News Archive

First division – day 12

This is proving to be one of the closest fought leagues in many years, at least at this stage of the competition, with only one point separating the top five clubs. The last match on Sunday involved Granada and Real Sociedad, both of whom could have ended the weekend at the top, and in the end it was the Basque side who ran out 1-2 winners to move level with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the table. A long Vadillo free kick equalised Portu’s opener, set up by Oyarzabal, but with two minutes to go Portu got his second of the night to hand the Andalusians their first home defeat. They drop to sixth, a point now above Getafe, who beat Celta 0-1. Kenedy got the only goal for the visitors late on in the second half to signal the end for local coach Fran Escribá, who was fired shortly after the game ended. Meanwhile Villarreal drop to eighth after they could only draw 0-0 against Athletic Bilbao, visiting keeper Unai Simón in particular helping his side to save a point.

Osasuna are another of the newly promoted sides who are doing well, and they are now ninth after a thrilling 4-2 victory over regional neighbours Alavés. Chimy Ávila set up Rubén García for the first and then got the second himself before Laguardia pulled one back, and after that there were three penalties, converted by Roberto Torres, Lucas Pérez and Juan Villar, to extend the Pamplona based side’s unbeaten home run to 31 games. Valladolid are a point below Osasuna after they beat Mallorca 3-0 in the mid-day kick-off, a Joaquín header and an Enes Ünal penalty either side of the break putting them two up, and Sandro firing home his first league goal in almost two and a half years in injury time. And Eibar won 1-2 at Leganés to leave their hosts firmly anchored at the bottom of the table, strikes by Charles and Kike García overturning En-Nesyri’s sixth minute opener. (03.11.19)

A strange day on Saturday, with none of the big three able to win. Leaders Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by Levante, despite going ahead with a Messi penalty after Miramón brought down Semedo in the area shortly before the break. However Campaña, Mayoral and Radoja scored three in an eight minute period midway through the second half to give the locals their second win in four days. Second placed Real Madrid though failed to take advantage after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Betis later in the evening. The Andalusians had let in more goals than anyone this season, but Joel and his defence stood fast to earn a valuable point. Zidane’s side are now level with Barça and a point above Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, who cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Franco Vázquez headed the hosts into the lead from a Benega free kick on the half hour mark, but Morata levelled it after the break with a header from an Arias centre, and Vaclik saved a Diego Costa penalty later on. The only Champions League team to win were Valencia, who came from behind to beat struggling Espanyol 1-2. Marc Roca gave the Catalans a first half lead from the penalty spot after Kondogbia handled in the area, but Parejo levelled it with a second penalty after Víctor Gómez fouled Rodrigo, and Maxi Gómez headed the winner from Rodrigo’s cross with ten minutes to go. (02.11.19)