Tuesday, October 6, 2009

La Liga round-up

La Liga round-up

Real Madrid missed the chance to return to the top of the La Liga table after suffering their first defeat of the season to Sevilla.

With Barcelona winning at home to Almeria on Saturday, the pressure was on for Real boss Manuel Pellegrini to match their result, but he watched his side go down 2-1 at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Jesus Navas opened the scoring for the hosts with a powerful header before defender Pepe evened up the contest with a header of his own in the second half moments after a breathtaking save from Iker Casillas.

But Real failed to take momentum from their equaliser and found themselves behind again as Dirnei Renato headed in on 67 minutes.

Two goals from Miguel helped Sporting Gijon complete a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Real Mallorca at El Molinon.

Jose Luis Marti fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot, but three goals in 10 minutes turned the match around for Manuel Preciado's Sporting.

Luis Moran Sanchez started the fightback before Miguel and Mate Bilic added to the tally to earn Sporting their second win of the league season and inflict a first defeat on their opponents.

Iker Muniain became the Primera Division's youngest-ever goalscorer as the 16-year-old's goal in the 77th minute rallied Athletic Bilbao to a 2-2 draw at Valladolid in a match that saw three players sent off.

Markel Susaeta put the Basques ahead but goals from Diego and Nivaldo reversed the scoreline before Muniain equalised.

Bilbao stay in sixth place in the table while Valladolid remain in 17th after the exciting draw, where Ustariz, Nivaldo and Alberto Marcos Rey saw red.

Villarreal drew 0-0 against 10-man Espanyol to remain winless and mired in the relegation zone.

Juan Forlin was sent off in the 15th minute for impeding Giuseppe Rossi's run and, although Villarreal had scoring chances, they failed to earn their first victory this season.

Villarreal have three points from six games and sit one point above bottom club Xerez, who scored their first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw against Malaga.

Armenteros had put the home side in front just after the break but Victor Obinna levelled with six minutes remaining before being sent off.

Meanwhile, Getafe held on for a 2-1 win over Osasuna at Coliseum Alfonso Perez thanks to goals from Daniel Diaz and Pedro Leon.

Carlos Aranda had levelled for the visitors on 62 minutes but they could not hold on for a valuable point.

Valencia returned to winning ways and moved up to fifth place after battling to a 1-0 away win over Racing Santander.

Nikola Zigic provided the only goal of the game as Unai Emery's side secured their first league win in four games.

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