News Archive

First division – day 8

Barcelona are up to second, two points below Real Madrid, after a convincing 4-0 win over Sevilla in the last match on Sunday. Luis Suárez got the first with an acrobatic overhead kick from Semedo’s cross with just under half an hour gone, and in the next eight minutes Arturo Vidal and Dembélé added two more. Messi, making his first start of the season in the league, added the fourth with a house-special free kick after the break, and the only downside for the Catalans were red cards for youngster Araujo and Dembélé in the last four minutes or so. Atlético Madrid drop a point below Barça to third after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Valladolid, although it could have been worse had Sandro not fired a penalty over the top shortly before the interval. And Real Sociedad missed out on a chance to go level with Barcelona after they were beaten 1-2 by Getafe, second half goals by Mata and Maksimovic turning things around after Merino had headed the opener early on. Athletic Bilbao are also down to seventh after they lost 1-0 at Celta, Iago Aspas heading the only goal to take the Galicians away from the danger zone. Espanyol though end the weekend further down in the relegation spots after they were beaten 2-0 by fellow strugglers Mallorca, Budimir and Salva Sevilla getting the goals to take the islanders above their opponents, and to leave the job of Espanyol coach David Gallego hanging by a thread. (07.10.19)

Real Madrid made sure of top spot going into the short international break after a 4-2 victory over second placed Granada on Saturday evening. Benzema opened the scoring from Bale’s cross with only two minutes gone, and just before half time Hazard got his first goal for his new club, lobbing keeper Rui silva after Valverde put him through. When Modric fired home the third after the restart it appeared to be all over, but Areola (replacing the indisposed Courtois) gave away a penalty on Carlos Fernández which Machís converted, and Duarte headed in a corner before substitute James put the fans’ minds at rest in injury time. All the other teams in the top six play tomorrow, but Valencia moved up to within a point of the European spots after beating Alavés 2-1. Maxi Gómez combined with Rodrigo to put the Ches ahead midway through the first half, and Dani Parejo won and converted a penalty towards the end of the second half before Lucas Pérez pulled one back for the visitors in the dying minutes. Valencia’s city neighbours Levante stay a point below them after a 1-2 win at bottom club Leganés, a Roger penalty and a Campaña free kick either side of the break putting them two up, and Braithwaite replying for the hosts before seeing his late penalty saved by Aitor. Villarreal though drop to ninth after they lost 2-1 at Osasuna, Pau Torres heading them into a fifth minute lead, but second half strikes by Roncaglia and Chimy Ávila turning the scoreline around. One match on Friday night as well, Betis and Eibar drawing 1-1, with Orellana putting the visitors in front from the penalty spot after Canales fouled Escalante (who was sent off later on), and Loren saving a point for the locals after the interval. (06.10.19)