News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 16

Athletic Bilbao are back up to seventh, just two points below the European spots, after a last minute 2-1 victory over Celta on Monday evening. The Galicians had the better chances early on, Guidetti shooting wide and Iago Aspas lobbing a shot against the bar, although Rubén Blanco had to keep out Aduríz at the other end shortly before the break, and the locals also had a couple of penalty appeals turned down. Aspas hit the post again however soon after the restart, and a few minutes later he got on the end of Bongonda’s cross to turn a shot past Kepa. The local keeper had to save from Aspas and Rodaja in the following minutes, but with ten minutes to go Aduríz levelled the scores from the penalty spot after Roncaglia was given a second yellow card for a foul on Williams. It looked though as if the game was heading to a draw until the third and final minute of injury time when Williams headed a long ball across the edge of the area, and San José was on hand to volley a shot past Blanco. (19.12.16)

Real Madrid were already sure of going in to the Christmas break as leaders despite the postponement of their match against Valencia this weekend, but Barcelona kept up the pressure on them with a 4-1 victory over city neighbours Espanyol on Sunday evening. Iniesta set up Luis Suárez for the opener in the eighteenth minute, and two sensational runs by Messi allowed Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba to add two in a minute midway through the second half. The visitors had lost keeper Diego López to an injury a few minutes earlier, but David López pulled one back with ten minutes to go after Gerard Moreno laid the ball across to him. However with the game coming to an end Messi wrapped things up after Luis Suárez lobbed the ball over for him to steer a cheeky shot through the legs of substitute keeper Roberto.

The top six have opened up a five point gap over the rest (at least pending Athletic’s match on Monday), Eibar current in seventh place after a 1-1 draw at Leganés. The visitors had the better of the opening minutes, Herrerín having to save from Sergi Enrich and Inui. Guerrero put a chance wide however before intercepting a poor headed back pass from Luna to round Yoel and score, and soon afterwards Herrerín got himself sent off for taking out Inui as he approached the penalty area unmarked. The Basque side rallied after that however, Inui and Escalante going close either side of half time, Sergi Enrich having a strike ruled out for a borderline offside, and Bebé finally saving a point with a long shot which deflected in off Alberto Martín and the crossbar.

Leganés drop to sixteenth, level now with Deportivo, who move away from the danger zone after a 2-0 victory over bottom club Osasuna. Both goals came in the first half, Andone heading in an early Çolak corner, and Babel heading the second from a Carles Gil cross shortly before the break. There was a fifteen minute delay at half time due to a floodlight failure, but apart from a couple of efforts from De las Cuevas and Rivière, Tyton was barely troubled, and Babel and Çolak could have added to the scoreline later on. (18.12.16)

Sevilla’s great season continues, and they moved up to second pending Barcelona’s game on Sunday after beating neighbours Málaga 4-1 on Saturday evening. All four of the home team’s goals came in a ten minute period midway through the first half, Vietto starting things off after N’Zonzi put him through. Three minutes later the Argentinian striker got his second after Boyko could only push out a Vitolo cross, and Ben Yedder added the third soon afterwards from a Mercado centre. A minute after that Vitolo connected with Vietto’s cross to make it four, and the game was already over. Rami was sent off however after picking up two bookings in succession on the hour mark, Sandro converted the resulting free kick, but although Ontiveros, Recio and Chory Castro all had chances later on, there was no way back for the visitors.

Villarreal hold on to fourth spot after a 1-3 win at Sporting Gijón in the lunchtime kick-off. With twenty minutes gone the visitors were already two up, Jonathan Dos Santos firing the first past Cuéllar from a Soriano cross, and Sansone running the ball over the line after Pato’s shot deflected off a defender towards goal. Abelardo made two changes before the break to try and get the match back on track, but Pato latched on to Sansone’s centre to make it three with a quarter of an hour to go, and although Carmona headed one back late on, the goal came too late to change the result.

Real Sociedad stay level with Fran Escribá’s side however after they won 0-2 at Granada. Honours were shared in the first half, Carlos Vela putting an early chance wide and Kravets and Samper testing Rulli at the other end. However some ten minutes in to the second half Jon Bautista headed in a Granero cross, and soon afterwards Juanmi fired home the second from a Carlos Vela centre. Ochoa had to save from Illarramendi and Vela after that, but the locals finally woke up near the end, Ponce and Pereira both failing to convert late chances. Another defeat for the Andalusians though, and they go in to the winter break further down in the drop zone.

Atlético Madrid remain a point behind Villarreal and Real Sociedad in sixth spot after a 1-0 victory against Las Palmas. Simeone’s side started well, Saúl Ñíguez firing a shot against the upright and Gameiro and Griezmann both being closed down when free on goal. Lemos rattled the crossbar though with a shot from just over the halfway line, and after the restart Moyà had to save from El Zhar and Roque. With an hour on the clock though an effort from Griezmann was blocked, and the ball fell to Saúl, who curled a shot past Varas from outside of the area. Moyà and his defence did the rest to ensure a much needed win. (17.12.16)

Alavés beat Betis 1-0 in the Friday night game to move up to mid-table pending the rest of the weekend results. Both teams started the match level on points, but it was the locals who dominated the first half, Camarasa and Deyverson going close, and Adán having to save from Ibai Gómez. Pacheco had to be at his best to keep out Rubén Castro soon after the restart though, but with just under an hour on the clock Deyverson latched on to Toquero’s pass to score what was to prove the only goal, and the local keeper made further saves from Castro and Ceballos later on to ensure three valuable points. (16.12.16)