News Archive

First division – day 31

A six point gap has opened up over the bottom three and the rest after Eibar won 1-0 against Valencia on Thursday. The only goal came when Kondogbia deflected a Pedro León corner into his own net on the quarter hour mark, the defeat leaving the Ches outside of the European spots. Eibar’s win was a big blow to bottom club Espanyol, who lost 1-0 at Betis later in the evening, leaving them eight points away from safety with some difficult games to come. Marc Bartra headed the winner from a Canales corner soon after the interval to get caretaker coach Alexis Trujillo off to a good start. (25.06.20)

Real Madrid responded to Barcelona’s victory with a 2-0 win against struggling Mallorca on Wednesday. Vinicius put Zidane’s side in front in the twentieth minute following a quick counter-attack, and Sergio Ramos got the second with a direct free kick after the restart. Madrid stay top on head-to-head goal difference. Real Sociedad though drop to seventh spot after a 0-1 defeat against Celta, and they have only picked up one point in the four games after the lockdown. Iago Aspas scored the winner with a hotly disputed penalty on the stroke of half time after he was adjudged to have been fouled by Llorente (the fourth penalty they have conceded in four games), giving the Galicians a second win in a row which takes them seven points clear of the drop zone. Osasuna also moved clear of danger after a 0-1 victory at regional neighbours Alavés, Lato latching on to a loose ball midway through the second half to beat Pacheco. The Pamplona based team are now on 38 points, three above their hosts. (24.06.20)

The battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the league title continues, with Barcelona beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Tuesday night to move back to the top of the table pending Madrid’s game tomorrow. It was a less than impressive performance though, the only goal coming with twenty minutes to go when Rakitic latched on to Messi’s pass to beat Unai Simon. Earlier in the evening Atlético Madrid consolidated third spot with a 0-1 victory at Levante, Diego Costa getting the only goal on the quarter hour mark from Llorente’s assist. And elsewhere Valladolid and Getafe drew 1-1, Mata opening the scoring against his old side towards the end of the first half, but Enes Ünal making it all square from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Djene soon afterwards. (23.06.20)

Week 31 started with a 2-2 draw between Villarreal and Sevilla on Monday evening, a result which took the Andalusians back up to third and their hosts to sixth pending the rest of the midweek games. The locals took the lead twice, an early strike by Paco Alcácer after Vaclik saved Anguissa’s header, and a header by Pau Torres on the stroke of half time from Cazorla’s corner, but long shots by Escudero and Munir pegged them back both times. Later in the evening Leganés and Granada drew 0-0, leaving the home side still down in next to bottom spot. It could have been different though if Rui Silva had not pushed a Guerrero penalty on to the crossbar after Neva brought down Assalé in the area midway through the second half. (22.06.20)