Matchday 19 - Round-up

Almeria dealt Real Madrid’s title hopes a massive blow on Sunday night as the bottom of the league side held Jose Mourinho’s megastars to a 1-1 draw at the Juegos Mediterraneos. It could have been worse for Los Merengues as Leandro Ulloa put Almeria ahead on the hour mark. Granero leveled the playing field fifteen minutes later but, however much they pushed, Real could not find a winner. They drop to four points behind league leaders Barcelona. 

Barcelona took full advantage of Real Madrid’s slip up on Sunday evening with a 4-1 stroll at home to Malaga. Andres Iniesta, David Villa (twice) and Pedro Rodriguez scored the goals on a comfortable night for Barca, who have increased their lead at the top of La Liga to four points. Duda scored a consolation free-kick but Malaga were not on the same level, even with recent big-name signing Julio Baptista among the ranks.

It was a case of better late than never for Valencia on matchday nineteen as they beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 thanks to goals from Jeremy Mathieu and Pablo Hernandez in the 77th and 93rd minutes respectively. Miguel Angel Lotina’s team tried parking the team bus in front of the away goal for the duration of the game but someone left a window open and they was exposed in the final fifteen minutes.

Atletico Madrid finally recorded a win in 2011 as things came together at home to Real Mallorca on Monday even without talismanic captain Sergio Aguero in the team. Juan Valera, Diego Forlan and Jose Antonio Reyes scored three goals spread out over the ninety minutes to give the Vicente Calderon faithful a 3-0 win and something to cheer about after a difficult few weeks.

Jose Callejon struck twice at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Espanyol ended Sevilla’s unbeaten start to 2011 with a 1-2 win on Saturday night. It was a rare occasion on which Mauricio Pochettino’s team were superior away from home and they made Sevilla pay the price for their defensive vulnerability, which surfaced again at the Pizjuan. Alvaro Negredo scored a consolation goal late in second half stoppage time but a comeback was never on the cards.

Only goal difference confines Real Zaragoza to a place in the bottom three as they made it back to back home wins with a 1-0 victory over Levante at the Romareda. Visibility was very poor inside the stadium due to heavy fog but Luis Garcia Plaza had a good enough view to complain that a disallowed which prejudiced his team was perfectly legal. Zaragoza skipper Gabi scored the only goal on the stroke of half time and it was a fine effort worthy of the match-winner. 

Villarreal concluded business in the first half of the league campaign with a 4-2 win over Osasuna, which means Juan Carlos Garrido’s maintain their unbeaten run at the Madrigal in what has been a record breaking season for them so far. Marco Ruben, Ruben Cani, Joan Capdevila and Gonzalo Rodriguez scored for the hosts and Krisztian Vadocz and Javier Calleja responded for the visitors. Osasuna were not the worst we have seen them in 2010-11 but they were simply outclassed in Castellon.

Sporting de Gijon squeezed themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Hercules at the Molinon on matchday nineteen. David Barral and Nacho Cases’ first half goals helped the Asturians end a run of eleven league games without a win and eased the pressure on club manager Manuel Preciado’s head. Hercules painted a sorry picture on the road yet again.

The big shock of matchday nineteen was not Real Madrid’s draw at Almeria or Sevilla’s home defeat to Espanyol. The major surprise was reserved for the Coliseum Alfonso Perez where Real Sociedad, who have not been very convincing away from home this season, thrashed Getafe 0-4 thanks to goals from Xabi Prieto, Antoine Griezmann and a brace from substitute Mikel Aranburu. Getafe boss admitted that the defeat was deserved but suggested that a four goal margin was a little steep. I’m not so sure. 

Two goals in the opening ten minutes were enough to give Athletic Bilbao victory over Racing Santander at San Mames on Saturday. After Javi Martinez and Iker Muniain struck early it looked like Racing were in for a hiding but they recovered their composure and eventually hit back through Ivan Bolado to contribute to a 2-1 final scoreline.