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Match round-up - First Division, Day 5

Valencia are the new leaders of the first division after a 3-0 victory over bottom club Córdoba in the last of the midweek games! Paco Alcácer steered a stunning header over Juan Carlos from a Feghouli cross to open the scoring in the twentieth minute, and just five minutes later Gayà made it two with an angled shot after André Gomes laid the ball back in to his path, the 19 year old left back’s first goal for his club. And with twenty minutes or so to go Feghouli ran on to a Carles Gil assist to score the third with a shot in off the far post, taking the Ches above Barcelona and Sevilla on number of goals scored.

Earlier on Thursday evening Espanyol beat Getafe 2-0 to move out of the relegation spots and up to mid-table. Both teams needed points, and after early pressure from the locals, Sarabia and Michel tested Kiko Casilla with long shots either side of half time. The goals though came in the second half, Sergio García volleying home a lofted Salva Sevilla pass, and Stuani getting the second late on, beating Guaita at the second attempt after Lucas Vázquez crossed in from the right. The defeat leaves Getafe in next to bottom spot. (25.09.14)

Leaders Barcelona made it five clean sheets in a row, but they dropped points for the first time this season after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Málaga on Wednesday evening. Luis Enrique’s side hardly managed a shot on goal all night, their best efforts a Messi free kick just over the top, and a couple of headers wide by Marc Barta following second half corners. Claudio Bravo had little to do at the other end either, although he did have to keep out Amrabat early on, and he made the save of the night later on, pushing a wide Luis Alberto free kick on to the post.

Sevilla are now just behind Barça on goal difference after a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, their fourth win in a row. Unai Emery made seven changes for this game, with Beto returning in goal and Deulofeu, Banega and Reyes given a run out. And it was Deulofeu who opened the scoring, the on-loan Barça winger volleying a Trémoulinas cross past Zubikarai. Immediately before that Chory Castro had hit the crossbar with a cross-come-shot, and Beto had to keep out a Zaldúa header after the restart, but otherwise the Andalusians were on top, Zubikarai having to make saves from M’Bia, Suárez and Vidal in the second half.

Atlético Madrid are up to third pending Valencia’s game on Thursday after they beat Almería 0-1. Other than a couple of efforts by Hemed the visitors had most of the play, Rubén having to save from Godín, Raúl García and Tiago before the break, and Arda Turan later on. The only goal though came on the hour mark, Miranda heading home his third of the season from a Koke corner. A good win to set them up for a difficult week, with league games against pretenders Sevilla and Valencia over the next two weekends, and a Champions League tie at home to Juventus in between.

Villarreal drop out of the European spots though after they could only draw 1-1 at Eibar. The Basque side opened the scoring early on, Arruabarrena turning a shot past Asenjo after good work by Albentosa, and Saúl almost caught the visiting keeper off his line with a long shot a few minutes later. Gerard Moreno levelled it though with an angled shot after Bruno put him through with twenty minutes to go, and Irureta made late stops from Vietto and Moi G ómez to ensure a point for his side.

Granada are also out of the top six after they lost 0-1 at home to Levante, their first defeat of the season. Jhon Córdoba missed a couple of good chances for the locals before the break, but Morales caused a few problems for Roberto and his defence, and just a minute in to the second half Rubén García picked up the ball on the half way line and held off the challenge of five defenders to score his side’s first goal of the current campaign. Rubén hit the bar with a free kick later on, but his team had already done enough for a first win which takes them out of the relegation spots.

Rayo Vallecano also moved clear of the danger zone with a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Aduríz gave the Basque side the lead after connecting with a De Marcos cross in the twentieth minute, but later in the first half Iraizoz let a Licá cross through his hands, and Leo Baptistao slid the ball in to the net to equalize. The visiting keeper made good saves from Licá and Manucho after the interval, but with the game coming to a close he could only block Baptistao’s header from Kakuta’s cross, and the striker bundled the ball in to the net to leave Athletic down in the relegation spots. (24.09.14)

A round of midweek games this week, Real Madrid kicking off the programme on Tuesday evening with an impressive 5-1 win over Elche. Cristiano Ronaldo was undoubtedly the star of the night with four goals, but before any of that happened he actually gave away an early penalty on Mosquera which Edu Albácar blasted past debutant keeper Keylor Navas to give the visitors the lead. Just five minutes later though Bale got on the end of a James cross to head home the equalizer, and with half an hour gone Ronaldo added two in as many minutes, the first from the penalty spot after Mosquera tripped Marcelo on the edge of the area, and the second with a hanging header past Manu from Marcelo’s cross. With ten minutes to go Ronaldo converted another penalty after Pasalic brought him down from behind, and with the game in injury time he made it five after Bale put him through, taking his team’s tally to eighteen in nine days of which the Portuguese superstar himself has scored eight.

Madrid move up to fourth pending the rest of the midweek matches, and Celta are just behind them on goal difference after they beat local rivals Deportivo 2-1 later in the evening. Nolito opened the scoring in only the fourth minute after Larrivey headed on a Planas throw-in, but Isaac Cuenca made it all square after collecting a centre from Juanfran early on in the second half. With twenty minutes to go Larrivey headed in an Orellana corner to restore the lead, and with a couple of minutes to go Sergio Alvarez made sure of the three points, the local keeper saving a Medunjanin penalty after Cabral blocked Sidnei’s cross with his arm inside the area. (23.09.14)