La Liga Season 10/11

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Strike threat looms over La Liga

29 March 2011

Barcelona trained as normal on Tuesday but are still in the dark as to whether their La Liga match at Villarreal on Sunday will go ahead.

Barcelona trained as normal on Tuesday but are still in the dark as to whether their La Liga match at Villarreal on Sunday will go ahead.

A strike is planned for this weekend's fixtures as part of a protest against a government law from 1997 which requires one La Liga game a week be shown on free-to-air public television.

Spain's professional soccer league, LFP, have threatened to suspend the 30th round of matches this weekend in an attempt to force the government to scrap the rule.

With talks at a standstill, six clubs known as the G-6 and including heavyweights Sevilla and Villarreal, have broken ranks and filed a legal challenge to try to have the move to strike declared void.

They believe a strike would be 'disproportionate, inopportune, against the interest of clubs, the competition and supporters and against the law'.

A judge will hand down a decision on their move to prevent the strike on Wednesday.

The LFP argue that removing the obligation to show one match each week for free will strengthen clubs' bargaining power in negotiations with media firms over broadcast rights.

It also wants guarantees about how much money clubs are entitled to receive from betting and lottery revenue.

 

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La Liga wrap: Barca extend lead after Real slip
3 April 2011

Barcelona beat Villarreal on Saturday to open up an eight-point lead in La Liga after Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to Sporting Gijon.

Barcelona beat Villarreal on Saturday to open up an eight-point lead in La Liga after Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to Sporting Gijon.

A 79th-minute goal from Miguel de las Cuevas helped Sporting register an unlikely upset over second-placed Real at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Shorn of key men Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema, the hosts were reduced to a handful of half-chances from Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil and Argentina forward Angel Di Maria.

Striker Gonzalo Higuain nearly scored after coming off the bench in his first appearance following a four-month absence through injury.

But it was left to former Atletico Madrid man de las Cuevas to snatch a late winner for Sporting and deal a major blow to Real's title ambitions.

It was Real coach Jose Mourinho's first league defeat in charge of a home team for just over nine years and also the capital city club's first home defeat of the season in any competiton.

Defending champions Barca duly took advantage, despite being made to work by Villarreal.

They eventually edged a tight encounter in the Estadio El Madrigal 1-0, courtesy of Gerard Pique's 66th-minute strike.

With Lionel Messi starting on the bench under an injury cloud, the visitors struggled to breakdown Villarreal, who went close on several occasions through Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi.

Xavi Hernandez had an effort tipped over the bar in one of Barca's few clear-cut chances, before Messi was introduced on 52 minutes.

But it was Brazilian Dani Alves rather than Argentine superstar Messi who finally crafted the breakthrough.

Finding space on the right, Alves sent in a cross that glanced off the head of Sergio Busquets before finding its way to Pique.

The Spain international defender used his chest to cushion the ball down and then smacked a volley past Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez from close range.

The win puts Pep Guardiola's side firmly in control of the title race and - with eight matches left in the season - on course for their third consecutive championship crown.

Elsewhere, four goals from striker Roberto Soldado helped Valencia come from a goal down to beat Getafe 4-2 away from home.

The win keeps Valencia third, a distant 16 points behind Real and 24 back from Barca.

 

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La Liga wrap: Sevilla win, Hercules battle on

4 April 2011

Sevilla defeated Real Zaragoza 3-1 in La Liga on Sunday, while relegation-threatened Hercules secured a crucial win away to Real Sociedad.

Argentine winger Diego Perotti opened the scoring for home side Sevilla just before the break at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

They were pegged back moments after the interval when veteran Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik found the net for Zaragoza.

But second-half penalties from strikers Frederic Kanoute and Alvaro Negredo saw Gregorio Manzano?s team retain fifth place on the league table.

Hercules have renewed hope in their battle to avoid the drop after recording a 3-1 win at Real Sociedad.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes helped Hercules break a five-game losing run and extend Sociedad?s winless drought to five.

