Monday, March 8, 2010

Primera Division round-up

Primera Division round-up

Real Mallorca overcame Sporting Gijon to close in on fourth spot in the best of Sunday's La Liga action.

Gregorio Manzano's side saw their staggeringly impressive home form come to an end when they were easily beaten by UEFA Champions League rivals Sevilla but the islanders bounced back with a 3-0 success at the Ono Estadi.

The islanders kept up their impressive home record with goals from Julio Alvarez, Victor and Pierre Webo to climb to 43 points, but they go fifth due to their inferior head-to-head record with Manolo Jimenez's side.

10-man Atletico Madrid secured a last-gasp leveller at Real Zaragoza thanks to Ibrahima Balde powerful header.

Senegal-born Ibrahima had only been on the pitch five minutes when he threw himself at fellow replacement Jurado's sublime left-wing cross to deny the hosts a much-needed win.

Jiri Jarosik had put Zaragoza ahead after six minutes and it looked as though that would be enough for Jose Aurelio Gay's men to pull clear of the drop zone only for Ibrahima to pounce.

Despite a woeful display, it was possibly a deserved leveller for Atletico, who had played the final 25 minutes with 10 men after in-form winger Jose Reyes was sent off against a Zaragoza side who had been uncompromising throughout.

Gaizka Toquero helped himself to a brace as Athletic Bilbao kept within striking distance of the European places with a 2-0 victory over struggling Real Valladolid.

Toquero netted twice in the space of 10 first-half minutes to help Athletic record their fifth successive Liga win at San Mames and ensure the Basque giants remain only a point behind sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna.

In other games on Sunday, basement side Xerez came back from 2-1 down to register their first away win in the top flight with a 4-2 victory in Malaga.

Both sides finished with 10 men, but a double from Momo and further strikes from Leandro Gioda and Fabian Orellana delivered the points for the La Liga debutants.

However, they remain bottom with 15 points from 25 games, nine adrift of 17th-placed Real Zaragoza who host Atletico Madrid later.

Espanyol and Villarreal and Osasuna and Getafe both drew 0-0.



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