News Archive

First division – day 30

Real Madrid return to the top of the first division, a 1-2 win at sixth placed Real Sociedad on Sunday taking them above Barcelona on head-to-head goal difference. It was a controversial result though, Sergio Ramos opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Llorente was adjudged to have fouled Vinicius in the area some five minutes in to the second half. A few minutes later, a strike by Januzaj was ruled out by VAR for the positional offside of a colleague, and only a minute or so after that VAR confirmed that Benzema had not handled the ball before scoring the second. Merino did get one back late on, but the goal came too late to change the result. Earlier in the evening Valencia beat Osasuna 2-0 to close to within a point of the European spots, Guedes starting things off with an individualist goal in the twelfth minute, and then setting up Rodrigo for the second later on in the first half. And Celta put a bit of daylight between themselves and the relegation spots with a convincing 6-0 win over Alavés in the early kick-off, the result taking them four points clear of the bottom three. The Galicians were four up at the break, thanks to a Murillo header, an Aspas penalty and two in a minute from Rafinha, and after the restart new-signing Nolito got the fifth from the penalty spot, and then assisted Santi Mina to complete the “set”. (21.06.20)

Atlético Madrid are up to third, ahead of Sevilla on goal difference, after a 1-0 victory over Valladolid on Saturday evening. Vitolo got the only goal with ten minutes to go following a corner, VAR confirming that his header had crossed the line before Kiko Olivas headed it clear. Getafe stay fifth after a 1-1 draw against Eibar, Etebo putting the Madrid based side in front, but Charles heading the equaliser after the interval. And Athletic Bilbao kept their hopes of a European spot alive with a 1-0 win against Betis, Iñigo Martínez turning in Córdoba’s cross in the seventh minute to tie up the three points. Canales could have saved a point had he not put a late penalty over the bar, but the defeat cost the job of coach Rubi, who was fired soon afterwards. Earlier in the day Levante beat Espanyol 1-3 to leave the Catalans at the foot of the table, a David López header cancelling out Borja Mayoral’s opener, but a Bardhi strike and a Pedrosa own goal swinging it in favour of the away team after the break. (20.06.20)

A set-back for Barcelona on Friday night, a 0-0 draw at third-placed Sevilla opening the door for Real Madrid to overtake them in the league! Luis Suárez was back in the starting line-up, but even two or three Messi free kicks were unable to break down Vaclik and his defence. Earlier in the evening Villarreal beat Granada 0-1 to consolidate seventh spot, Gerard Moreno running on to a long Peña pass in the eleventh minute to thrash a shot past Rui Silva. It was their third single goal victory in a row, and they are now level with Real Sociedad and Getafe. Further down the table struggling Mallorca and Leganés cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, the goals, Salva Sevilla early on and Oscar Rodríguez near the end, both coming from direct free kicks. (19.06.20)