Forward Javier Portillo struck first on 70 minutes, before on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Royson Drenthe scored a brace in the last five minutes to give Hercules victory.

In other matches, Levante defeated struggling Malaga 3-1 at home, with Christian Stuani and Ruben Suarez putting the hosts 2-0 up inside the opening nine minutes.

Sebastian Fernandez pulled a goal back for Malaga in the 61st minute, before Uruguayan forward Stuani completed his brace to make sure of the victory for Levante.

Espanyol suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Racing Santander.

Striker Pablo Osvaldo gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot 37 minutes into the match, but second-half goals from Gonzalo Colsa and Giovani dos Santos gave Santander a surprise win.

Deportivo La Coruna recorded an important 2-1 victory over Mallorca to climb five points clear of the relegation zone.

Cameroon international Pierre Webo struck first for Mallorca but on-loan Newcastle United forward Xisco and Lassad Nouioui both struck after the break to help Deportivo come out on top.

Mallorca finished the match with ten men when Webo was shown a straight red card in added time.

In the late kick-off, Kike Sola put Osasuna 1-0 up at home to Atletico Madrid, but a hat-trick from Brazilian striker Diego Da Silva Costa saw the visitors turn the match on its head.

Spain international Jose Antonio Reyes missed a penalty to make it 4-1 on 69 minutes.

Iran international Javad Nekounam did score from the spot to get Osasuna back to 3-2, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.

They ended the match a man down when Sergio received his marching orders with six minutes to go.

 

[floorfilla]

La Liga: Almeria 1 Athletic Bilbao 3

5 April 2011

Almeria's struggle to avoid La Liga relegation took another blow with a 3-1 defeat at home to Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Hosts Almeria took the lead through Pablo Piatti six minutes into the match at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterreneos.

The diminutive Argentine forward broke through the Bilbao defence before beating goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz to make it 1-0.

Teenage winger Iker Muniain levelled for the visitors on 29 minutes, netting a rebound after Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves failed to hold a shot.

And seven minutes into the second half, forward Gaizka Toquero beat Alves with a left-foot shot to make it 2-1 to Bilbao.

Pablo Orbaiz made it 3-1 on the hour mark, completing the turnaround for the away side by catching Alves out with a long-range effort from close to the halfway line.

The win sees Bilbao regain fifth place from Sevilla on goal difference.

Almeria are now three points adrift at the bottom of the table and four points off safety.

 

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[Dodomeki]

 

[floorfilla]

La Liga wrap: Barca come from behind, Real win

10 April 2011

Barcelona remain eight points clear in La Liga after coming from a goal down to beat bottom side Almeria 3-1 on Saturday.

Visitors Almeria took a surprise lead in the 50th minute after a goalless first half at the Camp Nou.

Diminutive Argentine forward Pablo Piatti found space on the right flank and was able to set up Miguel Angel Corona, with the attacking midfielder beating Barca reserve goalkeeper Jose Pinto to make it 1-0.

But the lead lasted just three minutes before Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves brought down David Villa in the box.

Lionel Messi converted the resulting penalty to draw Barca level.

Argentina forward Messi was again involved as Barca took the lead just over 10 minutes later.

His corner found the head of Thiago Alcantara and the teenage midfielder beat Alves to put the home side 2-1 up.

It was Messi who completed the scoring, benefiting from centre-back Marcelo Silva's error to make it 3-1 in added time.

Earlier, Real Madrid came away from their trip to Estadio San Mames with all three points following a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Real took the lead 14 minutes into the match when Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz brought down Argentina midfielder Angel di Maria inside the penalty area and Kaka converted the penalty.

The visitors were 2-0 up in the 54th minute, with Brazil international Kaka again scoring from the spot after Xabier Castillo brought down di Maria in the box.

Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to add a third in the 70th minute.

With both of the top two winning, second-placed Real stay eight points back from league leaders Barca.

They teams are set to meet at the Santiago Bernabeu next Saturday.

In the late kick-off, Sevilla twice came from behind to draw 2-2 away to Mallorca.

