La Liga Weekend Round-Up: Zaragoza Back On Track, Espanyol Lose Out

Saturday 19 January 2008 (all times local)
20:00 Getafe 3 - 2 Sevilla (report)
22:00 Villarreal 3 - 0 Valencia (report)
Saturday 20 January
17:00 Osasuna 2 - 0 Athletic
17:00 Zaragoza 3 - 1 Murcia
17:00 Levante 2 - 2 Mallorca
17:00 Almeria 1 - 0 Deportivo
17:00 Valladolid 2 - 1 Espanyol
17:00 Betis 1 - 1 Recreativo
19:00 Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid
21:00 Barcelona - Racing

CA Osasuna 2 - 0 Athletic Club


A late onslaught arrested Osasuna's slide and goal drought in one fell swoop.

There was little for the derby-ready fans to cheer about in the first half, with Javi Martinez's low drive for the visitors being the best chance of the first half.

If anything, the beginning of the second was even duller, with the hope that substitutions might change things around.

That they did, for Osasuna quickly began to press forward.

And it paid off 68 minutes in when Dady made it 1-0, evading the defence to barrel home from range.

Just sixty seconds afterwards, young gun Carlos Vela doubled his side's advantage with a one-on-one effort past Aranzubia; the shot, as powerful as it was accurate, crashed home off the post.

That was enough to leave Athletic stumbling in a daze, and to seal three vital points in what was as much a relegation battle as a Basque-Navarre one.


Real Zaragoza 3 - 1 Real Murcia


Zaragoza registered a Liga win for the first time since October, giving new coach Ander Garitano a winning start (if one excludes the Copa.)

Diogo had a fine chance early on, but Alvaro Mejia almost opened for the visitors in what were rather even preliminary exchanges.

However, Ricardo Oliveira gave the home fans a chance to shout half an hour in when he swept through a directionless visiting defence to get on the end of Sergio Garcia's through ball and fire home.

Zaragoza fans have endured so many false dawns before that they would have greeted the half time interval with caution more than optimism. However, they were given a clear sight of victory on the hour mark when Diego Milito capped off a period of pressure with his side's second.

The prolific Argentine got on the end of a long ball to go face-to-face with Notario, winning the duel with ease.

Milito then struck again late on after an extraordinary team move to well and truly banish the demons of the blanquillos' hellish run, while bringing with it an end to Murcia's decent form of late. Even Ivan Alonso's late solo effort for the visitors would have been of little consolation.


Levante UD 2 - 2 RCD Mallorca



For the second week running, those remaining Levante fans were treated to some late heartbreak on their own patch, only this time they were able to turn the tables on their tormentors.

It had all started so well for them: Alex Geijo made it 1-0 early on with a simple finish after picking up a cross from the left. It had been coming for some time, too, as Mallorca struggled to follow up their recent Copa success in the Liga.

However, they did eventually find their feet, and Dani Guiza appeared on the half hour mark to tap home after a stupendous long pass from Ariel Ibagaza.

Both sides had their chances in the second period, but yet again the hosts began to tire towards the end; thus, Kujovic became the busier of the two 'keepers.

And eventually he was to pick the ball out of the net when Guiza struck his second thirteen minutes from time, Borja Valero's pass into the box proving sufficient for the ex-Getafe man to feast on.

But when Alvaro popped up two minutes from time to seal a point, those home fans could, if not cheer exactly, certainly crack a wry smile.


UD Almeria 1 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna


Depor and Almeria fought out a snooze-worthy 90 minutes before the hosts sealed their second late win in a week thanks to an injury-time goal.

Neither coach found themselves animated much in the first period, watching proceedings from the technical area with the curious detachment of an anthropologist.

Their subjects were giving them relatively little to be excited about, in fairness. Felipe Melo was perhaps the sole true source of inspiration as he attempted to give his side the impetus to break forward, but for the most part this was an even encounter.

The second half sawmmore of the same, but, perhaps mindful of goings-on in Pamplona, Depor began to press forward as their relegation woes deepened. Still, Alemria were still holding the bulk of possession.

It seemed set to end as a goalless draw, only for Ruben Martin Pulido to score from close range three minutes into stoppage time after a good combination between Juanito and Corona.



Real Valladolid 2 - 1 RCD Espanyol


A record-breaking strike from Valladolid set the hosts en route to a win over struggling, aimless Espanyol.

Valladolid were off to a flyer when on-form striker Joseba Llorente got on the end of a long ball from Victor, controlled it deftly, then shot past Lafuente - all virtually straight from kick-off.

That was the fastest goal ever scored in Liga football, clocking in at 7.42 seconds, a full .58 faster than Dario Silva's goal in Malaga vs. Valladolid in 2000.

Llorente managed to cap off a memorable afternoon with his second on the half hour mark, and it was a fully merited one at that. The Basque forward was once again put through masterfully by Victor, and wasted no time in converting from close range.

Espanyol were all at sea, and although they managed to pull one back through a far-post header from Marc Torrejon midway through the second half, Valladolid were the better side.

Indeed, Capdevila and Vivar Dorado each had chances to make it 3-1 before the end, but the three points were already in the bag.


Real Betis 1 - 1 Recreativo de Huelva


The hosts may feel that they should have won this game, but a moment of madness in defence cost them two points.

That said, it was even in the first half. Camunas and Javi Guerrero came close for the visitors, while Capi and Edu really should have netted for the verdiblancos.

Javi Guerrero had arguably the best chance of the game right after the break, but after that, it was almost all Betis.

Thus it was no surprise when Edu got on the end of Caffa's cross from the left to bundle home 57 minutes in.

But almost straight from the restart, Javi Guerrero's bobbling header beat Ricardo, who was perhaps shocked at the lack of marking on the Recre forward.

The Beticos pressed and pressed right at the end, but Recre were able to hold out to take a point back down to Huelva with them.