News Archive

First division – day 15

A late goal by Messi gave Barcelona a 0-1 victory at Atlético Madrid in the last match on Sunday, the Argentinian superstar (due to pick up his sixth Ballon d’Or tomorrow) working a one-two with Luis Suárez before firing a low shot past Oblak. Barça stay top, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, but Atleti drop to sixth, now below Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao after both won earlier in the day. Sevilla struggled a bit though before beating bottom club Leganés 1-0, Diego Carlos the scorer there midway through the second half to keep Lopetegui’s side within a point of the leaders. And Athletic Bilbao won 2-0 against Granada, Raúl García converting a controversial penalty just before the break, and Yuri making it two late on. Getafe are now seventh after a 4-0 win over Levante, Cabrera, Molina, Angel and Timor getting the goals after the interval. And Osasuna are just two points below them in ninth after beating struggling Espanyol 2-4, despite playing for over half an hour with ten men after Roncaglia was sent off for a second bookable offence. Marc Roca put the Catalans ahead with a first half penalty, but Rubén García, Chimy Ávila, Moncayola and Roberto Torres (with a second penalty) all scored before Calleri got a late consolation in injury time. Espanyol stay next to bottom, three points above Leganés but five points away from safety. (01.12.19)

Real Madrid threw down the gauntlet to Barcelona, a 1-2 victory at a rainy Alavés on Saturday lunchtime taking them three points clear of their arch-rivals pending Sunday’s games. Sergio Ramos headed the opener from a Kroos free kick, and although Lucas Pérez levelled it from the penalty spot after Ramos fouled Joselu in the area, Carvajal got the winner a few minutes later after Isco hit the post. Real Sociedad are now fourth after they beat regional rivals Eibar 4-1, a Diop strike cancelling out Le Normand’s opener before the break, but Oyarzabal, Willian José and Odegaard all netting after the restart. Valencia are just outside of the European spots after they won 2-1 against neighbours Villarreal, with all the goals coming in the second half after Cillessen had saved an early Gerard Moreno penalty. Rodrigo started things off for the hosts, and Anguissa equalised before Ferran volleyed home the winner with twenty minutes to go. Elsewhere Betis continued their revival with a 1-2 win at Mallorca, a Joaquín penalty and a Fekir strike putting the Andalusians two up before Lago Junior got one back after the break, also from the penalty spot, and on Friday night Celta and Valladolid drew 0-0, leaving the Galicians still down in the relegation zone. (30.11.19)