First Alvaro Negredo equalised from the penalty spot after Akihiro Ienaga gave hosts Mallorca the lead at Estadio Son Moix.

Jonathan De Guzman restored Mallorca's lead four minutes before the break, but Ivan Rakitic levelled again for the visitors on 67 minutes.

The draw leaves Sevilla fifth on 46 points, with Mallorca seven points back in ninth place.

 

[Dodomeki]

 

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La Liga wrap: Five-star Valencia rout Villarreal

11 April 2011

Valencia won the battle between third and fourth in La Liga with a 5-0 thrashing of Villarreal at Estadio Mestalla.

Hosts Valencia led from the 13th minute of Sunday's match through a goal from striker Roberto Soldado.

But they had to wait until 11 minutes into the second half to double the advantage through attacking midfielder Juan Mata.

The second goal cued a collapse from the visitors, with Argentina midfielder Ever Benega making it 3-0 five minutes later.

Mata and Soldado both struck again in the space of a minute to complete the rout at 5-0.

The win sees Valencia stay third, but they are now just six points clear of fourth-placed Villarreal.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid closed in on a Europa League qualification place with a 3-0 win at home to Real Sociedad.

First-half goals from Brazilian full-back Kasmirski Luis Filipe and midfielder Mario Suarez saw Atletico go into the break 2-0 up at Estadio Vicente Calderon.

Argentina forward Sergio Aguero added a third with 13 minutes remaining.

The victory sees Atletico climb to sixth place on the table.

Sociedad are 14th, five points above the relegation places.

A second-half strike from centre-forward Torres David Barral helped Sporting Gijon to a 1-0 win over Osasuna.

Racing Santander led against Levante courtesy of a Victoriano Nano own goal, but Ruiz Rafa Jorda struck in the last minute to grab a point for the visitors at El Sardinero.

Two of the bottom three sides gained a point with 0-0 draws at home.

Hercules are third from bottom after holding seventh-placed Espanyol goalless at Estadio Jose Rico Perez, while second-bottom Malaga also played out a stalemate against visitors Deportivo La Coruna.

Depor were a man down for the entire second half after defender Sanabria Ruiz Laure received a straight red card in the 45th minute at La Rosaleda.

 

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La Liga: Real Zaragoza 2 Getafe 1

12 April 2011

Real Zaragoza moved three points clear of the La Liga relegation zone with a valuable 2-1 win over Getafe on Monday.

Leonardo Ponzio opened the scoring for hosts Zaragoza with a long-range effort in the 14th minute at Estadio de La Romareda.

The Argentine midfielder received the ball just inside the visitors' half and was allowed to advance unchecked, before launching a low shot past Oscar Ustari.

The Getafe goalkeeper got a hand to the ball, but was unable to prevent Ponzio making it 1-0.

And another Argentine midfielder, Nicolas Bertolo, doubled the advantage on 35 minutes.

After Getafe lost possession in the centre of the pitch, Zaragoza launched a quick counter-attack.

Nigeria international striker Ikechukwu Uche fed to the ball to an unmarked Bertolo, with the man on loan from Serie A side Palermo taking a touch before slotting past Ustari for 2-0.

Francisco Casquero pulled one back for Getafe on the stroke of half-time, firing home from close range after Zaragoza failed to clear a header by Adrian Colunga.

Midfielder Casquero came close to equalising in the second half, but saw a shot saved by Zaragoza goalkeeper Antonio Doblas.

The win sees Zaragoza stay 17th, but they are now three points clear of the drop zone.

Javier Aguirre's side also close to within one point of 16th-placed Getafe, who have picked up just eight points from a possible 45 to plummet down the table in 2011.

 

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La Liga preview: El Clasico to decide title

15 April 2011

Real Madrid host Barcelona in a potential title decider on Saturday, the first of four eagerly anticipated clashes between the two teams.

Reigning champions Barca top the La Liga table by eight points from second-placed Real.

