News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 7

Mallorca's home record is second to none this season, and they moved up to fifth in the table after beating Getafe 3-1 in the Son Moix stadium on Sunday evening. Julio Alvarez took advantage of a mistake by Cata Díaz to open the scoring on the half hour mark, and Aduríz added two more after the break before Albín got a late consolation with a well struck free kick.

Espanyol are just a point outside the European spots after a 2-1 victory over Tenerife. The row over Tamudo was forgotten for a while as Iván Alonso netted a goal in each half to win the match. Alfaro got one back in between, but the Catalans could have won by a bigger margin had Pareja not hit the post close to half time.

Sporting Gijón are level with Espanyol after they beat Athletic Bilbao 1-2 later in the evening. Miguel De las Cuevas was the hero of the match, scoring both goals for the Asturians midway through the second half. Toquero headed one back for the home side, but too late to change the result.

Osasuna moved up in to the top half of the table after an easy 3-0 victory over an Atlético Madrid side who have yet to get going this season. All the goals came within the first half hour, Pandiani heading Camacho's team in to an early lead and then adding a second before Aranda also got his name on the scoresheet.

Zaragoza looked like they were on to a comfortable win against Racing Santander, but two late goals saved a point for the visitors. Pavón and Arizmendi put Marcelino's team two up with only half an hour gone, and they could have added more before strikes in the last ten minutes from Tchité and Serrano made it 2-2.

Almería beat Málaga 1-2 in their local derby to move safely up to mid-table and leave their opponents further down in the drop zone. A Cisma free kick and a strike from Soriano in a two minute period late in the first half were enough for the win, even though Edinho got one back after the interval.

Xerez clocked up their first win at last, beating fellow strugglers Villarreal 2-1 to leave Ernesto Valverde's team down at the bottom of the table. Pires gave the visitors an early lead, but Bermejo headed the equaliser close to half time, and Antoñito lobbed the winner over Diego López after the keeper's clearance had been blocked. (18.10.09)

Barcelona dropped their first points of the season in the league, although they still remain top of the table after a 0-0 draw at Valencia on Saturday evening. Curiously both sides lined up without a recognised centre forward, the coaches deciding to save Villa and Ibrahimovic for the midweek European encounters. Valdés was in action early on though to keep out Pablo, and the Barça keeper also made important saves from Mata, Pablo and Silva later on. The nearest the visitors came to scoring were a couple of efforts after the break from Messi and Touré Yaya, but in the end both sides settled for a point.

Real Madrid moved to within a point of the leaders after a 4-2 victory over Valladolid. Raúl celebrated a record 711th appearance for his club with two goals in the opening twenty minutes. Nauzet pulled one back with a spectacular free kick, but on the stroke of half time Marcelo restore the two goal cushion with a shot from outside of the area. Shortly after the restart Marquitos got a second for the visitors, but substitute Higuaín ran on to Xabi Alonso's long ball to chip Jacobo for his side's fourth later on.

Deportivo are quietly putting in their challenge for the top spots, and they moved level with third placed Sevilla after beating the Andalusians 1-0 earlier in the evening. Juan Rodríguez got what was to prove the only goal of the game after collecting a clearance from Fernando Navarro and firing an impressive shot in off the post. Guardado and Riki went close before half time, but after the restart Negredo and Escudé could have saved a point for the visitors. (17.10.09)