Matchday 17 - Round-up

Athletic Bilbao were left with a bitter aftertaste at San Mames thanks to a 1-2 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday. Joaquin Caparros’ men had far more chances than their Galician visitors but poor luck, poor finishing and a fine display by Daniel Aranzubia denied them their dues. Adrian hit a double for Deportivo to convert the only clear away chances before Fernando Llorente cut the deficit late in the second half. Mikel San Jose and Juan Rodriguez both saw red in the first half and Ustaritz was sent off two minutes before the end in what was a feisty encounter. Referee Rubinos Perez came under the spotlight for awarding Depor a penalty that never should have been and sending off San Jose in very harsh circumstances. 

Malaga got off to the perfect start in 2011 by beating Sporting de Gijon 1-2 at the Molinon and they did it without the incorporation of any of their new signings. Diego Castro gave Sporting a lead from the penalty spot towards the end of the first half but Weligton levelled the score again before the break and a second half spot kick from Antonio Apono settled the tie in Manuel Pellegrini’s side’s favour. Neither team was particularly impressive, however, but Malaga are rewarded with a relegation zone reprieve.

Pedro Rodriguez stole the show at the Camp Nou on the day that Xavi Hernandez made history by equalling Migueli’s massive 549 game haul for Barcelona. The Canary Islander scored both of Barca’s goals to help them to a 2-1 win over Levante. It was not as comfortable as many expected as Lionel Messi was sorely missed. Christian Stuani even gave the home side something to worry about with his goal ten minutes from time to ensure a tight finish, although the win did reflect Pep Guardiola’s team’s overall dominance.  

Jesus Navas showed Sevilla exactly what they have been missing during his protracted injury absence as he inspired the club to a 1-0 win over Osasuna at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to end a run of five straight league defeats. Navas set up Fredi Kanoute to score the only goal of the game in the first half. Gregorio Manzano’s team looked more defensively organised as well, although they were helped by a distinct lack of bite in the Pamplonan attack.

Valencia stole a march on their Champions League rivals Espanyol on Sunday as Juanma Mata scored a second half stoppage time winner to give Unai Emery’s men a deserved 2-1 win at Mestalla. Mata’s goal looked suspiciously as though it was scored from an offside position but Valencia deserved the winner for taking the game to the Catalans despite playing with ten men for most of the second half. Aritz Aduriz, who gave Los Che a first half lead which was cancelled out by a Ricardo Costa own-goal just before the break, was sent off on the hour mark for making contact with Javier Chica with his elbow but it was a harsh sending off for a fairly innocuous incident. Valencia now possess a three point cushion over Los Pericos in 4th place.

Despite the absence of four key players, Villarreal cantered to a 2-0 victory over Almeria on matchday seventeen. Juan Carlos Garrido’s men did not display the slick passing and lightening quick runs that they have done for most of the season but two goals from set pieces credited to Jose Manuel Catala and Borja Valero were enough against an Almeria team who offered very little in response.

Real Zaragoza finally showed some real urgency and desire and it paid off as Braulio struck late to earn Javier Aguirre’s side a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Romareda. Florent Sinama-Pongolle’s brilliant opening goal was cancelled out by Xabi Prieto in the first half but the Aragonese team never gave up hope of victory.

Atletico Madrid stumbled at the first hurdle in 2011 with a dour display at the Vicente Calderon. Fortunately for Quique Sanchez Flores, Atletico’s opponent was not much better and a 0-0 draw with Racing Santander reflected both the balance of play and the just reward for two teams that performed well below par.   

Hercules’ away day misery continued at the Iberostar Estadi on Monday night where they were roundly thrashed 3-0 by Real Mallorca. The fallout from the Royston Drenthe affair might have affected Esteban Vigo’s side but it is hard to gauge just how much as this was not an atypical away performance. Emilio Nsue, Victor Casadeus and Michael Pereira scored the goals to set Mallorca on the path to victory.

Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and another from Mesut Ozil were enough to hand Real Madrid a 2-3 victory over Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Monday night, but Michel’s men made Los Merengues work for their money. Dani Parejo scored a dazzling individual goal to originally cut a two-goal deficit and Juan Albin then pulled another back late on to ensure a tense finish. Besides the derby result, there was more good news for Jose Mourinho as Kaka completed his injury comeback to play the final fifteen minutes of the game in what was his first appearance of the season.