News Archive

First division – day 32

Another disappointing night for Real Madrid, and they are now four points behind second placed Atlético after they could only draw 1-1 with lowly neighbours Leganés on Monday. Zidane’s side found themselves behind by the break after Jonathan Silva fired the locals into the lead on the stroke of half time, and although Benzema made it all square soon after the restart, they could have even lost had En-Nesyri not had a strike ruled out for offside near the end. (15.04.19)

Still a lot to play for in the league, with three teams vying for the fourth Champions League spot. Getafe stay a point behind current incumbents Sevilla after they drew 2-2 at Valladolid in the Sunday mid-day game, Jorge Molina saving a point with a penalty in the sixth minute of injury time after a Guardiola strike and an Ünal penalty had overturned Arambarri’s opener. And Valencia are now just two points below Getafe after they beat city rivals Levante 3-1 in the last match of the evening, with Santi Mina giving them an early lead, and Guedes and Mina getting the winners soon after a Soler own goal had levelled the scores. Athletic Bilbao are still in with an outside chance as well though after they won 3-2 against Rayo Vallecano, and they move above Alavés to a seventh spot which, with Barcelona and Valencia in the cup final, will probably give access to the Europa League. Williams scored twice and Raúl García (who also had a penalty saved by Alberto) got the third, with Moreno and De Tomás replying for the visitors. Real Sociedad and Eibar drop further away from the European places after they drew 1-1, Juanmi opening the scoring for the hosts with only twelve seconds gone, but Jordán saving a point for their neighbours with a late free kick. Valladolid’s draw leaves them down in the drop zone, together with Rayo and Huesca (the three teams promoted last season), after Villarreal beat Girona 0-1, Chukwueze getting the only goal there in the seventh minute. The Catalans have not won at home now since late October, and they too are in the battle to avoid the three relegation places together with six other teams, separated now by only seven points. (14.04.19)

In the middle of a Champions League quarter final, and with a big lead at the top of the table, Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde rested most of his key players for Saturday’s game at bottom club Huesca, with no less than ten changes to his usual starting line-up. Even so they still picked up a point in a 0-0 draw, and they could have won it had Malcom not hit the post in the second half. Second placed Atlético Madrid are now nine points behind the leaders after they won 2-0 against Celta later in the evening, Griezmann getting the first with a well struck free kick, and then setting up Morata for the second after the break. And Sevilla are up to fourth after they beat city rivals Betis 3-2, a fifth win in six games for Joaquín Caparrós’s side. Munir’s headed opener was cancelled out by a Lo Celso strike after the break, but Sarabia and Franco Vázquez put the locals back in front before Tello’s free kick set up an exciting finish. Earlier in the day Espanyol won 2-1 against Alavés to virtually ensure their place in the top flight for another season, and leave their opponents still in seventh spot after a fourth match without a victory. A Pedrosa strike and a Laguardia own goal put the Catalans two up before Calleri got one back after the restart. (13.04.19)