News Archive

First division – day 36

Real Madrid are just two points away from taking the league title after they beat Granada 1-2 on Monday night! Strikes by Mendy and Benzema in the first quarter of an hour appeared to have tied things up, but Machís got one back after the interval (the first goal that Courtois had let in for six games) to set up a tight finish. Earlier in the evening Real Sociedad clocked up only their second win in nine games, the Basque side beating fifth placed Villarreal 1-2 to return to seventh spot. All the goals came in the last half hour, Willian José and Diego Llorente heading in corners before Cazorla fired one back for the home side late on. Villarreal’s defeat means that Atlético Madrid and Sevilla are now sure of their Champions League berths for next season. The fight for the Europa League spots is still wide open however, Getafe staying sixth, three points below Villarreal and level with Real Sociedad, after a 0-0 draw at Alavés. The point keeps the Vitoria based team four points above the drop zone, although they are still not safe just yet. One other issue that was resolved this weekend was the first of the second division promotion places, defeats for second and third placed Huesca and Zaragoza meaning that leaders Cádiz will be returning to the top flight for the first time in fifteen years. (13.07.20)

Sevilla have finally got their league campaign back on track after a shaky start following the lockdown, a 2-0 victory over Mallorca on Sunday making it four wins in a row. Ocampos opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Pozo handled in the area shortly before the break, and En-Nesyri wrapped things up near the end. The result means that Lopetegui’s side will be at least sure of fourth spot if Villarreal don’t win tomorrow, whereas the islanders remain in the drop zone, still three points away from safety. Athletic Bilbao meanwhile are up to seventh after a 1-2 win at Levante, Raúl García putting them two up at the break before Bardhi got one back after the restart. Valencia though drop to eighth after losing 1-0 at struggling Leganés, despite playing over half an hour against ten men following the dismissal of Jonathan Silva. Rubén Pérez gave the hosts an early lead from the penalty spot after a hand ball by Kondogbia, and Cuéllar saved a Dani Parejo penalty later on to take the Madrid based side level with Mallorca in the table. They are both still within reach of Celta and Alavés, although Eibar are now out of harm's reach after a 0-2 victory at the already doomed Espanyol, Expósito converting a penalty midway through the first half, and then making it two on the follow up after Diego López saved a second spot kick minutes later. (12.07.20)

Barcelona kept the fight for the league title open for a few more days at least, a 0-1 win at Valladolid on Saturday taking them to within a point of leaders Real Madrid pending their game on Monday. Arturo Vidal got the only goal after Messi put him through on the quarter hour mark, but only some good saves by Ter Stegen after that made sure of the three points. Later in the evening third placed Atlético Madrid all but mathematically made sure of their Champions League spot after beating Betis 1-0. Correa and Morata had strikes ruled out by VAR, and Mario Hermoso got himself sent off soon after the restart, but Diego Costa headed the winner from a Carrasco free kick with fifteen minutes to go, VAR this time allowing the goal to stand. Further down the table, Celta are not out of danger after they lost 2-1 at Osasuna, the defeat leaving them just four points above the drop zone. Santi Mina opened the scoring for the Galicians in the tenth minute, but Gallego equalised soon afterwards, and an injury time strike by José Arnaiz gave the Pamplona based side a win which takes them up to within three points of the European spots. (11.07.20)