News Archive

First division – day 18

Athletic Bilbao moved back out of the relegation zone after a 1-2 victory at Celta on Monday evening. A strike by Fran Beltrán just before half time cancelled out Muniain’s opener, but Williams ran on to a long Herrerín clearance to get the winner soon after the restart. (07.01.19)

With one game still to go to the mid-point of the season, Barcelona have already made sure of the honorary title of winter champions after they beat Getafe 1-2 on Sunday evening. Messi and Luis Suárez put the Catalans two up, with Mata getting one back for the locals on the stroke of half time. Barça are now five points clear of Atlético Madrid and seven above Sevilla after the second and third placed sides drew 1-1 in the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. Ben Yedder gave the locals the lead later on in the first half, but Griezmann equalised with a direct free kick before the interval. Real Madrid though end the weekend down in fifth spot after they lost 0-2 to Real Sociedad. Willian José opened the scoring in the third minute from the penalty spot, and Rubén Pardo added the second late on to give caretaker coach Imanol a win in his first game in charge. Earlier in the day Eibar and Villarreal drew 0-0, a result which took the visitors out of the bottom three pending Athletic’s game on Monday, and left their hosts in mid-table, one of seven teams separated by only two points. (06.01.19)

Alavés bumped Real Madrid out of fourth spot pending their game on Sunday after they beat Valencia 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Dani Parejo gave the Ches the lead with an early free kick, but Borja Bastón levelled it soon afterwards, and Tomás Pina got the winner on the stroke of half time. Elsewhere the bottom two clubs both won to put pressure on the teams above them. Rayo Vallecano beat Valladolid 0-1 in the early kick off, Alvaro Medrán combining with Alex Moreno and Embarba to open the scoring with less than a minute gone, and visiting keeper Dimitrievski ensuring the result with a string of saves after that, including a late penalty from Michel. And Huesca finally got their first home win ever in the top flight after coming from behind to beat Betis 2-1, Ferreira and Rivera getting the goals in the last twenty minutes or so after Sanabria had put the Andalusians in front from the penalty spot. (05.01.19)

Espanyol began the New Year with a 1-0 victory over Leganés on Friday evening, the result putting an end to a run of six defeats in a row. Borja Iglesias headed the only goal in the opening minutes to take the Catalans up to eighth pending the rest of the weekend games. Earlier in the evening Levante and Girona drew 2-2, leaving both a point below Espanyol in the table. The visitors went ahead twice, through Portu before the break, and Aleix García after the restart, but goals by Morales and Coke pegged them back both times. (04.01.19)