News Archive

First division – day 22

Rayo Vallecano stay down in the relegation zone after they were beaten 1-2 by South Madrid rivals Leganés in the Monday night game. Both teams started the match level on points, but Braithwaite headed the opener from a corner shortly before the break. Alvaro García made it all square with seven minutes to go, but just two minutes later En-Nesyri headed the winner from another corner. (04.02.19)

Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table has extended to six points despite their draw on Saturday, second placed Atlético Madrid losing 1-0 at Betis on Sunday afternoon! New signing Morata started alongside Griezmann for Simeone’s side, but they were unable to find a way past Pau López and his defence, and Canales got the winner for the Andalusians from the penalty spot after Filipe Luis handled in the area some twenty minutes into the second half. Real Madrid closed to within two points of their city rivals after they beat sixth placed Alavés 3-0 in the last match of the evening, Benzema putting the locals in front on the half hour mark after Reguilón set him up, and Vinicius and substitute Mariano wrapping thing up in the last ten minutes. It was a confidence booster for Madrid ahead of a busy week or so, with visits to Barcelona (cup), Atlético (league) and Ajax (Champions League) coming up in the next ten days. Further down the table the battle to avoid the drop is hotting up, with only two points between six teams hovering in and above the relegation zone. Girona are now firmly in the fray after they lost 3-0 at Eibar, Rubén Peña opening the scoring for the Basque side before the break, and Charles netting twice after the restart, including a penalty. And Espanyol are only a point above their regional rivals after they drew 2-2 at next to bottom club Villarreal in the mid-day game, an Iborra strike and a Cazorla penalty giving the home team a two goal lead at the break, but a Bonera own goal and a late strike by Rosales saving a point for the Catalans. It was a disappointing result in the end for local coach Javier Calleja, who was back in charge less than two months after being let go after his erstwhile replacement Luis García was also fired this week. (03.02.19)

Leaders Barcelona dropped points on Saturday after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Valencia in the Nou Camp, although they have Messi to thank once again for at least saving the day after they went two goals behind in the first half hour. Gameiro gave the Ches the lead and Parejo made it two from the penalty spot after Sergi Roberto fouled Wass in the area, but Messi converted a second penalty before the interval, and then levelled the scores after the restart. The Argentinian forward picked up an injury late on however, and is now doubtful for Wednesday night’s cup semi-final with Real Madrid. Sevilla failed to take advantage however, a 1-0 defeat at Celta leaving them still down in fourth spot. Okay got the only goal for the locals following a corner to end a run of five defeats which had left Miguel Cardoso’s side down in the bottom three. Earlier in the day Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the latest Basque derby, Oyarzabal and Willian José giving the locals a two goal lead at the break, and Raúl García getting one back late on, sliding the rebound past Rulli after the keeper had saved his penalty kick. And elsewhere Levante and Getafe drew 0-0 in the early kick-off, the result leaving both teams in the upper half of the table. (02.02.19)

Huesca have not given up all hope just yet, and they kept their slim chances of salvation alive with a convincing 4-0 win over Valladolid on Friday night. New signing Enric Gallego started things off in the twentieth minute, and Pulido, Moi Gómez and Chimy Ávila added three more after the break to leave the visitors just two points above the drop zone. (01.02.19)