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La Liga Round 14 Results: Racing beats Villarreal to register second win of the season
Following Hector Cuper's sacking as head coach, the Cantabrians narrowly defeated the Yellow Submarine at El Sardinero to temporarily move them off the bottom of the table.
Dec 5, 2011 5:42:00 PM
La Liga: Round 14 Results
Table/Fixtures
| Saturday DECEMBER 3 |
KO | Sunday DECEMBER 4 |
KO |
| Racing - Villarreal |
1-0 |
Atletico Madrid - Rayo Vallecano |
3-1 |
| Sporting - Real Madrid |
0-3 |
Real Sociedad - Malaga |
3-2 |
| Barcelona - Levante |
5-0 | Osasuna - Real Betis |
2-1 |
| Valencia - Espanyol |
2-1 | Mallorca - Athletic Bilbao |
1-1 |
| Granada - Zaragoza |
1-0 | ||
| |
Monday DECEMBER 5 | KO | |
| all kickoffs in ET | Sevilla - Getafe | 3-0 | |
| Racing Santander |
1-0 |
Villarreal |
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The Argentine became the second managerial casualty of the season after guiding his side to just one victory in their opening 13 games, leaving Racing at the foot of La Liga. The only goal of the match came moments before the half-hour mark when Christian Stuani turned in Maunel Arana's cross with a well-placed header. Racing had started the brighter of the two teams and the lead was deserved with the Yellow Submarine lacking any creativity in the final third. Despite being at the foot of La Liga, the Cantabrians came close to extending their advantage before the break when Gonzalo Colsa's header whistled past the upright. Brazilian striker Nilmar, recovering from a long-term injury, was introduced at the break and he led Villarreal's charge in the second half. Juan Carlos Garrido's side improved after the interval but came up against a solid Racing defense which inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Villarreal in La Liga. Racing's win lifts the club level on points with Real Sociedad which occupies 17th place in the table, while Villarreal remains just two pints clear of the drop zone. |
| Sporting Gijon |
0-3 |
Real Madrid |
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Mourinho's men were pushed by a determined Sporting Gijon but Madrid's superiority moved the team six points clear of Barcelona, keeping it at least three ahead of its rival ahead of next week's Clasico showdown. |
| Barcelona |
5-0 |
Levante |
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A Cesc Fabregas brace and a single strike from Isaac Cuenca helped the Catalans to a comfortable 3-0 lead at halftime, before Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez added their names to the score sheet after the interval. |
| Valencia |
2-1 |
Espanyol |
| Match Report - Player Ratings An early Tino Costa spot kick helped Valencia to the lead, before Mexican defender Hector Moreno restored parity in the second half. Nevertheless, Roberto Soldado made sure the home side bagged the full three points with his 80th minute strike.
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| Atletico Madrid |
3-1 |
Rayo Vallecano |
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Falcao then capped a fine performance by making it two in the 75th minute after some good work from Diego Ribas, before Toto Salvio put the match to bed in the closing minutes of the game.
The away side didn't stop fighting and got the consolation goal it deserved well into stoppage time when Gabi beat his own goalkeeper.
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| Real Sociedad |
3-2 |
Malaga |
| Osasuna |
2-1 |
Real Betis |
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Ruben Castro had appeared to have rescued a point for Betis after Miguel Flano's goal had put Osasuna ahead. But the 93rd minute winner from Javad Nekounam inflicted a ninth loss in 10 matches for Pepe Mel, heaping pressure onto the coach. The home side had shown greater determination in the early exchanges and deserved its lead after 39 minutes when Flano emphatically headed home Alvaro Cejudo's corner. Pepe Mel's side reemerged for the second half in attacking fashion but a strong defensive effort from Osasuna denied Betis an equalizer until the 80th minute. A moment of glorious football saw Jonathan Pereira play a delightful through ball into the path of Ruben Castro, who coolly slotted home. However, Betis' celebrations were short-lived when Nekounam expertly converted a free kick from the edge of the area to condemn Betis to defeat. Pepe Mel's side is precariously close to the relegation zone, while Osasuna moves level on points with sixth placed Sevilla. |
| Mallorca |
1-1 |
Athletic Bilbao |
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Alvaro Gimenez put the home side ahead inside five minutes, before Fernando Amorebieta leveled with a towering header in the 47th minute. Both sides had chances to win the game late on with Tomar Hemed and Amorebieta squandering good looks as the match finished 1-1. Athletic Bilbao was stunned after three minutes when Alvaro swept home following a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball fall at the strikers feet. With the halftime whistle fast approaching, Marcelo Bielsa's side was rewarded for its attacking display when Amorebieta rose above his marker to head home the equalizer. The referee prevented the match from gaining any momentum in the second half showing a flurry of yellow cards, 12 in total, as neither side was able to create any clear cut opportunities. With the final whistle approaching Joaquin Caparros' introduced Tomar Hemed in search of the winner and the striker immediately combined with Michael Pereira but Iraizoz managed to palm the midfielder's shot away. |
| Granada |
1-0 |
Zaragoza |
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The promoted side edged out the Aragonese outfit thanks to a goal from Odion Ighalo just before halftime and brave defending as the visiting side attacked in the second period. It was something of a fortuitous finish from the striker, who pounced on Angel Lafita's clumsy clearance to strike from close range, but it proved enough and Granada is now three points clear of the drop zone with a game at home to Mallorca - which it was winning 2-1 when it was suspended after 63 minutes - still to be resumed. Zaragoza, meanwhile, is rock bottom with 10 points from its 14 games. |
| Sevilla |
3-0 |
Getafe |
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