La Liga Round-Up: Getafe Grab Late Winner, Racing See Off Tenerife

Saturday 2 January 2010

Valencia 1-0 Espanyol (see report)
Barcelona 1-1 Villarreal (see report)

Don't Miss

• Mallorca 2-0 Athletic Bilbao: Barralets Blast Basques To Maintain Champions League Challenge
• Malaga Coach Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz Satisfied With Sporting Gijon Draw

• Getafe Coach Michel Pleased With Hard-Fought Victory Over Valladolid
• We Must Concentrate On Copa Del Rey Clash With Deportivo - Valencia 'Keeper Miguel Moya

• January Performances Vital To Athletic Bilbao's Final League Placing - Coach Joaquin Caparros
• Barcelona 1-1 Villarreal: Yellow Submarines And Cules Share Points

• Valencia 1-0 Espanyol: Nikola Zigic Heads Los Che To Victory With Late Goal

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Sevilla (see report)

Sunday 3 January 2010

Almeria 1-0 Xerez

Two sides who are struggling for form met at Estadio Mediterraneo, and despite the distinct lack of goalscoring chances, it was the home side who emerged triumphant with a winner in the final minute of the match

Almeria, who recently parted company with coach Hugo Sanchez, had new boss Juan Manuel Lillo in the dugout but it appeared his side were heading to a draw with the league's bottom side.

However, in the 89th minute Jose Ortiz offered a worthy winner, bending home a free kick from the edge of the area and leaving Xerez with nothing to show for their efforts.

Getafe 1-0 Valladolid

Getafe made it five wins from their last six matches thanks to a late winner from Francisco Casquero which defeated Valladolid at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

The Madrid club bombarded the visitors goal with a succession of efforts, but poor finishing meant they were unable to break down a staunch Pucela back line.

Just as it appeared that their endeavours would not be rewarded, Casquero popped up just inside the area seven minutes from time to find the top corner of Justo Villar's goal, and edge Getafe to within just five points of the Champions League places.

Racing Santander 2-0 Tenerife

A quick-fire double from the home side proved to be enough to send Tenerife packing this afternoon, as goals from Gonzalo Colsa and Xisco handed Racing a much-needed victory that eased their relegation concerns.

The match looked to be heading for a scoreless draw until the 72nd minute when Colsa slammed the ball home following a through pass from Pedro Munitis.

Just three minutes later, it was two, and the points were sealed. On-loan Newcastle United striker Xisco superbly rounded off a counter attack with a crisp left footed strike that left Aragoneses helpless, and the win helped Racing leapfrog Tenerife in the Primera Division standings.

Real Zaragoza 0-0 Deportivo

Real Zaragoza were the better side at La Romareda but were unable to break down Deportivo La Coruna in a low-quality encounter.

The home side were restricted to long-range efforts for much of the match, but when the key chances did arrive, striker Lafita was the main culprit, missing a succession of openings from inside the area.

Riki squandered the best of the opportunities for Deportivo, shooting wide from just inside the six yard box, but in the end a share of the spoils was the correct result.

Sporting Gijon 2-2 Malaga

In the most exciting contest of the afternoon action in Spain, Sporting Gijon came from behind twice to earn a draw against a Malaga side who remain in the bottom three.

Duda gave the struggling visitors an early lead with a well-placed left footed shot after nine minutes, but in truth it was a rare foray forward for Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side and Sporting deservedly equalised on the stroke of half-time

Francisco Maldonado's cross was met porwefully by Arnolin Gregory, who made no mistake from ten yards out, as the El Molinon side looked to put an end to a run of four matches without a victory.

Weligton then scored a scrambled strike to edge the Andalusians back ahead on the hour mark, but Sporting were not to be outdone and earned a point thanks to Roberto Canella's opportunist effort twenty minutes from time.

Real Mallorca - Athletic Bilbao (19:00 CET)

Osasuna - Real Madrid (21:00 CET)

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com