Pep Guardiola's side dismantled Real 5-0 during their first meeting at the Camp Nou in November.

A victory in the corresponding fixture at the Bernabeu could see them stretch their advantage to a near-unassailable 11 points.

And with only six matches of the season remaining after this round, it would make Barca overwhelming favourites to collect their third consecutive championship crown.

But the title race is one only part of a fascinating series of matches between the two arch-rivals.

On Wednesday they contest the Copa del Rey final at Valencia's Estadio Mestalla, before meeting over two legs of the Champions League semi-final in the last week of April and first week of May.

Elsewhere in La Liga, bottom club Almeria have a daunting assignment at home to third-placed Valencia, who thrashed immediate rivals Villarreal 5-0 last weekend.

Almeria went down 3-1 away to Barca after taking a surprise lead early in the second half at the Camp Nou.

They are four points adrift of second bottom Malaga and seven points away from safety.

Malaga have an opportunity to climb above third-from-last Hercules and draw level with 17th-placed Real Zaragoza when they are in action at home to mid-table Mallorca.

Also on Saturday, Sevilla travel to Getafe with their hopes of securing a Champions League qualification berth fading.

Gregorio Manzano's side are fifth, eight points behind fourth-placed Villarreal, who do not play until Monday, when they host Zaragoza.

In Sunday's matches, Hercules will hope to continue their survival bid when they travel to Levante.

Deportivo La Coruna are at home to Racing Santander, Sporting Gijon travel to face Real Sociedad and Osasuna await the visit of Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico Madrid, seventh in the table but level on points with sixth-placed Bilbao, are away at Espanyol.

 

[Gonzalo Higuain]

La Liga wrap: Penalties seal Clasico draw

17 April 2011

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Cristiano Ronaldo's 81st minute penalty has given Real Madrid a point in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.

The much-awaited El Clasico got off to a slow start at the Bernabeu, but picked up considerably in a dramatic second half, with Barca taking the lead after 53 minutes thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty after David Villa was brought down in the area.

Real Madrid's Raul Albiol was sent off for the challenge but the hosts, down to 10 men, fought back and snatched a point with Ronaldo's spot-kick eight minutes from time.

Angel Di Maria and Ronaldo had the best chances of the first half for the hosts, while Messi was proving a threat for the visitors and David Villa could have had a penalty when Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas appeared to bring him down in the area.

Ronaldo then hit the upright with a dipping free-kick, the match turned when when Albiol tackled Villa to the ground and conceded an obvious penalty.

Messi converted for his 30th La Liga goal this season, despite Casillas getting a hand on the ball, and the lead could have been doubled when Xavi's ball from the right clipped the top of the crossbar nine minutes after the goal.

The red card did not deter Real who continued to push forward, and the hosts earned a penalty when Dani Alves fouled Marcelo with a lunging challenge to hand Ronaldo a spot kick, which he duly dispatched.

Neither side could find a winner in the remaining 10 minutes, despite Sami Khedira testing Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes, leaving Barcelona eight points clear on top of the league.

The two sides will now meet in the Copa del Rey final on April 20, before a two-legged Champions League semi-final.

In other matches, Getafe snapped a horror run of form with a 1-0 triumph over fifth-placed Sevilla.

Getafe entered the match sitting just two places above the relegation zone and with just one win in their last 16 matches in all competitions.

But that all changed as the relegation-threatened side jumped to 12th thanks to Miku's 76th minute strike, which dents Sevilla's chances of catching Villarreal in fourth.

Elsewhere, second-half goals to Roberto Soldado, Marius Stankevicius and Jordi Alba saw Valencia win 3-0 at bottom-side Almeria, while a Julio Baptista double helped Malaga to a 3-0 home win against Mallorca.

The win sees Malaga just goal difference away from exiting the relegation zone.

 

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La Liga wrap: Deportivo ease relegations fears

18 April 2011

Deportivo La Coruna took another huge step towards avoiding relegation from La Liga with a 2-0 win over Racing Santander on Sunday.

