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Match round-up - First Division, Day 23

Málaga distanced themselves from the danger zone after a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas in the Monday night game. Lemos gave the Canary Islanders an early lead with a direct free kick, but before the break strikes by Fornals and Charles turned things around, the former with a cross-come-shot which looped over Javi Varas, and the latter following a cross from Keko. With twenty minutes to go the locals were left with ten men when new signing José Rodríguez was sent off for a second bookable offence, but the Andalusians held on for a first win under coach Gato Romero, who took over from Juande Ramos seven games ago. (20.02.17)

Barcelona hold on to second spot after a 2-1 win over Leganés in the last match on Sunday evening, although it was only thanks to a last minute Messi penalty that they were able to take the three points. Messi gave Luis Enrique’s side the lead in only the fourth minute after latching on to a Luis Suárez cross, and Herrerín had to keep out Messi and Neymar a few minutes later. Ter Stegen had to save two or three times from El Zhar before the break and from Guerrero soon after the restart though, and although Diego Rico cleared a shot from Rafinha off the line, Unai López levelled the scores with a low shot past the local keeper after Machís laid the ball back. Both teams had chances after that, but with the game coming to an end Mantovani bundled over Neymar in the area, and this time Messi didn’t miss.

Earlier in the day Villarreal beat fifth placed Real Sociedad 0-1 to move up to within two points of their hosts in the table, a morale boosting result after the midweek disappointment in Europe. The locals had the better of the first half, Raúl Navas heading the best chance wide, and after the interval Juanmi, Jon Bautista and Carlos Vela all failed to find the target. Bakambu turned a shot wide though after a mistake by Rulli, and Bruno headed against the bar before Samu Castillejo got on the end of a Jaume Costa cross to volley home the winner in the fourth and final minute of injury time.

Athletic Bilbao are now four points adrift of the European spots however after they lost 2-0 at Valencia. Diego Alves had to save an early effort from Lekue, but with just under a quarter of an hour gone Nani combined with Enzo Pérez and Orellana to open the scoring. Nani tested Iraizoz a few minutes later, and with half time approaching Zaza connected with Munir’s cross to make it two. Valverde had rested Aduríz and Williams after Thursday night’s Europa League game, but he brought both on in the opening minutes of the second half. However soon afterwards Aduríz limped off with an injury, and with Etxeita already on for the injured Laporte he had no replacements left. Even so the ten men put up a good fight, Williams and Raúl García bringing good saves out of Alves, but in the end it was a much needed win for the Ches, who are now seven points clear of the drop zone.

Celta are now just two points behind Athletic after they beat bottom club Osasuna 3-0 in the Balaidos stadium. Once again Berizzo put out a much changed line-up after Thursday’s game against Shakhtar, but with twenty minutes gone Sisto gave them the lead after Rossi flicked on Bongonda’s centre. Sergio León went close for the visitors a couple of times after the break, but with three minutes to go Jozabed headed in a Marcelo Díaz corner for the second, and two minutes later substitute Iago Aspas lobbed a shot over Sirigu to complete the scoring. (19.02.17)

Real Madrid continued their push at the top of the table, a 2-0 victory over Espanyol on Saturday afternoon keeping them clear of their closest rivals. Zidane rested several key players after the midweek Champions League game, leaving Keylor Navas, Modric and Benzema out of the squad, and Marcelo and Casemiro on the bench. Even so though they had the better chances early on, Pepe heading a Kroos corner just wide, and Morata failing to turn in a Ronaldo cross before the Spanish international striker headed the opener from Isco’s cross on the half hour mark. After the interval half time substitute Hernán Pérez brought a good save out of Kiko Casilla, but Ronaldo and Lucas Vázquez went close at the other end. And with seven minutes to go Gareth Bale made it two with an angled shot past Diego López just minutes after coming on for his first appearance after a long injury lay-off.

Sevilla moved back up to second pending Barcelona’s game on Sunday after they won 2-0 against Eibar later in the evening. The visitors caused some problems for the local defence early on, Adrián González and Pedro León firing efforts just wide, and Lejeune bringing a good save out of Sergio Rico following a free kick. Franco Vázquez and Jovetic tried their luck at the other end though, and with thirty minutes on the clock Sarabia put the Andalusians ahead with a far post volley from Jovetic’s cross. Rico had to keep out Rubén Peña and Sergi Enrich either side of half time, but with the game coming to an end Vitolo wrapped things up after Jovetic set him up on a quick counter-attack.

A few hours earlier Atlético Madrid had closed temporarily to within a point of the Andalusians after they beat Sporting Gijón 1-4, the result leaving the Asturians still down in the bottom three. Griezmann, Fernado Torres and Correa all failed to convert chances for the visitors in the first half, and Traoré turned a shot against the upright for the locals. All the goals though came after the break, Carrasco giving Atleti the lead after Torres headed on a long pass from Gabi just a minute after the restart, and Sergio Alvarez equalizing with a low volley past Moyà just three minutes later. Substitute Gameiro came on though to help himself to a hat-trick in a five minute period near the end with assists from Griezmann (twice) and Thomas.

Elsewhere Alavés won 0-1 at Deportivo to move up safely to mid-table. The Vitoria based side had already knocked their hosts out of the cup this season, and Deyverson fired a shot over the top midway through the first half. Before that though Kakuta had poked a shot against the bar, Juanfran heading the rebound in to the hands of Pacheco, and a few minutes after the restart the visiting keeper did well to save from Çolak. However midway through the second half Manu García converted a penalty after Albentosa brought him down in the area, and with four minutes to go the team captain could have added to the lead had Lux not pushed his header on to the crossbar and away. The defeat leaves the Galicians just three points above the drop zone having not won a single game to date in 2017. (18.02.17)

Granada moved to within two points of safety pending the rest of the weekend games after a 4-1 victory over neighbours Betis in the Friday night game. The visitors started well, Rubén Castro firing a shot wide, but a few minutes later Carcela-González opened the scoring after Wakaso won the ball in midfield to put him through. In the next 15 minutes Lucas Alcaráz’s side added two more, Adrián Ramos heading in Héctor’s cross, his first goal for his new club, and Andreas Pereira turning the rebound back in to the net after Adán saved from Carcela. Some twenty minutes in to the second half Ramos made it four, hooking the ball past Adán after the keeper saved his first shot, and a couple of minutes later Nahuel and Pereira were both sent off after clashing following a hard tackle by the substitute. Petros head one back with a quarter of an hour to go, and Castro had an injury time strike ruled out for offside, but it was too late to prevent a fifth straight away defeat for Víctor’s side. (17.02.17)