News Archive

First division – day 25

The Monday night game between Girona and Real Sociedad ended without goals, a result which takes the Catalans five points clear of the drop zone, and leaves their opponents still two points below the European spots. Lozano and Borja García had the best chances for the locals, but Imanol’s side held on to take their unbeaten run to ten games. (25.02.19)

The big three have now opened up a nine point gap over the rest after Atlético and Real Madrid both won on Sunday. Atlético Madrid stay in second spot though after they beat struggling Villarreal 2-0, Morata getting his first goal for the club on the half hour mark, and Saúl wrapping things up with two minutes to go. And Real Madrid remain two points behind their neighbours after a 1-2 win at Levante, but only thanks to two controversial penalties which Benzema and then Bale converted. Roger got the goal for the locals in between the two spot kicks. Betis bounced back from their midweek Europa League defeat with a 0-2 victory at Valladolid which takes them back up to seventh, Mandi getting the first on the stroke of half time, and Joaquín the second following a good run by Canales with two minutes to go. Valencia though drop three points below the Andalusians (who they meet in next Thursday’s cup semi-final), after they were held 1-1 by Leganés in the mid-day game, Kondogbia seemingly giving the Ches the win, but Braithwaite equalising for the visitors with two minutes to go. (24.02.19)

Another magnificent display by Leo Messi helped Barcelona to a 2-4 victory at Sevilla on Saturday afternoon, the Catalans opening up a ten pointy gap at the top pending Sunday’s games. A spectacular Messi volley cancelled out the opener from Jesús Navas, but Mercado restored the lead for the locals just before the break. Messi scored two more after the restart though to complete the 50th hat-trick of his career, and with the game in injury time he set up Luis Suárez for the fourth. The defeat means that Sevilla drop out of the Champions League spots, now behind Getafe after the Madrid based team beat neighbours Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in the early kick-off. Mata put the hosts ahead with just under half an hour gone, and although Raúl De Tomás made it all square after the interval, Jorge Molina combined with Mata to score the winner a few minutes later. Alavés are now level with Sevilla in sixth place after they drew 0-0 with Celta, Rubén Blanco producing a string of saves for the Galicians to save the job of Miguel Cardoso for the time being. And Athletic Bilbao are now only six points below Alavés after a 1-0 win over regional rivals Eibar, Raúl García getting the only goal there with less than a minute on the clock. (23.02.19)

Bottom club Huesca are still hopeful of escaping the drop, and they picked up another valuable point in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Friday evening. Granero put the locals ahead with a direct free kick, and new signing Wu Lei hit the woodwork, but early on in the second half Pulido played the ball over for Etxeita to fire home the equaliser. (22.02.19)