News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 19

Betis are up to seventh in the table after a 3-2 victory over Leganés in the Monday night game. Tello and Joaquín put the Andalusians two up in the first forty minutes or so, but goals by Gumbau and Eraso pegged them back. However Rubén Castro celebrated his return to the squad with a late penalty which took them above their opponents in the rankings. Everything is still very tight in mid-table though, with only four points separating nine sides. (15.01.18)

Leaders Barcelona ended the first half of the season unbeaten after they won 2-4 at Real Sociedad on Sunday. The Catalans had not taken the three points from the Anoeta stadium in the league since 2007, and they went two down in the first half to goals by Willian José and Juanmi. Strikes by Paulinho and Luis Suárez either side of half time made it all square though, and another goal from Suárez and a Messi free kick kept Valverde’s team nine points clear at the top. Sevilla however drop to sixth after they lost 1-0 at Alavés, a goal on the hour mark by Manu García taking the locals back above Deportivo and out of the relegation zone. They are now level with Levante, who were beaten 0-1 by Celta in the mid-day game, Pione Sisto the scorer there, and elsewhere Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1, a Williams header cancelling out Gerard Moreno’s early strike. (14.01.18)

Barcelona play on Sunday, but Atletico Madrid and Valencia kept up the pressure on the leaders after both won on Saturday evening. Atlético beat Eibar 0-1, Gameiro getting the only goal midway through the first half to hand the Basque side their first defeat in eight games. And Valencia won 1-2 at Deportivo, Guedes and Rodrigo putting the Ches two up before Andone got a late consolation for the Galicians. Real Madrid though lost even more ground on the top three, and their fourth place is even in danger after they were beaten 0-1 by Villarreal. Ronaldo hit the bar and Asenjo made several saves before Pablo Fornals lobbed a shot over Keylor Navas late on to gave the visitors up to fifth. Girona are only three points off the European spots after they thrashed Las Palmas 6-0 earlier in the day, Olunga in particular coming on at half time to score a hat-trick which left the Canary Islanders at the bottom of the table. They are still level on points with Málaga though after the Andalusians lost 1-0 at Getafe on Friday evening, the defeat signalling the end for coach Michel, who was fired soon afterwards. (13.01.18)