La Liga Round-Up: Deportivo Demolished By Valladolid While Athletic Lose Again

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Lopo, Canobbio, Valladolid, Deportivo Coruña (MARCA)

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Teams

• Athletic Bilbao
• Deportivo
• Getafe
• Osasuna
• Racing
• Tenerife
• Valladolid
• Xerez

SATURDAY

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Mallorca: See full match report

Sporting Gijon 0-0 Real Madrid: See full match report

Sevilla 0-0 Espanyol: See full match report

SUNDAY

Villarreal 2-1 Malaga

See full match report

Real Valladolid 4-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Depor have made a habit out of parking the bus infront of their goal and stinging their opponents on the counter-attack. The Pucelanos were well aware of that strategy as their game plan to catch the Galicians off-guard was clear to see right as right off the opening whistle, Nauzet Aleman stormed down the flank and whipped in a dangerous cross, but the visiting defence was alert to the threat.

Depor responded immediately when Riki got to the end of Andres Guardado’s cross but sent his shot into the side netting. Valladolid’s strategy to find an early breakthrough goal paid off on 19 minutes and it was Nauzet who found the net when he latched on to Canobbio’s through pass and rifled a firm shot past Aranzubia in a one-on-one.

Lotina’s troops were unable to respond and it was the home side who looked likeliest to ripple the back of the net again. And they did just exactly that when the impressive Nauzet bagged his and the team’s second of the night just a minute into the second half. Depor nearly pulled one back minutes later when Juan Rodriguez’s shot from 12 yards out hit the post. But it was lights out when Valladolid made it 3-0 through a sumptuous Diego Costa volley on 76 minutes. Manucho then hit the post five minutes later but Mendilibar’s men eventually got their icing on the cake when a Haris Medunjanin stunner made it 4-0 in the 88th minute.

Tenerife 1-0 Xerez

In the battle between the two promoted sides, it was Tenerife who almost ran away convincing victors after peppering the Xerez goal mercilessly in the opening 20 minutes.

El Tete’s lack of quality upfront was evident as they easily dominated proceedings and continued to create openings but were far from effective in their finishing. By the end of the first half, the Canary Islanders had amassed a dozen shots at goal but with only two on target, while the Xerecistas failed to get even a look at the opposing goal.

The second half was no different as Tenerife picked up where they left off but at least Cuco Ziganda’s visiting army did threaten at the other end, especially through Mario Bermejo who twice tested Sergio Aragonenses. But just as Xerez were starting to look menacing, the hosts finally found their breakthrough. Omar Ramos’ cross was met by Alfaro, who send his header into the bottom corner at the backpost.

With the elusive goal scored, Tenerife started doing some defending of their own as they held on for the narrow win.

Getafe 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

Inconsistent Getafe were eager to take advantage of their good home form to register another victory having not won on the road since the opening day triumph at Racing Santander. And they got off to a bright start when Roberto Soldado saw his eighth minute effort cannon back off the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Pedro Leon curled in a gorgeous freekick but Gorka Iraizoz pulled off an equally excellent save. The Basque outfit slowly crept into the contest and started created chances of their own. On 21 minutes, Fernando Llorente careened past three defenders but pulled his eventual shot wide, and on the hour mark, Susaeta forced Ustari into nervous save with a blistering freekick right on the edge of the box.

Athletic’s bid to end a four-game winless streak in La Liga suffered a blow just before half-time when Gurpegi was sent off after a pull on Soldado earned him his second booking of the match.

Soldado came close to scoring in the 52nd minute when he met Manu del Moral’s cross but his header was flapped away by Iraizoz. But El Geta’s persistence was rewarded right on the hour mark when Soldado pounced on a ricochet after Derek Boeteng’s initial shot deflected off Ustaritz and fell kindly to the striker.

It was game over on 70 minutes when Getafe were awarded a penalty after a foul from Xabier Castillo. Dani Parejo stepped up and coolly converted with a low shot to the bottom left corner.  The Basque outfit’s misery was compounded when Ustaritz was sent off a minute from time.

Racing Santander 1-1 Osasuna

These two sides do not have the most adventurous of attacks and it’s little wonder that the first half of this game produced little goalmouth action. Momo Tchite and Oscar Serrano were the only two players to create anything of note for Racing while Javier Camunas had the only shot on target for the visitors.

But the second half was a completely different story and just five minutes in, the in-form Walter Pandiani netted his sixth goal of the season when Carlos Aranda got to the end of Monreal’s long ball forward and squared it to the middle for the ‘Rifle’ to finish off.

Racing fought back from two goals down last week to hold Real Zaragoza in a late show but there was an even more dramatic comeback this week when Arana levelled proceedings for the Cantabrians five minutes into injury time when he pounced on a mix-up between Miguel Flano and Josetxo.

Almeria 0-0 Valencia: Kick off 19:00 CET

Barcelona 0-0 Real Zaragoza: Kick off 21:00 CET

Click here for full standings…

KS Leong, Goal.com