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Match round-up - First Division, Day 2

Barcelona are the only team to win their first two matches in the league, Luis Enrique’s side beating Villarreal 0-1 on Sunday evening. The coach left Neymar on the bench at the start and once again included the 18 year old Munir in his line-up. But it was another youngster Sandro who got the winner, the substitute turning the ball over the line from Messi’s cross with ten minutes to go.

Later in the evening Real Madrid were beaten 4-2 by Real Sociedad, a result which seemed more than unlikely when Sergio Ramos and Bale put the visitors two up with only ten minutes gone. However Iñigo Martínez got one back following a corner, and two goals either side of half time by Zurutuza turned the scoreline around before Vela wrapped things up.

Late draws in the other two matches on Sunday, with Isaac Cuenca scoring an injury time penalty for Deportivo to make it 2-2 against Rayo Vallecano. José Rodríguez had taken advantage of a bad back pass to open the scoring for the locals, but Alberto Bueno netted twice from Javier Aquino crosses to put Rayo in front. And in the last of the late night games, Lombán saved a 1-1 draw for hosts Elche against Granada with a 91st minute strike after Fran Rico had given the Andalusians the lead ten minutes earlier. (31.08.14)

Defending league champions Atlético Madrid didn’t expect too many problems against newly promoted Eibar on Saturday evening, and when Miranda and then Mandzukic headed in a Koke corner and a Gabi free kick in the first quarter of the game, they appeared to be cruising to an easy win. However Abraham made it 2-1 with an impressive shot soon afterwards, and Arruabarrena, Bóveda and Ängel all had chances to save a point for the Basque side later on.

Earlier in the evening Athletic Bilbao beat Levante 3-0 in the inaugural league match in the newly completed San Mamés stadium. Valverde’s side had already won there in the Champions League qualifier a few days ago though, and Aduríz (who scored two of their goals against Napoli) went close a couple of times before he headed in an Ibai Gómez on the half hour mark. Irurraspe headed a second from an Ibai Gómez free kick soon after the restart, and with a quarter of an hour to go Muniain completed the scoring after visiting keeper Jesús could only push a shot from Aduríz in to his path.

There was a carnival atmosphere in the Arcangel stadium for the first top flight match there in 42 years, but in the end hosts Córdoba had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Celta. Both goals came after the interval, Orellana firing the visitors in to the lead, but Fede turning in the equalizer following a Rossi cross a few minutes later.

One “after-hours” game again this Saturday, Sevilla beating Espanyol 1-2 in the eleven o’clock kick-off. Bacca and Iborra got the goals either side of half time for the visitors, with Stuani heading one back for the Catalans on the hour mark. (30.08.14)

Valencia got their first win of the season after beating Málaga 3-0 on Friday night. The visitors had the better chances early on though, and it was only after Sergi Darder was sent off for a tackle from behind that the Ches got in to the match. Paco Alcácer celebrated his first ever call up for the Spanish squad with the opener on the half hour mark, and Dani Parejo made it two on the stroke of half time after Weligton cut out Feghouli’s pass with his arm, Kameni saving the resulting spot kick but the ex Real Madrid midfielder reacting quickly to turn in the rebound. Juanmi had a goal ruled out incorrectly for offside soon after the restart, but a few minutes later Piatti got the third after Alcácer played Feghouli’s centre in to his path.

Earlier in the evening Getafe opened their account with a 1-0 victory over Almería. Alvaro Vázquez got the only goal midway through the first half with more than a bit of fortune, Hinestroza’s cross deflecting off a defender and going in to the net off the striker’s back. Otherwise though most chances fell to the visitors, new keeper Guaita putting in a solid performance with saves from Zongo, Hemed and Thievy amongst others. (29.08.14)