Goals on either side of half-time helped Miguel Angel Lotina's men move five points clear of the bottom three after now collecting seven points of their last possible nine.

Tunisian forward Lassad Nouioui opened the scoring in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

On-loan attacker Xisco Jimenez doubled the lead four minutes after the interval, leaving Racing Santander four points from the drop zone.

Two sides battling for a Europa League spot are Espanyol and Atletico Madrid who played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Koke gave Atletico the lead after just two minutes but Pablo Osvaldo's equaliser seven minutes before the break levelled proceedings.

Sergio Aguero again put the visitors in front just five minutes into the second half but Osvaldo scored his sixth goal in just nine games after 58 minutes to secure a point for the hosts.

Surprise packets Levante consolidated ninth spot with a 2-1 win over relegation-destined Hercules.

Two first-half goals guaranteed the points for Levante in a clash between two of this season's promoted sides.

Attacker Ruben Suarez gave his side the lead in the fifth minute before Juanlu doubled their lead two minutes before the break.

Experienced striker David Trezeguet pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute but it was to no avail as Hercules remain three points from safety.

Real Sociedad snapped a seven-game winless run with a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon.

Young Frenchman Antoine Griezmann scored a brace either side of an equaliser from Miguel de las Cuevas.

Griezmann opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before de las Cuevas hit a 69th minute leveller.

But Griezmann popped up 11 minutes from time to end a shocking run of form from his team and move them further from the relegation zone and into 12th.

Athletic Bilbao moved into fifth spot with a gutsy come from behind 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Forward Kike Sola gave Osasuna a 51st minute lead and when Bilbao left-back Xabier Castillo was sent off for a second bookable offence, it looked as though the hosts would win an important three points.

But attacker Fernando Llorente scored his 16th league goal of the season in the 69th minute to keep his team in the game.

They continued to hold on with 10 men before Osasuna centre-back Sergio Gonzalez also picked up a second yellow card.

Bilbao took their chance back with equal numbers on the pitch as Muniain popped up to score a late winner.

The loss leaves Osasuna two points away from the relegation zone.

 

[Mesut Özil]

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Real Madrid 1 - 1 Barcelona
All Goals & Full Highlights 16.04.2011


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[Gonzalo Higuain]

La Liga: Villarreal 1 Real Zaragoza 0

19 April 2011

Fourth-placed Villarreal kept up the pressure on Valencia with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home over Real Zaragoza on Monday.

The result cut third-placed Valencia's buffer over Villareal to six points with six games remaining as the two sides chase the third and final automatic Champions League place in La Liga.

A fourth-placed finish would see that side be forced into the qualifying play-offs for Europe's richest club competition.

American-born Italian international Guiseppe Rossi scored the decisive goal of the match from the penalty spot with 20 minutes to play after he was upended by a crude challenge from Argentine midfielder Leonardo Ponzio.

The match itself was a spiteful affair, which saw seven players booked and Real Zaragoza's Nigerian striker Ikechukwu Uche sent off for a second caution in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when referee Javier Turienzo Alvarez booked him for diving.

The loss leaves Zaragoza in 17th place, with only goal difference separating them from the relegation zone.

 

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Getafe sold to Dubai consortium

22 April 2011

Spanish side Getafe have been bought out by the Royal Emirates Group for a fee believed to be in the region of 70 to 90 million Euros.

The group, chaired by a member of the Dubai ruling Al-Maktoum family, has bought a 100 percent stake in the club.

"Royal Emirates Group plans to invest heavily in inducting new blood and promoting the team in the region with the aim to make Dubai a transcending sky bridge between Europe and the Middle East," a Royal Emirates Group statement said.

"(Getafe president) Angel Torres felt this landmark agreement will lead to new business relationships being forged between UAE and Spain."

"In the spirit of this joint endeavour and to show the solidarity of the people of Dubai it was announced that Getafe CF will now add the tag line "Team Dubai" to its crest."

