News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 17

The relegation battle on Monday evening between Osasuna and Valencia ended in a 3-3 draw, leaving the visitors just a point above the drop zone, and their hosts firmly anchored to the foot of the table. The Ches took the lead in only the second minute, Munir connecting with Siqueira’s cross to beat Mario, and although Oriol Riera made it all square soon afterwards, the striker headed a Dani Parejo corner in to his own net on the stroke of half time to put Voro’s team back in front. Roberto Torres levelled it after the restart with a left foot shot after a previous effort with his right was blocked, but Montoya latched on to Munir’s pass to score again for Valencia. With five minutes to go Parejo had a chance to wrap things up when Iván Márquez gave away a penalty on Santi Mina, but Mario saved his spot kick, and with the game in injury time Carlos Clerc ran through to fire a shot under Diego Alves to save a point for the locals. (09.01.17)

Barcelona drop behind Sevilla to third in the table after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Villarreal’s newly named Ceramica stadium in the last match on Sunday. Both sides had chances in the first half, Sergio Asenjo having to save from Iniesta, Neymar and Luis Suárez early on, and Jonathan Dos Santos replying with a volley just over the top. Ter Stegen had to keep out Sansone, and Asenjo tipped a header from Messi over the bar shortly before the break. Some five minutes in to the second half however Sansone opened the scoring with an angled shot past Ter Stegen and in off the far post. Later in the second half referee Iglesias Villanueva turned down three penalty appeals for hand ball , two by Bruno and one by Mascherano, Messi fired a shot against the post, and with the game coming to an end Messi saved a point for Luis Enrique’s side with an impressive free kick into the far top corner of the net.

Athletic Bilbao stay in seventh spot after they could only draw 0-0 against neighbours Alavés in the mid-day kick-off. It was a bad day for the first choice goalkeepers, Ortolá coming in for his first division debut as Pacheco hadn’t fully recovered from a knock, and Kepa having to be replaced by Iraizoz after injuring himself with just over half an hour gone. Ortolá had to save from Raúl García and Beñat in the opening minutes, and Laporte and Muniain both went close as the locals had the better of the opening minutes. Camarasa hit the post though soon after Iraizoz came on, and after the restart Deyverson went close a couple of times. In the end though honours were shared, the result keeping Pellegrino’s side safely in mid-table.

Celta are now three points behind Athletic after they beat Málaga 3-1 later in the evening. Iago Aspas opened the scoring for the Galicians after running on to a through ball from Jonny in the seventh minute, and although Rubén Blanco had to save from Michael Santos and Sandro either side of half time, Daniel Wass connected with Bongonda’s cross to make it two on the hour mark. Fontàs scored a third following a set-piece Aspas free kick, and although Santos headed against the upright and Wass headed a long Sandro free kick in to his own net, there was no way back for the Andalusians.

It was a losing start for new coach Gato Romero, and his team are now level on points with Betis, who beat Leganés 2-0. Chances were few and far between in the first half, the best an effort from Unai López which Adán kept out, and a couple of dangerous free kicks from Durmisi and Dani Ceballos. Six minutes in to the second half though Rubén Castro latched on to a Ceballos through ball to give the locals the lead, and with five minutes to go substitute Piccini wrapped things up, steering a shot past debutant keeper Champagne after Alex Alegria set him up. (08.01.17)

Real Madrid equalled Barcelona’s record of 39 games without defeat after a comfortable 5-0 victory over Granada on Saturday lunchtime. With only half an hour on the clock they were all ready four up, Isco opening the scoring after Benzema set him up, and Benzema himself getting the second after Ochoa could only push out a shot from Modric. Cristiano Ronaldo (who had presented his fourth “Ballon d’Or” to the fans and an array of previous winners before kick-off) headed in the third, and Isco made it four from Modric’s cross soon afterwards. Ochoa had to save from Modric and Benzema either side of half time, and with just under an hour on the clock Casemiro completed the scoring after connecting with a wide free kick from James. A few minutes later James went close with another free kick, and Ronaldo tested Ochoa again, and Keylor Navas was in action for the first time to keep out Kravets in the last minute.

Sevilla though are keeping up the pressure on the leaders, and they bounced back from their midweek cup defeat at Madrid with a 0-4 victory at fifth placed Real Sociedad later in the evening. Willian José turned a shot just wide of the post early on, but otherwise the visitors were on top, Ben Yedder opening the scoring midway through the first half after Rulli could only push out a shot from Franco Vázquez, and adding second three minutes later after Vázquez headed a poor Yuri clearance in to his path. The local keeper had to save from Nasri and Escudero either side of half time, and with twenty minutes or so to go substitute Sarabia made it three after Ben Yedder laid the ball back to him. Some ten minutes later the Israeli striker completed his hat-trick after Nico Pareja played the ball through to him, and Sergio Rico kept out Zaldúa and Oyarzabal late on to ensure a clean sheet. The result takes Sampaoli’s team above second placed Barcelona pending their game on Sunday.

Atlético Madrid are up to fourth after they beat Eibar 0-2 on a frozen pitch in the Ipurúa stadium. Visiting keeper Moyà had to save from Pedro León and Adrián González early on, and Sergi Enrich wasted another good chance shortly before the break. However Griezmann fired a shot wide at the other end, and some ten minutes in to the second half Saúl Ñíguez opened the scoring with a glancing header (in an offside position) from a Filipe Luis cross. A few minutes later Griezmann combined with Gameiro to make it two, and Giménez cleared a late effort by Nano off the line to ensure a clean sheet for his side.

Las Palmas are now eighth, a point above Eibar, after a 1-0 victory against Sporting Gijón. The Canary Islanders started strongly, Cuéllar having to make saves from Lemos, Boateng and Jonathan Viera in the opening minutes, and from El Zhar close to half time. Duje Cop came close to scoring when he charged down a Javi Varas clearance, the ball bouncing wide of the post, but Viera struck the bar with a long shot soon after the restart, and a few minutes later El Zhar got what was to prove the only goal after Jorge Meré tried to cut out a cross from Boateng, Cuéllar having to push the ball clear only for the ex Liverpool midfielder to turn a shot back in to the net. Víctor Rodríguez missed a couple of headers late on, but it was another defeat for the Asturians, who stay in the bottom three as a result. (07.01.17)

La Liga returned following the short winter break, Espanyol and Deportivo kicking things off with a 1-1 draw on Friday evening. Neither side had too many chances in a dull first half, the best a shot from Piatti which Tyton dealt with easily, and a dangerous Çolak free kick which hit the defensive wall. After the restart however Celso Borges volleyed a shot against the crossbar and Tyton had to make saves from Gerard Moreno, Piatti and Jurado, and with an hour on the clock Borges headed the opener from a Çolak corner. Just three minutes later though Moreno levelled the scores after Sidnei failed to control a cross from Aarón Martin, and with the game coming to a close Juanfran was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Jurado hit the bar with the resulting free kick, Javi Fuego failing to turn in the rebound. A point apiece though to start of the new year, and both teams remain in mid-table. (06.01.17)