News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 3

Real Madrid move to the top of the table after thrashing newly promoted Xerez 5-0. within a minute they were ahead after Cristian Ronaldo picked up the ball outside of the area and cut across to shoot past Renan. After that though the visitors put up a good fight, Viqueira even hitting the bar with a free kick before the floodgates opened in the end. Ronaldo headed his second of the night from Granero's corner with a quarter of an hour to go, and Guti made it three just a couple of minutes later after Benzema had played and missed. And Van Nistelrooy came on to set up Benzema and then score the fifth goal which took his side above Barça on goal difference.

Athletic Bilbao are keeping pace with the top two though, and they moved up to third after beating Villarreal 3-2. Fernando Llorente followed up his midweek Europa Cup double with two more in the first half, both after assists from David López. Cani latched on to Joseba Llorente's headed pass to drill one back soon after the break, but Javi Martínez headed a third from Gabilondo's corner before Cazorla completed the scoring with a late free kick.

Valencia lost ground on the leaders after they were held to a 2-2 draw by ten man Sporting Gijón. Barral caught out Moyà to open the scoring early on, but David Villa equalised a few minutes later. Michel was sent off for the visitors after picking up a second booking midway through the first half, and when Villa scored his second of the night on the hour mark it appeared to be all over. However Gregory saved a point for the Asturians following Rivera's free kick with just four minutes to go.

Valladolid moved away from the danger zone after beating Zaragoza 1-2, their first win of the season. Marquitos gave them an early lead following good work by Diego Costa, but Jorge López picked up a loose ball to level the scores later in the first half. Sisi restored the lead though with an opportunist goal ten minutes after the restart, and visiting keeper Jacobo did the rest with a couple of good saves near the end.

Almería also got their first victory of the season, beating Getafe 1-0, and despite having only scored one goal to date they ended the weekend in seventh spot. The pre-match build up was all about the two coaches Hugo Sánchez and Michel, who played together for many years at Real Madrid, and it was a touch of irony that the only goal was scored soon after the break by Michel, albeit that it was against his namesake's team. (20.09.09)

The clashes between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have a reputation for goals, and Saturday night's game was no exception as Pep Guardiola's side ran out 5-2 winners. Within two minutes Ibrahimovic had given the locals the lead, and soon afterwards Messi collected Xavi's pass to ghost past Roberto and score. Dani Alves crashed a long free kick past the keeper for a third, and Keita made it four after good work by Messi shortly before the break. Agüero got one back on the stroke of half time, and Forlán reduced the difference further with a second goal after the restart. But with the game in injury time Messi got his second of the night to keep his team top of the table and leave Atleti down in the drop zone.

Mallorca kept up their good start to the season with a 4-0 win over Tenerife, and they occupy second spot pending Sunday's games. Mario Suárez opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark, the visitors complaining that keeper Aragoneses had been fouled in the build up. Aduríz and Julio Alvarez added two more soon after the restart, and the Canary Islanders had Luna sent off for a second bookable offence a few minutes later, and then were left with nine men when Marc Bertrán gave away a penalty on Pezzolano which Webó converted.

Sevilla made it three wins in eight days after beating Osasuna 0-2 later in the evening. The Andalusians had the better chances early on, and they went ahead when Negredo turned in Adriano's cross ten minutes before the interval. Pandiani could have equalised, but Kanouté wrapped things up with a fierce shot after Perotti chested a long ball back in to his path midway through the second half. The locals ended with ten men when Sergio was sent off for a hard tackle on Perotti near the end.

Espanyol got their first points on the board with a 2-3 victory at Deportivo. Callejón started things off after Nico Pareja had headed Luis García's corner against the bar. And although Adrián beat the offside trap to pick up Valerón's clever through ball and equalise, Forlín restored the lead with a guided header past Aranzubia close to half time. Ex Depor midfielder Verdú made it three soon after the restart, and although Lassad scrambled one back a few minutes later, it was not enough to prevent the defeat.

Racing Santander also recorded their first win of the season, beating Málaga 1-2 to move away from the danger zone. Baha should have given his side the lead with half an hour gone, but having missed his chance the visitors went ahead almost immediately after Geijo put Arana through to score. Duda did manage to level the scores briefly in the second half with a well struck free kick, but Morris headed in Lacen's wide free kick a few minutes later to secure the three points. (19.09.09)