News Archive

First division – day 27

Real Madrid salvaged a bit of pride after one of their worst week’s on record, a 1-4 victory at Valladolid on Sunday evening keeping them six points clear of Getafe in third spot. They got off to a bad start though, Alcaraz missing a penalty and Guardiola having two strikes ruled out for offside before Anuar put the locals in front. Varane equalised before the break however, and after the restart Benzema converted a penalty and headed a third before Modric wrapped things up late on. Earlier in the evening Sevilla also clocked up a much needed win, the Andalusians beating Real Sociedad 5-2 to take some of the pressure off coach Pablo Machín. Oyarzabal cancelled out Sarabia’s opener, but after the restart Ben Yedder helped himself to a hat-trick in less than fifteen minutes. Soon afterwards Oyarzabal put through his own net, and the midfielder rounded off an eventful day, firing home a second penalty later on.

Sevilla stay in sixth spot, but Valencia and Betis are still only a point below them after both won. Valencia left it late though before beating Girona 2-3, Ferrán scoring the winner in the ninetieth minute. The Ches had taken the lead twice though Guedes and Parejo, but a Ramalho header and a Stuani penalty pegged them back both times. Betis meanwhile won 0-1 at Celta in the mid-day game, Jesé getting the only goal after Rubén saved from Tello with ten minutes to go. It was first defeat for new coach Fran Escribá, and his side drop into the relegation zone after Villarreal won 0-2 at Levante. Both goals came in injury time though, Rober Pier turning Samu Chukwueze’s cross into his own net under pressure from Iborra, and Chukwueze himself scoring the second to take his team within four points of their hosts. (10.03.19)

Barcelona stay seven points clear at the top of the table after a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Raúl De Tomás gave the visitors an early lead, but Piqué headed in a Messi free kick before the break, and a Messi penalty and a late strike by Luis Suárez ensured the three points for the Catalans. Second placed Atlético Madrid kept up the pressure on the leaders though after they won 1-0 against neighbours Leganés earlier in the day. The only goal came early on in the second half after Omerou gave away a penalty on Correa, Lunin saving Saúl’s spot kick, but the midfielder turning the rebound back into the net. Getafe consolidated fourth spot after they came from behind to beat bottom club Huesca 2-1, Mata scoring twice after the break, the second from the penalty spot, after Gallego had put the visitors in front. And fifth placed Alavés are now four points below the Madrid based side after they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Eibar, Marc Cardona saving a point for the visitors after Inui had opened the scoring for the hosts. (09.03.19)

The Friday night game between Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol ended all square at 1-1, a result which leaves both side safely in mid-table. Wu Lei set up Ferreyra to put the visitors in front in the seventh minute, but Raúl García headed the equaliser from an Ibai Gómez cross with ten minutes to go. (08.03.19)