News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 8

More goals on Monday, Celta beating Las Palmas 2-5 to move up to the top half of the table. Iago Aspas helped himself to a hat-trick and Emre Mor and Pablo Hernández were also on the scoresheet as the Galicians went five up with fifteen minutes to go, the last two goals despite being down to ten men after Rubén Blanco was sent off for bringing down Calleri outside of the area. Vitolo and Rémy did get two back in the dying minutes, but the defeat leaves the Canary Islanders still down in the bottom three. (16.10.17)

Valencia are up to second in the table after a high scoring 3-6 win at Betis in the last match on Sunday! Two in the first half from Kondogbia and Guedes, and two after the break from Rodrigo and Santi Mina appeared to have wrapped things up. However the locals (who had an earlier Sergio León penalty after Kondogbia handled in the area) came back with three in five minutes from Joel Campbell, Sanabria and Tello before Zaza and Pereira put the game beyond their reach near the end.

Leganés move above Betis to sixth after a 0-2 victory at Málaga earlier in the evening. Rolán hit the post for the locals in the first half, but Roberto had to save from Amrabat a couple of times either side of the break, and Gabriel put the visito in front (from a possible offside position) after Siovas headed on a free kick. Szymanowski made it two a few minutes later on a quick counter-attack, and the locals ended with ten men when Recio was sent off for a second bookable offence later on. The defeat leaves Michel’s side firmly anchored to the bottom of the table with only one point from eight games.

Villarreal are just a point below Leganés though after they beat Girona 1-2. Bakambu scored twice in the first twenty minutes, the opener after Trigueros put him through, and the second after picking up a pass from Fornals. Stuani got one back for the hosts shortly before the break, but after the interval the visitors could have extended their lead, Iraizoz having to save from Bacca and Soriano hitting the upright near the end. The Catalans are now on the brink of the relegation zone, and they could drop into the bottom three if Las Palmas pick up a point when they play tomorrow.

Eibar and Deportivo drew 0-0 in the mid-day game to edge away from the danger zone, the Basque side a point clear of the bottom three, and their visitors still a point above them in the table. Pepe Mel drafted 18 year old keeper Francis in to the line-up, and he had to save from Kike García early on. Dmitrovic responded keeping out Andone and Juanfran, and Dani García tested Francis again after the break, but in the end both teams settled for a point. (15.10.17)

Barcelona dropped their first points of the season after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Atlético Madrid on Saturday evening, although results elsewhere mean they extend their lead at the top to five points. Griezmann tested Ter Stegen a couple of times before Saúl Níguez fired the locals in to the lead in the twentieth minute. After the restart though Oblak had to keep out Luis Suárez and Messi before Messi hit the post with a free kick, and with eight minutes to go Luis Suárez headed the equaliser from a Sergi Roberto centre.

Sevilla drop two places to fourth after they were beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the early kick-off. Sergio Rico had to save from Susaeta early on, and Kepa replied with stops from Ben Yedder and Carole, but with two minutes to go to the break Mikel Vesga got what was to prove the only goal with a lob over the visiting keeper following a long throw-in. Vesga hit the post again after the interval, but the Basque side held off some late attacks by the Andalusians for a win which takes them back up to the top half of the table.

Real Madrid took advantage of all that to move up to second after a 1-2 victory at city rivals Getafe. Benzema celebrated his return to the side with the opening goal, the striker picking up a loose ball in midfield and running on to shoot past Guaita shortly before the break. Soon after the restart however Jorge Molina connected with a Fayçal Fajr cross to make it all square, and Ronaldo missed a sitter before he finally fired home the winner after Isco put him through with five minutes to go.

Elsewhere Real Sociedad put an end to run of five defeats in a row with a 0-2 victory at neighbours Alavés. Oyarzabal and Aritz Elustondo got the goals late on, the first with an angled shot after picking up a pass from Odriozola, and the second with a shot which looped off Duarte over the keeper after Xabi Prieto played on a short corner, to leave their hosts still down in next to bottom spot. (14.10.17)

La Liga returned after the two week international break, Espanyol and Levante kicking things off with 0-0 draw on Friday night. Despite the result there were chances at both ends, Leo Baptistao in particular missing a couple of opportunities before the break. Pau López had to save from Campaña and Ivi either side of half time, but early on in the second half Chema cleared a header from Gerard Moreno off the line, and Raúl Fernández kept out another Sergio García header after a shot from Sergi Darder was deflected on to the bar. With seven minutes to go referee Undiano Mallenco ruled out a headed goal by Moreno for what he considered to be a push by the striker on Luna, and in the end both teams had to settle for a point which leaves them safely in mid-table. (13.10.17)