points below the Andalusians after they won 1-2 at Real Sociedad, the result taking them a point above their hosts. Toni Villa opened the scoring early on and Antoñito made it two for the visitors after the break before Oyarzabal got one back soon afterwards. (09.12.18)

Barcelona stay clear at the top of the table after a resounding 0-4 victory against city rivals Espanyol on Saturday. Messi was once again in plethoric form, scoring the first and the last from house-special free kicks midway through the first and second halves, and setting up Dembélé for the second. Dembélé himself put Luis Suárez through for him to score the third from the tightest of angles on the stroke of half time, and Oscar Duarte had a possible late consolation ruled out for offside. Barça are now three points clear after second placed Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia. Sarabia appeared to have given the Andalusians the three points with a second half strike, but Diakhaby headed the equaliser from Parejo’s free kick in injury time. Atlético Madrid are now level with Sevilla after they beat fourth placed Alavés 3-0 in the early kick-off. Kalinic gave Simeone’s side the lead with just under half an hour gone, and Griezmann and Rodri scored two more in the last ten minutes or so. The fight for the European spots is very tight however, with four teams tied on 21 points, and Celta now just a point below them after beating struggling Villarreal 2-3. New Spanish international Brais Méndez opened the scoring for the visitors and then set up Okay and Maxi Gómez for two more in a six minute period either side of the interval. However the hosts fought back later on, Bacca scoring twice in the last seven minutes, and Moreno hitting the post near the end. (08.12.18)

A 1-1 draw in the South Madrid derby between Leganés and Getafe on Friday night, Cabrera giving the visitors a first half lead with a header from a Damián Suárez free kick, and Nyom firing home the equaliser after the restart. The result takes Getafe up to sixth pending the rest of the weekend’s games. (07.12.18)