"Royal Emirates Group plans to invest heavily in inducting new blood and promoting the team in the region with the aim to make Dubai a transcending sky bridge between Europe and the Middle East. "

Getafe become the second La Liga side to be bought out by a group from the Middle East, after Qatari billionaire Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani bought Malaga in last year for 25 million Euros.

After finishing sixth last season, Getafe have struggled to back that progress up this campaign, currently sitting 14th in La Liga, just four point above the relegation zone.

 

[Gonzalo Higuain]

La Liga preview: Finish line in sight for Barca

22 April 2011

Barcelona can take a big step towards a third successive La Liga title on Saturday when they welcome struggling Osasuna to the Nou Camp.

Pep Guardiola's men are eight points clear of Real Madrid on top of the league table with just six games to play, and they will no doubt have been stung by their 1-0 loss to Jose Mourinho's side in Wednesday's Copa del Rey final.

In a blow for the reigning champions, defender Adriano has been ruled out of action for four weeks after injuring a hamstring in the cup defeat.

Osasuna are sure to be fighting tooth and nail, having lost their past three matches to leave them sitting just two points outside the drop zone in 16th position.

Real Madrid kept their slim title chances alive thanks to a late penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo that salvaged them a 1-1 draw against Barca at the Bernabeu last weekend, and they will face another stern test on Saturday against third-placed Valencia.

Saturday's other match pits fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao against 12th-placed Real Sociedad who are just five points clear of the bottom three.

Bilbao are in pole position for one of two Europa League places for next season, and they have a two-point cushion over sixth-placed Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, with eighth-placed Espanyol a further point behind.

On Sunday, Atletico - the 2009-10 Europa League champions - take on a Levante side who have won eight of their past 12 games to sit in ninth place, while Sevilla welcome fourth-placed Villarreal to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Espanyol face a tricky trip to Sporting Gijon and Getafe travel to Mallorca.

At the bottom of the table, a loss for Almeria at Real Zaragoza would make their La Liga survival incredibly difficult, while second bottom Hercules host Deportivo La Coruna.

Malaga, who are outside the drop zone by just goal difference, travel to Racing Santander.

 

[Gonzalo Higuain]

La Liga wrap: Real, Barca continue dominance

24 April 2011

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Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain hit a hat-trick in their 6-3 thrashing of Valencia in La Liga on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho's side was in devastating form as they held a 4-0 half-time lead at the Estadio de Mestalla, although they failed to make up any ground on first-placed rivals Barcelona, who also had a win.

Higuain was the provider of the first in the 23rd minute as his pass led to Valencia goal-keeper Vicente Guaita palming into the path of Karim Benzema, who hammered home into an empty net.

The Argentine got his first goal of three in the 31st minute with a tight finish, before setting up Kaka for the team's third six minutes from half-time.

The Brazilian returned the favour twice to Higuain, either side of the interval, as Real Madrid led 5-0 after 53 minutes.

Valencia striker Roberto Soldado pulled a goal back on the hour mark before Kaka completed his brace after an assist from Benzema two minutes later.

Substitutes Jonas and Jordi Alba provided some respectability to the scoreline with goals in the last 10 minutes as the third-placed Valencia crashed to a heavy defeat.
Barcelona maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table, however, with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Osasuna.

Goals from David Villa and his second-half replacement Lionel Messi ensured Pep Guardiola's team kept their buffer at the top.

Villa finished smartly in the 24th minute after benefiting from a slick team move that led to a superb pass from Jeffren in his direction.

Messi wrapped up the points two minutes from time with a neat finish after Dani Alves slid him behind the Osasuna defence.

The loss continues Osasuna's nervous finish to the season, still sitting two points above the drop zone.

Athletic Bilbao brought up a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad at their Estadio San Mames home, to lift them into sixth place on the league table.

It was Real's seventh loss in their past nine to leave them 12th on the table.

Muniain and Toquero scored for Bilbao in the 19th and 29th minutes respectively, while midfielder Javi Martinez found the back of his own net to gift Real their only goal of the game in the 31st minute.

