News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 5

Real Sociedad fell to their second defeat in a row, the Basque side losing 3-0 at Levante on Thursday, and after their great start to the season they now find themselves down in sixth spot. Chema got the first for the locals with a spectacular volley, and a Morales penalty and a Bardhi free kick after the break took the Valencia based side level above their opponents on goal difference.

Villarreal stay two points below the European spots after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Espanyol earlier in the evening. Despite the result, keepers Barbosa and Pau López had several saves to make, the former in particular from Hermoso and Gerard Moreno either side of half time, .and the latter a couple of times each from Bakambu and Samu Castillejo.

The points were shared between Celta and Getafe as well, Maxi Gómez giving the Galicians the lead midway through the first half with a header from Hugo Mallo’s pass, but substitute Angel making it 1-1 near the end after Alvaro Jiménez set him up. (21.09.17)

Another unexpected result in the Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday, Real Madrid losing 0-1 to Betis thanks to an injury time goal from Sanabria, the first time the Andalusians have won their in nineteen years. Ex Madrid keeper Adán was the star of the night, with saves from Isco, Ronaldo, Borja Mayoral and in particular from a Bale back-heel, which he pushed on to the upright in the second half. Zidane’s side have only picked up two points from their first three home games, and they are now seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

Sevilla consolidate second spot with a 1-0 win against Las Palmas, Jesús Navas getting the only goal with a cross-come-shot which sailed over the head of Chichizola late on. Before that though the visiting keeper had made a couple of good saves from Ben Yedder, and Mercado fired a shot just wide of the post.

Atlético Madrid are up to third after a 1-2 win at Athletic Bilbao, Oblak saving an Aduríz penalty for a foul by Filipe Luis on Raúl García before Correa and Carrasco netted in the second half. Raúl García scored in injury time for the hosts.

Deportivo beat Alavés 1-0 in the Riazor stadium, Luisinho scoring on the stroke of half time to take his side out of the relegation spots and leave the visitors in joint bottom spot with zero points. Rodrigo Ely had the best chance for the visitors with a header against the post before the break.

Elsewhere Leganés and Girona drew 0-0, the result keeping both sides out of danger for the time being. Both teams hit the bar, Szymanowski in the first minute and Juanpe after the interval, and Amrabat had a late strike ruled out for offside, but otherwise neither keeper was particularly troubled. (20.09.17)

A midweek round of league games this week, Barcelona increasing their lead at the top of the table after thrashing Eibar 6-1 on Tuesday night. A Messi penalty and a Paulinho header put Valverde’s team two up at the break. Denis Suárez added a third before Sergi Enrich got one back for the visitors, but Messi scored three more times to take his tally for the season in all club competitions to twelve goals.

Another high-scoring game on Tuesday evening as well, Valencia beating bottom club Málaga 5-0 earlier in the evening to leave Michel’s job hanging by a thread. Santi Mina opened the scoring early on, and Zaza scored an eight minute hat-trick after the interval before Rodrigo wrapped things up near the end. (19.09.17)