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La Liga Round 12 Results: Athletic Bilbao continues fine form with a determined victory over Sevilla
Oscar de Marcos' strike in the second half saw Marcelo Bielsa's side stretch its unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions and dent the Andalusians' Champions League hopes.
Nov 21, 2011 5:05:00 PM
| Saturday NOVEMBER 19 |
KO | Sunday NOVEMBER 20 |
KO |
| Villarreal - Real Betis |
1-0 |
Real Sociedad - Espanyol |
0-0 |
| Barcelona - Zaragoza |
4-0 |
Osasuna - Rayo Vallecano |
0-0 |
| Valencia - Real Madrid |
2-3 | Sporting Gijon - Getafe |
2-1 |
| Sevilla - Athletic Bilbao |
1-2 |
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| Atletico Madrid - Levante |
3-2 | ||
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Granada - Mallorca |
Susp. | |
| |
Monday NOVEMBER 21 | KO | |
| all kickoffs in ET | Racing - Malaga |
1-3 |
| Villarreal |
1-0 |
Real Betis |
 Borja Valero's magnificent lob secured a vital three points for the Yellow Submarine as they continued their recovery following a dreadful start to the season.
Click here for the full match report |
| Barcelona |
4-0 |
Zaragoza |
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Barcelona kept up the pressure on Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid with a masterful 4-0 win over Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou with Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol and David Villa all on the score sheet.
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| Valencia |
2-3 |
Real Madrid |
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Real Madrid continued its imperious form recording the team's 11th consecutive win in all competitions with a compelling 3-2 victory at the Mestalla stadium.
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| Real Sociedad |
0-0 |
Espanyol |
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Real Sociedad remained rooted to the base of La Liga table despite moving level on points with Sporting Gijon which sitd outside the relegation zone following the goalless draw against Espanyol.
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| Osasuna |
0-0 |
Rayo Vallecano |
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Rayo had the first meaningful shot on goal when Piti hit an effort from over 35 metres which had Andres Fernandez scrambling in the Osasuna net but ended up a fraction too high. Jose Movilla wasted the best chance of the opening 45 minutes after being played through, only for the midfielder to hit his shot straight at Osasuna's Andres as the two teams exchanged chances throughout the first half. Both sides went in search of a winner as the game reached a climax with each enjoying spells of dominance. Lass struck the woodwork with 20 minutes remaining, the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock, but the match remained goalless. Jose Luis Mendilibar's Osasuna visits Espanyol next while Rayo faces a daunting task when it welcomes Valencia to Vallecas. |
| Sporting Gijon |
2-1 |
Getafe |
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Nacho Novo grabbed the decisive goal with the full time whistle fast approaching as Getafe, reduced to 10 men following Abdel Barrada's sending off, was unable to hold out for an invaluable point. In an entertaining start to the match, both teams would have been disappointed not to have taken the lead with Getafe having the first chance early on before David Barral went close with a free kick for the home side. Getafe took the lead following a free flowing move ending in Miku slotting the ball beyond Juan Pablo from inside the penalty area. Heading into the 51st minute of the first half, due to an injury to Miguel Torres, Sporting leveled the match through Oscar Trejo with a well taken finish. Sporting went in search of a winner after Barrada was sent off following a second bookable offense as the home side finished the match camped deeply in Getafe's half. The pressure that Preciado's side had been putting on Getafe paid off in the 89th minute when Novo got across his marker to hammer a header into the back of the net from close range. The win for Sporting lifts them away from the relegation zone and they will hope to capitalize on Levante's poor form when the club visits the Ciutat de Valencia in a weeks' time. Getafe, meanwhile, finds itself firmly in the relegation scrap sitting one point above the drop zone. And the club faces current champion Barcelona in its next match. |
| Sevilla |
1-2 |
Athletic Bilbao |
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Jesus Navas cancelled out Andoni Iraola's early opener before Oscar de Marcos netted the winning goal midway through the second half extending Marcelo Bielsa side's unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions. Athletic Bilbao took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Iraola smashed home an effort from the edge of the penalty area following a well rehearsed set piece situation. The match was leveled soon after when Frederick Kanoute's downward header found Jesus Navas whose shot across goal nestled in the far corner. The frantic pace of the match continued as the game ebbed and flowed with neither side able to capitalize on the chances that manifested until the 71st minute. Oscar de Marcos restored Bilbao's lead with under 20 minutes remaining when he latched onto Iker Muniain's perfectly weighted through ball before sliding the ball into the net. Bilbao's win sees the club move level on points with sixth place Malaga in La Liga table and the club will look to continue the fine form against Granada next week. Meanwhile, Sevilla will hope to recover when it travels to Zaragoza in its upcoming match after falling further adrift of the Champions League spots. |
| Atletico Madrid |
3-2 |
Levante |
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All five goals came in the final 25 minutes as Atletico Madrid came out the victors after Diego Ribas' strike proved decisive, inflicting Levante's third consecutive defeat in La Liga.
Click here for the full match report |
| Granada |
v |
Mallorca |
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The match officials took the decision to end the game after the referee's assistant had been struck with an object thrown from the stands after 63 minutes. Mallorca had taken the lead when Victor curled an effort inside the far post before a four minute second half revival from the home side put Granada ahead. Guillherme Siqueira leveled the match with a strike across goal after Franco Jara's through ball, and Carlos Martins capped a wonderful solo run with a finish from outside the box to put Granada ahead. Five minutes after Granada had taken the lead the official was struck, with the object drawing blood and prompting the referee to end the match immediately. When or if it will be resumed remains uncertain. |
| Racing Santander |
1-3 |
Malaga |
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Malaga climbed up to fifth in La Liga after securing a 3-1 victory over Racing at El Sardninero.
Manuel Pellegrini's side eased into a two goal lead thanks to Isco's strike and a Alvaro Gonzalez own goal before being pegged back when Manuel Arana made it 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining. The Andalusians secured the win when Fernandez netted with a minute left. Malaga was unable to take advantage of its dominance in the opening 45 minutes with Salomon Rondon and Fernandez guilty of wasting the best of their chances. And Hector Cuper's side was lucky to still be level at the break but it wasn't long into the second half that it fell behind. Malaga launched a lightning counterattack ending with Isco calmly slotting in the opening goal, and Pellegrini's side was two up soon after when Gonzalez put the ball into his own net. The last 20 minutes were made interesting when Arana scored following a quick breakaway for Racing but it was unable to force the equalizer. Fernandez made the win all the more emphatic with a late strike making it 3-1 and leaving the home side 19th in the table. Cuper's side travels to Mallorca next week in a vital relegation battle with its opponents lying one place above the drop, while Malaga hosts Villarreal at the la Rosaleda. |
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