 

[floorfilla]

La Liga wrap: Atletico, Sevilla claim crucial wins

25 April 2011

Atletico Madrid maintained their hold on La Liga's last European spot with a 4-1 thrashing of Levante, as Sevilla also surprised on Sunday.

A second-half brace from star attacker Sergio Aguero helped Quique Sanchez's side keep sixth spot despite Sevilla beating Villarreal.

Aguero provided the first goal for Brazilian Elias in the 19th minute, before the home side was pegged back six minutes before half-time when attacker Felipe Caicedo slotted home a penalty to make it 1-1.

Aguero restored his side's advantage five minutes into the second half after he hit a powerful shot into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

He completed his double in the 70th minute when the home side were awarded a contentious penalty for a foul on Diego Costa, which Aguero converted by sending Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua the wrong way.

The rout was completed six minutes from the final whistle as Munua fumbled a front-post corner into his own net to make it 4-1.

Levante sit ninth after the loss, while Atletico Madrid remain sixth despite Sevilla's entertaining 3-2 win over Villarreal. Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic and attacker Negredo scored in the opening quarter of an hour to help their side to an early 2-0 lead.

Defender Carlos Marchena's well-struck 56th-minute goal brought the score back to 2-1. But Sevilla substitute Romaric took a chance that fell his way to restore the two-goal buffer six minutes later.

Italian forward Giuseppe Rossi curled in a delightful goal in the 73rd minute to keep the pressure on Sevilla. Former Manchester United attacker Rossi, who came on as a 54th-minute substitute, had a shot bounce off the post moments after his goal.

Villarreal goal-scorer Marchena was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes from the end as Sevilla held on for a valuable three points. Villarreal remain fourth but missed their chance to close the gap on Valencia to three points, with Sevilla keeping the pressure on Atletico Madrid to remain in seventh. Only goal difference separates the two sides.

Malaga took a step closer to avoiding relegation with a 2-1 win at Racing Santander. January signing Julio Baptista continued his goal-scoring run with the opener in the 32nd minute - the fifth time the Brazilian forward has found the net in seven appearances for the club.

He set up the second for Uruguayan striker Sebastian Fernandez three minutes later and Malaga held on despite Markus Rosenberg's 73rd-minute strike for the hosts. Malaga are now three points clear of the drop zone, while Racing Santander are only four points ahead of 18th-placed Real Zaragoza.

A Tiago Gomes goal on the hour mark gave Hercules a 1-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna. The three points keeps their hopes of avoiding the drop alive, leaving them now only two points from safety. Deportivo La Coruna are five points clear of the bottom three.

In the day's other games, Mallorca struck in each half to record a 2-0 win over Getafe. Jose Nunes and Japanese substitute Akihiro Ienaga found the net to keep Mallorca in 10th, with Getafe remaining four points from the bottom three after the loss.

Sporting Gijon dented Espanyol's hopes of claiming a European spot with a 1-0 win. Substitute Nacho Novo scored a 71st-minute goal to leave his side in 11th and extend eighth-placed Espanyol's winless run to five games.

 

[floorfilla]

La Liga: Real Zaragoza 1 Almeria 0

26 April 2011

A Diego Alves own goal handed Real Zaragoza a 1-0 win over Almeria on Monday, lifting them out of the La Liga relegation zone in the process.

The first half at the Estadio de la Romareda ended goalless, but the home fans were sent into raptures when Almeria goalkeeper Alves got the final touch into his own net in the 70th minute.

Zaragoza finished with ten men after Ander Herrera was given a straight red card in the 90th minute, but it was too late to change the result.

The battle between the two strugglers in the Spanish top flight was always going to be hard-fought, and the loss leaves Almeria anchored to the bottom of the table, seven points from 19th (Hercules) and 10 points from safety with five matches remaining.

Zaragoza climbed to 16th courtesy of the win, moving above Malaga and Osasuna on goal difference.

The latter dropped into the bottom three, with five games remaining in the season.