News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 6

Barcelona ended the weekend three points clear at the top of the table after arch-rivals Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Sevilla on Sunday evening. Jesús Navas got ahead of a static Marcelo to head the opener from Fernando Navarro's cross with just over half an hour gone, and Casillas had to be at his best to keep out Renato and Perotti either side of half time. Pepe headed the equaliser from Guti's long free kick just four minutes after the restart, but Renato headed the winner a few minutes later to take the Andalusians level on points with their opponents.

Valencia are up to fifth after a 0-1 victory at Racing Santander earlier in the evening. Unai Emery brought back César in goal, and the keeper had his work cut out to maintain a clean sheet throughout the match. The only goal though came on the hour mark when substitute Zigic intercepted Pinillos's bad back pass to round Toño and score against his old side. It was a third home defeat in a row for the Cantabrians, who are now only a point above the drop zone.

Mallorca's impressive start to the season suffered a set-back when they were beaten 4-1 by Sporting Gijón. Martí put them ahead from the penalty spot after Gregory hauled down Víctor early on, but after the break the Asturians clicked in to action with four goals in twenty five minutes. Luis Morán levelled the scores with a shot from a wide angle, and Miguel De las Cuevas added two more before Bilic rounded things off with eight minutes to go.

Athletic Bilbao are back level with Mallorca after drawing 2-2 at Valladolid. Susaeta put the Basque side ahead early on, but they were left with ten men midway through the first half when Ustaritz was sent off. Second half goals from Diego Costa and Nivaldo turned the scoreline around, but Marcos and Nivaldo were sent off for second bookable offences, and 16 year old Muniain became the youngest player ever to score in the top flight when he equalised with a quarter of an hour to go.

Getafe moved up to the top half of the table after beating Osasuna 2-1. All the goals came after the break, Cata Díaz giving Michel's side the lead with a far post header from Pedro León's corner. Aranda (who had missed several chances earlier on) finally beat Ustari to make it all square after Camuñas set him up, but a spectacular lob from Pedro León won it for the hosts with a quarter of an hour still to go.

Villarreal and Espanyol played out a 0-0 draw, a result which left the locals still down in the relegation zone with their coach Ernesto Valverde facing possible destitution. The visitors almost scored when Eguren headed against his own bar early on, but soon afterwards they were left with ten men when Forlín was sent off for a foul on Rossi. After that though Kameni put in a star performance to keep out all and sundry and ensure a valuable point for his side.

Only Xerez are below Villarreal, and they got their second point of the season after drawing with neighbours Málaga. Armenteros scored Xerez's first ever goal in the top flight soon after the restart, the referee turning down appeals for hand ball. But Obinna thrashed home the equaliser late on before getting himself sent off, a goal which nonetheless couldn't prevent his side from ending the weekend down in the bottom three. (04.10.09)

Barcelona equalled their best ever start to the season with a sixth win out of six, although they made hard work of it before beating Almería 1-0. Pep Guardiola's side were on top for much of the match, Messi going close a couple of times and Xavi and Pedro hitting the post in the first twenty minutes. With half an hour on the clock Pedro got what was to prove the only goal of the match with an impressive shot from the left of the area, but apart from a couple of efforts by Messi and Ibrahimovic after the break, that was about it.

Deportivo move up to fourth in the table pending Sunday's games after a 0-1 victory at Tenerife. Although the early chances fell to the locals, mainly through Román Martínez, Guardado, Riki and Juan Rodríguez all tested Aragoneses at the other end either side of half time. The Galicians took the lead with an hour gone when Colotto headed in on the far post after Lopo had played on Guardado's corner, and Bodipo could have scored a second goal for the visitors near the end.

Atlético Madrid finally got their first win of the season, beating Zaragoza 2-1 to move clear of the relegation zone. Jurado opened the scoring in only the second minute of the match, but young keeper De Gea had to save a Babic penalty a few minutes later after he had brought down Jorge López in the area. Antonio López made it two with a low free kick after the restart, but Ewerthon converted a second penalty soon afterwards to set up a nail-biting finish. (03.10.09)