Matchday 15 - Round-up

A goal from substitute Juan Angel Albin in the 88th minute handed Getafe a deserved 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday night. Michel’s men played the entire second half with ten men following Daniel Cata Diaz’s dismissal but they performed better in that period than they had with numerical parity. Albin’s heroic status was tarnished by the fact that he stupidly removed his shirt while celebrating his goal was subsequently sent off for a second bookable offence. 

Two first half goals from in-form hitman Sergio Aguero gave Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Vicente Calderon. Despite playing five men at the back, Miguel Angel Lotina’s men played a high line and Atletico exploited the space with quick counter attacks. Diego Forlan missed a penalty before El Kun put the home side ahead but his blushes were spared by the individual brilliance of his strike partner.

Sevilla fell to their 5th consecutive defeat in all competitions with a dire 1-3 reverse to provincial rivals Almeria at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Fredi Kanoute, who scored the only home goal, missed a penalty and Alexis was sent off late on to confound Sevilla’s night, but the credit should go to Jose Luis Oltra’s team, who earned themselves a relegation reprieve thanks to a Fabian Vargas goal and two wonderful strikes from Argentine gem Pablo Piatti.

Sporting de Gijon are now eight league games without a win as they failed to beat Levante at the Molinon on Sunday afternoon. In fact, Manuel Preciado’s team had to chase the game for nine second half minutes after Felipe Caicedo put the visitors in front but man-of-the-match Jose Angel went on to set up Sebastian Eguren for an equaliser and the match finished 1-1.

Hercules put in a magnificent second half performance to overhaul a half time deficit and eventually crush Malaga 4-1 at the Jose Rico Perez. Sebastian Fernandez put the visitors in front in the first half but the Alicante-based club came flying out of the traps in the second half and goals from David Trezeguet, Royston Drenthe, Abraham Paz and Kiko Femenia gave Esteban Vigo’s side a well-deserved victory against Manuel Pellegrini’s defensively catastrophic team.

Like Hercules, Athletic Bilbao went into the half time break losing but managed to turn the game around to beat Espanyol 2-1 at San Mames. The scoreline was not as impressive as in Alicante but the second half performance from the Basques was equally emphatic and they managed to overturn a side who did not simply roll over like Malaga. Joaquin Caparros’ second half changes proved vital as Pablo Osvaldo’s goal was cancelled out by Fernando Llorente before David Lopez hit a winner twelve minutes from time. 

Oscar Serrano made a dream comeback from a long-term injury, scoring a second half stoppage time winner to give Racing Santander a 0-1 victory over Real Mallorca at the Iberostar Estadi. It was the Cantabrians’ first away win of the season and it came at the ground of one of the strongest home teams in the division. Michael Laudrup’s men could have won the game in the second half but Tono made a stunning save to deny Victor Casadeus with the goal gaping.

Real Zaragoza set out their stall to make life difficult for Real Madrid at the Romareda but, after a difficult opening ten minutes or so for the visitors, Jose Mourinho’s men eventually took control of the game and surged into a three goal lead thanks to strikes from Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria. Gabi spoiled Iker Casillas 400th appearance by scoring from the penalty spot but Real’s were never in danger of squandering their lead and it finished 1-3.

Despite everything they’ve won and the slick style in which they’ve done it, this Barcelona team under Pep Guardiola just keeps getting better and better. A 5-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday was just one in a long line of stunning results built around sublime performances. David Villa, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi (twice) and Bojan scored the goals but it should also be noted that they kept yet another clean sheet as the defensive efficiency of the side continues to increase. This team is truly one for the history books having already surpassed the feats of Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team” and Real Madrid’s “Quinta del Buitre”.

Valencia threw away a two-goal half time lead against Osasuna to draw 3-3 at Mestalla on Monday night. Roberto Soldado, Marius Stankevicius and Aritz Aduriz scored in the first half with one in response from Juanfran Torres but Jose Antonio Camacho’s side rallied late on, cancelling out the deficit with goals from Miguel Flano and Carlos Aranda and they could have even won the game such was the nervousness displayed by the home team towards the end.