News Archive

First division – day 25

Atlético Madrid are back up to third in the table after a 3-1 victory over Villarreal in the last match on Sunday. The visitors kicked off with eleven Spaniards in their starting line-up, and they took an early lead through Paco Alcácer. Correa levelled it before the break though, and second half strikes by Koke and Joao Felix rounded off a good week for Simeone’s side. They are just above Sevilla on goal difference after the Andalusians beat erstwhile third placed side Getafe 0-3 earlier in the evening. Ocampos opened the scoring for the visitors on the stroke of half time, and Fernando and Koundé added two more to take their team a point above their hosts in the table. Granada are now four points below the European spots after they won 0-3 at Osasuna, Machís netting twice in the first half hour and Foulquier making it three before the interval. But Athletic Bilbao’s chances of making it to Europe next season appear to be limited to the cup after they lost 2-1 at neighbours Alavés, Raúl García’s opener overturned by a Lucas Pérez penalty and an injury time strike from Rodrigo Ely. Elsewhere bottom club Espanyol’s chances of survival took another set-back after they were beaten 2-1 by Valladolid, second half goals by Sandro and Guardiola putting the game beyond their reach before Embarba pulled one back from the penalty spot in time added on, leaving the Catalans five points away from safety. (23.02.20)

Just one week to go to the next “clásico”, and Barcelona move above their eternal rivals to the top of the table after thrashing Eibar 5-0 on Saturday afternoon. Messi put an end what to him was a bit of a goal drought (four league games without scoring), notching up a hat-trick in the first half. And new signing Braithwaite came on to set up Messi and Arthur to add two more in the last five minutes or so. The Catalans move two clear of Real Madrid after Zidane’s side lost 1-0 at Levante later in the evening. Madrid dominated for much of the match but were unable to beat Aitor and his defence, and with ten minutes to go Morales ran on to Vukcevic’s long ball to volley home the winner. Real Sociedad are now up to fourth after they won 3-0 against Valencia, Merino and Monreal beating Jaume twice with headers before the break, and Januzaj firing home a third soon after the restart to hand the Ches their second heavy defeat in four days. And Celta are back out of the relegation zone after a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Leganés (despite playing over an hour with ten men after Bradaric was sent off), Iago Aspas scoring the only goal from an Olaza free kick on the hour mark. (22.02.20)

Mallorca are out of the relegation spots pending the rest of the weekend’s games after a 3-3 draw at Betis on Friday evening. The islanders had only picked up one point away from home all season, but they took the lead twice in the first half though Cucho Hernández and Budimir. Canales and Fekir pegged them back from the penalty spot both times though, and Joaquín fired the hosts in front after the restart. Kubo levelled it again however with twenty minutes to go to leave the Andalusians still eight points away from the European places. (21.02.20)