News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 18

Real Sociedad end the extended weekend in fifth spot after a 0-2 victory at Málaga on Monday evening. Both goals came in the first quarter hour of the second half, Iñigo Martínez opening the scoring with a free kick which looped off the defensive wall past Kameni, and Juanmi adding the second against his old side after Willian José headed on a corner. It was a second defeat in a row for new coach Gato Romero, who took over from Juande Ramos shortly before the winter break. (16.01.17)

Real Madrid’s record 40 game unbeaten run came to an end in dramatic fashion after they were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla on Sunday evening! Ronaldo appeared to have put Zidane’s side on track for a win when he converted a penalty midway through the second half, but with five minutes to go Sergio Ramos headed a Sarabia free kick in to his own net, and with the game in injury time new signing Jovetic fired home the winner. The result takes the Andalusians back above Barcelona to within a point of their opponents in the table, albeit that Madrid still have a game in hand.

Celta are up to eighth after they beat Alavés 1-0, Radoja getting the only goal from a Hugo Mallo cross with two minutes to go. The game swung in favour of the Galicians when Feddal was sent off for a second bookable offence early on in the second half, but even so Rubén Blanco had to save from Theo Hernández a few minutes later. Pacheco had to keep out Iago Aspas though, and Mallo curled a shot against the woodwork before Radoja wrapped things up late on.

Eibar are a point behind Celta in ninth after a 2-3 victory at Sporting Gijón. The Basque side took the lead with an Adrián González penalty after Lillo tripped the midfielder in the area with only four minutes gone, but five minutes later Carmona equalized following a slip by Riesgo. Two spills in as many minutes by Cuéllar from shots by González allowed Pedro León and Luna to restore the lead, and although Nacho Cases pulled another one back after the break, the Asturians couldn’t prevent a defeat which leaves them further down in the relegation spots.

The bottom two met on Sunday evening, Granada staying a point above Osasuna after a 1-1 draw in the Los Cármenes stadium. Oriol Riera had a headed goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision before he opened the scoring the visitors in the twelfth minute. However with twenty minutes to go Kravets made it all square after Ponce hit the post and Mario saved from Alberto Bueno, and the Andalusians held on despite having Uche Agbo and Ponce sent off after that.

Valencia moved four points clear of the drop zone however after they won 2-1 against Espanyol in the mid-day kick off, their first league victory in three months. David López had to clear off the line from Carlos Soler before Montoya gave the Ches the lead following a good team move with just over a quarter of an hour gone. With twenty minutes to go Santi Mina headed a second on the follow up after Diego López had pushed out an effort from Dani Parejo, the strike putting to rest any debate about whether the ball had crossed the line before Diego got it away, and although David López got one back after Diego Alves pushed a Gerard Moreno header against the bar, the goal came too late to change the result. (15.01.17)

Barcelona are back up to second pending Sevilla’s game against Real Madrid on Sunday after they trounced Las Palmas 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. Luis Suárez opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark, and Javi Varas had to save from André Gomes and Messi before Messi made it two soon after the restart. Five minutes later Suárez added a third, and two minutes after that Turan made it four after Varas could only push out another shot from Suárez. Boateng tested Ter Stegen for the first time later on, but with ten minutes to go Aleix Vidal combined with Paco Alcácer to round things off.

Atlético Madrid meanwhile stay in fourth spot after beating Betis 1-0. Gaitán got what was to prove the only goal after Vrsaljko’s cross came to him off Donk in the eighth minute, but after that the Andalusians had the better chances, Moyà having to save from Rubén Castro and Jonas Marin before the break, and Castro testing the keeper again with a free kick and a couple of long shots after the restart. Carrasco could however have extended the lead had Adán not kept him out late on.

No goals at all though in the other two games on Saturday, Leganés and Athletic Bilbao drawing 0-0 in the lunchtime kick-off. Machís got free twice before the interval, shooting just wide the first time, and bringing a good save out of Iraizoz after that, and Raúl García got the ball in the net at the other end only to be pulled up for a previous foul. After the restart Balenziaga almost caught out Champagne with a long shot, but Mantovani headed against the upright, and Iraizoz had to save again from Adrián Marín near the end.

Deportivo and Villarreal also drew 0-0 in the Riazor stadium in the last match of the day. Sergio Asenjo and Tyton had to save from Andone and Bruno before the break, but after the recess the locals had the better chances, Andone firing an overhead kick against the upright, and Asenjo tipping a late effort from Joselu over the bar. (13.01.17)