News Archive

First division – day 1

With the summer timetable in force until the end of August, there were two matches on Monday night this weekend. Champions League sides Valencia and Atlético Madrid were first up, and they shared the honours in a 1-1 draw. Correa put the visitors in front with just under half an hour gone, but Rodrigo saved a point for the Ches after the restart. Later in the evening Athletic Bilbao beat Leganés 2-1, Muniain getting an injury time winner for the Basques after a strike by Jonathan Silva had cancelled out the opener by youngster Nolaskoain. (20.08.18)

Sevilla are the early leaders of the first division after they thrashed Rayo Vallecano 1-4 on Sunday. The Andalusians had already played five official games this season, and Franco Vázquez opened the scoring before league debutant André Silva helped himself to a hat-trick. The newly promoted side did get one back near the end though, Embarba converting a penalty after the VAR system showed that he had been fouled just inside the area. Real Madrid also start the season in the top four after a 2-0 victory over Getafe later in the evening. Gareth Bale stepped into the shoes left by Cristiano Ronaldo to setup Dani Carvajal to head the opener, and then score the second himself soon after the interval. Elsewhere Huesca won 1-2 at Eibar in their first ever game in the top flight, two goals from Alex Gallar giving them the lead at the break before Escalante replied for the locals midway through the second half. (19.08.18)

Defending league champions Barcelona started the season as they ended, although they left it late before beating Alavés 3-0 in the end. Messi broke the ice with a cheeky free kick under the defensive wall on the hour mark, and half time substitute Coutinho added a second before Messi rounded things off right at the end. Earlier in the evening Real Sociedad came from beind to beat a new-look Villarreal 1-2, strikes by Willian José and Juanmi overturning Gerard Moreno’s opener. And Celta and Espanyol drew 1-1 in the first match of the day, Mario Hermoso putting the Catalans in front following a corner just before the break, but David López deflecting a cross from Junior Alonso into his own net after the restart. (18.08.18)

The new season got under way with two matches on Friday night, Girona and newly promoted Valladolid kicking things off with a 0-0 draw. The locals had most of the play, but the visitors held their ground to save a valuable point. Later in the evening Levante showed that their form at the end of last season was not just a flash in the pan, Paco López’s side beating “Euro-Betis” 0-3 in the Villamarín stadium. Roger got the first goal of the new campaign shortly before the break, and “El Commandante” Morales added two more, the first with a run from his own half on the stroke of half time, and the second after new signing Raphael set him up in injury time. (17.08.18)