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Match round-up - First Division, Day 3

Deportivo clocked up their first victory of the season after beating Eibar 0-1 in this week’s Monday night game. Both teams were playing their football in the second division last year, and although Depor fielded several new signings, including Postiga and Sidnei, the Basque team lined up with several players who have won them two promotions in consecutive seasons. The visitors took the lead with just under a quarter of an hour gone after Bóveda failed to control Juanfran’s cross, the ball falling to Juan Domínguez for him to score the easiest of goals. After that though they sat back to defend, and local keeper Irureta was hardly tested from there on. The introduction of Dani Nieto at the break livened things up, Lux having to tip a long shot over the bar a couple of minutes after the restart, and the ex Barcelona B forward hitting the side netting a minute later. But other than a couple of long range efforts by Saúl, Eibar couldn’t break through a well ordered defence after that, and they fell to a first defeat in their Ipurúa stadium. It looks like it’s going to a long, hard season for them this year! (15.09.14)

Valencia ended the weekend in second spot, two points behind leaders Barcelona, after a 3-1 victory over Espanyol on Sunday evening. The Ches went ahead early on, Rodrigo laying the ball across for Piatti to beat Kiko Casilla in the seventh minute, and the keeper had to be on his toes to save from Paco Alcácer a few minutes later. Sergio García had a strike ruled out for a non-existent offside early in the second half, but Dani Parejo made it two soon afterwards when Rodrigo’s pass was only partly blocked, and Alcácer connected with Feghouli’s centre ten minutes later for the third. Sergio García did get a last minute consolation for the Catalans from the penalty spot after he was tripped by Javi Fuego, but it was not enough to prevent them from dropping in to the relegation zone.

Sevilla are level on points with Valencia and Atlético after they beat Getafe 2-0 later in the day. The Andalusians had most of the play in the first half, Iborra and Bacca failing to find the target and Guaita saving well from coke following a corner. However with half time approaching the visiting keeper misjudged a corner and ended up hitting Krychowiak in the face, and Bacca opened the scoring from the resulting penalty. Contra made tow changes after the restart, and they almost levelled the scores when Trémoulinas nearly put through his own net. Young keeper Sergio Rico made the save of the night from Hinestroza near the end, but almost immediately play went up the other end, and Aleix Vidal wrapped things up after Guaita could only push Diogo’s cross in to his path.

Granada and Villarreal drew 0-0 in the last match of the evening, a result which leaves the Andalusians in sixth spot and their visitors in eighth. The game got off to a cagey start, and a header from Success and a long shot from Mario Gaspar were the only efforts anywhere near target in the first half. After the break though the keepers were brought in to action, Roberto having to tip a Gabriel header over the bar and then saving from Vietto and Cheryshev, and Asenjo keeping out Ortuño, Córdoba and Murillo. A point apiece in the end however, and both will be reasonably happy with the scoreline.

Elche are just behind Villarreal in the rankings after they won 2-3 at Rayo Vallecano in this Sunday’s mid-day game. There were chances at either end early on, but Edu Albácar got the opener for the visitors with a well struck free kick. Kakuta equalized for the locals before the break after picking up a Bueno assist, and Trashorras came close with a well struck free kick soon after the restart. However Jonathas ran on from midfield to restore the lead, and Mosquera put the game beyond Rayo’s reach with a long shot which bounced past Cristian Alvarez. Bueno got another one back with an injury time penalty after Albácar handled in the area, but it came too late to save the result. (14.09.14)

Leaders Barcelona made it three wins out of three after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in the first game on Saturday afternoon. Wearing their red and yellow striped shirts to celebrate Catalunya’s 300 th anniversary, Luis Enrique’s side had the better of the first half, with Munir and Messi going close a couple of times and Iraizoz having to save from Pedro, Rakitic and Munir. Bravo did have to keep out Beñat early on, and both sides had penalty claims turned down before the break, but after the restart Barça continued to dominate, Munir having a strike ruled out for a questionable offside and Jordi Alba testing Iraizoz again. Luis Enrique finally turned to Neymar though, and he decided the match with two goals in the last ten minutes, the first after Messi put him through, and the second after Messi laid the ball back to him. The Catalans are sure of top spot whatever happens in the other games, and they have still to let in a goal this season.

Atlético Madrid are up to second pending Sunday’s games after a 1-2 victory over city rivals Real Madrid later in the evening. This was a third meeting between the two teams this season after Atlético’s win in the Spanish Super Cup, and once again Tiago headed the visitors in to the lead from Koke’s corner in only the tenth minute. Ronaldo, James, Benzema and Bale all had chances after that though, and with just under half an hour gone Ronaldo made it all square from the penalty spot after Siqueira tripped him up inside the area. Benzema missed an easy chance soon afterwards and Moyà did well to keep out his header before half time, and after the interval James and Ronaldo went close. Atleti brought on Arda Turan however, and followng a couple of close calls, the Turkish midfielder turned a shot past Casillas after Raúl García stepped over Juanfran’s cross. A second league victory in a row for Simeone’s side in the Bernabeu after a long drought, and right now they have the bragging rights in the capital city.

Celta kept up their unbeaten record with a 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad, although they will be disappointed with the result after they threw away a two goal lead in the dying seconds of the match. The visitors had the better chances early on, with Sergio Alvarez having to save from Xabi Prieto and Carlos Vela going close a couple of times. Larrivey and Alex López should have scored at the other end though after that, and with half an hour gone Orellana got in front of his marker to head Krohn-Dehli’s cross past Zubikarai. Just three minutes in to the second half Larrivey made it two, flinging himself to the ground to bundle the ball over the line after his first shot from a Jonny Castro centre came back off the post, and he almost made it three minutes later with a header at the keeper from a long free kick. But with twenty minutes to go Agirretxe got one back after Sergio Alvarez spilled a long shot from Chory Castro, and after Granero hit the post, the Basque side saved a point when Jonny Castro could only deflect Granero’s cross in to his own net.

The other match on Saturday also ended all square, Málaga and Levante drawing 0-0. It was a first point for the Valencia based side, although they stay in bottom spot without having scored a single goal in their first three games. This time as well they barely managed a shot at goal, and keeper Jesús was the busiest man on the park in the first half, with saves from Antunes, Luis Alberto, Rosales and Horta. Luis Alberto also hit the bar, and after the restart Juanmi has a strike ruled out for a non-existent offside, and Santa Cruz, Morales and Samuel Castillejo also failed to hit the target. The match was summed up by the fact that Málaga took no less than twenty corners, but in the end they had to make do with a point. (13.09.14)

La Liga returned after the two week international break, Almería and Córdoba drawing 1-1 on Friday night in their first ever meeting in the top flight. The goals came early on, Edgar connecting with a long Ximo Navarro cross to beat Juan Carlos with an angled shot in the twelfth minute, and Fede replying for the visitors some seven minutes later after picking up a return pass from Fidel. Hemed and Ghilas had chances at either end after the break, and Soriano headed a corner against the crossbar, but in the end both sides had to settle for a point which keeps them in the lower reaches of the table. (12.09.14)