News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 8

Osasuna beat neighbours Eibar 2-3 in this week’s Monday night game, their first victory since being promoted in the summer taking them four points clear of Granada, albeit still in next to bottom spot. The locals scored first though Escalante firing a shot past Nauzet with only seventeen seconds on the clock, the fastest goal of the current campaign. However Sergio León netted twice in a three minute period around the half hour mark, the first with a header from Alex Berenguer’s cross, and the second following a long clearance upfield, Riesgo tried to lift the ball over the striker with disastrous effects. Sergi Enrich and Luna were both in the starting line-up for the locals despite the current scandal which is surrounding them following the posting of a revealing video on internet, and the striker got on the end of Bebé’s cross to head in the equalizer on the stroke of half time. But Roberto Torres restored the lead with a skillful strike a quarter of an hour or so in to the second half, and with heavy rain falling Oriol Riera headed the ball in to the net only to be pulled up for a borderline offside decision. (17.10.16)

Only three points separate the top six sides after Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao both won on Sunday. Villarreal beat Celta 5-0 in the last match of the day, the result keeping them level on points with fourth placed Barcelona. Roberto Soriano scored twice for the locals early on, the first with a shot on the turn from a Manu Trigueros through ball, and the second after intercepting a poor clearance by Sergio Alvarez. Mario fired a shot over the top soon afterwards, and shortly before half time Bakambu signalled his return following an injury lay off with his side’s third after Sansone put him through. Bongonda and Sisto had gone close for the visitors before the break, but some three minutes in to the second half Daniel Wass deflected a Trigueros corner past his own keeper trying to clear. Later on in the second half the Galicians were left with ten men when Sergi Gómez picked up a second booking, and Trigueros rounded things off on the follow up after Pato headed a Mario cross against the post.

Earlier in the afternoon Athletic Bilbao won 3-2 against Real Sociedad, their first victory against their Basque rivals in four years. Zurutuza gave the visitors an early lead, turning the ball past Iraizoz after Xabi Prieto headed on a Vela corner, but after that the hosts were on top, Rulli having to make a string of saves before the break from Williams, Muniain, Iturraspe and Raúl García. Some six minutes after the restart Muniain made it all square with an impressive shot in off the far post, and soon afterwards Aduríz put the locals in front, chipping a shot over the keeper after Raúl Navas lost the ball in defence. Iraizoz had to keep out Oyarzabal after that, but Williams made it three after another defensive mistake gifted the ball to Raúl García, Aduríz unselfishly passing across for the Spanish youth international to score his first goal of the season. With eight minutes to go Iñigo Martínez closed the gap again with a header from Illarramendi’s free kick, but even with Rulli coming forward for a corner they were unable to find the net after that.

Further down the table Valencia moved away from the danger zone with a 1-2 victory over Sporting Gijón, a good start for new coach Cesare Prandelli, who took over from caretaker Voro a few days ago. Mario Suárez opened the scoring for the Ches in the seventh minute, firing a shot past Cuéllar after Dani Parejo stepped over Rodrigo’s centre, and Cancelo came close to adding a second a few minutes later. Carlos Castro volleyed a shot just wide though, and with half time approaching he levelled the scores with a well-placed header from an Isma López cross. Suárez scored again though midway through the second half after a long Parejo free kick fell to him, and although Diego Alves had to be at his best to tip an Amorebieta header over the bar, only a good save from Cuellar prevented Cancelo from increasing the lead later on. The defeat leaves the Asturians down in the bottom three, behind Espanyol on goal difference.

Earlier in the day Alavés and Málaga drew 1-1 in the mid-day kick-off, the result leaving both teams safely in mid-table. Deyverson gave the locals an early lead from an Edgar Méndez cross, his first header looping in the air but the striker getting in front of Kameni to head in the rebound. The visiting keeper made up for his mistake though with good saves from Deyverson and Edgar before the break, and Theo Hernández soon afterwards. Pacheco though had to be at his best to keep out Sandro, and with five minutes to go Rosales fired in a thunderbolt from outside of the area which left the keeper clutching at air. With the game coming to an end Deyverson had a headed goal ruled out for a questionable offside, and both teams ended with ten men, Theo Hernández sent off for a reckless challenge on Camacho, and Juanpi picking up a second booking for protesting. (16.10.16)

Spain’s four Champions League sides were all in action on Saturday, and they clocked up no less than 20 goals between them to maintain the status quo at the top of the table. Atlético Madrid stay top though after they thrashed bottom club Granada 7-1. Lucas Alcaraz was in charge of the Andalusians once again after Paco Jémez was fired a few days ago, and he saw Isaac Cuenca volley them in to an early lead. However two goals from Carrasco turned the scoreline around at the break, and the Belgian winger completed a hat-trick after Griezmann set him up on the hour mark. With one eye on Wednesday night’s Champions League tie in Russia, Simeone rested Gameiro, and within a minute his replacement Gaitán also got his name on the scoreboard. Griezmann and Koke followed Gameiro in to the dug-out, but even so Gaitán, Correa and Tiago added three more later on for Atleti’s highest score in three years.

Real Madrid are still level on points with their city neighbours though after they won 1-6 at Betis later in the evening. Zidane’s side needed a good result after four draws in a row, and within three minutes Varane headed them in to the lead from a Kroos free kick. Soon afterwards Bale headed against the upright, and Benzema, Marcelo and Isco all beat Adán after that to put the locals four up at the break. Rubén Castro and Joaquín did go close either side of half time though, and ten minutes in to the second half substitute Cejudo got one back for the Andalusians. However Isco scored his second of the evening a few minutes later, and Ronaldo completed the “set” after Morata put him through with ten minutes to go.

Sevilla stay in third spot after they beat Leganés 2-3 in the lunchtime game, Sarabia getting an impressive late winner to give the Andalusians their first away victory in the league since May last year. Franco Vázquez headed the visitors in front from Vietto’s cross somewhat against the run of play, and although Sergio Rico had to save from Rubén Pérez and Szymanowski either side of the interval, Nasri made it two with just under an hour on the clock. The locals came back though, and Timor and Szymanowski scored twice in as many minutes midway through the second half to make it all square. Sarabia struck though with five minutes to go to leave the Madrid based side still looking for their first home win this season.

Barcelona remain a point below Sevilla in fourth place after they beat Deportivo 4-0, a morale-boosting win prior to the visit of Manchester City next Wednesday. Rafinha found the net twice before the interval to start things off, the first after combining with Luis Suárez, and the second after Piqué’s header was saved, and Suárez added a third on the stroke of half time after Neymar put him through. Luis Enrique rested the striker at the break though to bring on Paco Alcácer, and soon afterwards Messi came on for his first appearance after an injury lay-off. It only took him three minutes to re-acquaint himself with the goal, latching on to Neymar’s pass to beat Lux. But although Laure was sent off soon afterwards for a foul on Neymar, his side were unable to add to the scoreline, Alcácer in particular missing two or three golden chances to get his first goal for his new club. (15.10.16)

La Liga returned after the short international break, Las Palmas and Espanyol kicking things off with a 0-0 draw on Friday night. Visiting keeper Diego López was the busiest man on the park with saves from Boateng and Livaja early on, and from Boateng, Jonathan Viera and others after the restart. Leo Baptistao and Gerard Moreno both wasted opportunities to put the Catalans in front before the break though, and Moreno and Hernán Pérez should have done better when free on goal in the last ten minutes or so. The result leaves Quique Sánchez Flores’ side just a point above the drop zone, and takes the Canary Islanders up to sixth pending the rest of the weekend games. (14.10.16)