L atest updates on L aL iga
L aL iga 1 - M atch D ay 1 9
THERE is now a five point gap at the top of the league following last weekend's matches where the league leaders, Barcelona took all three points from their away match at Girona. Pedri on 60 minutes scored the only goal of the game for Barcelona to give them all three points in a very evenly contested game where the home side deserved a share of the spoils. Barcelona have 47 points from their 18 matches played.
Real Madrid stay in second spot with 42 points, following their 0-0 home draw against third placed Real Sociedad (39 points). Although Real Madrid had more of the play and better chances, the side from San Sebastian demonstrated why they are doing so well this season and took a well-deserved share of the points.
Atlético Madrid are in fourth position with 34 points, after their hard-earned win away at Osasuna. Saul, for Atlético, scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute. Atlético Madrid are three points ahead of both Villarreal and Real Betis, who have 31 points. Rayo Vallecano were 0-1 away winners at Villarreal, following, it has to be said, a 70th minute strike that was somewhat against the run of play.
Osasuna are in eighth following their home defeat (0-1) against Atlético Madrid, with 28 points.
Athletic Bilbao are now in ninth position (26 points) after they were beaten by struggling side Celta Vigo.
Celta, who are too close to the relegation zone, took all the points with a 71st minute goal from their most iconic player, Iago Aspas.
Mallorca are in 10th position with 25 points after their 2-0 defeat at relegation threatened Cádiz, whilst Almería, 3-1 winners at home to Espanyol, are now in 11th place on 22 points.
Two clubs - Girona and Sevilla - are in joint 12th position with 21 points each.
Sevilla continued their good run of late with a 3-0 home win against bottom side Elche, but Girona were beaten at home by league leaders, FC Barcelona.
With 20 points each and just above the three relegation places, there are four sides in joint 14th position. Valencia, Espanyol, Celta Vigo and Valladolid had a mixed bag of results at the weekend as they continue their quest to climb away from the drop zone.
Two of the three sides in the relegation places are very familiar with the drop zone this season. Cádiz were the only winners and climb into 18th place with 19 points. Getafe drop into the relegation places after their latest defeat and are in 19th place with 17 points. Like Cádiz, Getafe have only won four matches this season. The bottom side, Elche, really do look doomed, even at the halfway stage. A minor miracle needs to be performed if they are going to stay in this division next season. They lost again at the weekend and stay on six points, with zero wins so far this season. Apart from the 3-0 defeat away at Sevilla, they also had a player red-carded towards the end of the first half.
R esults for M atch D ay (J anuary 2 7 -3 0 )
1 9
Almería 3-1 Espanyol Cádiz 2-0 Mallorca Girona 0-1 Barcelona Sevilla 3-0 Elche
Getafe 0-1 Real Betis Valladolid 1-0 Valencia Osasuna 0-1 Atlético Madrid Celta Vigo 1-0 Athletic Bilbao Real Madrid 0-0 Real Sociedad Villarreal 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
F ix tures for M atch D ay 2 0 (F ebruary 3 -6 )
Athletic Bilbao v Cádiz Espanyol v Osasuna Elche v Villarreal Atlético Madrid v Getafe Real Betis v Celta Vigo Real Mallorca v Real Madrid Girona v Valencia
Real Sociedad v Valladolid Barcelona v Sevilla Rayo Vallecano v Almería
L aL iga 2 - M atch D ay 2 5
Amazingly, there were no red cards issued this week in the Spanish second division, where only one of the top six clubs dropped any points.
Las Palmas go top (48 points) after their 1-0 home win against Huesca. Eibar, last week's leaders, dropped two points following their 0-0 home draw against Leganés, and are on 47 points.
The chasing pack all won their matches, with Levante (1-0 winners) in third position on 44 points, Alavés (1-3 winners away at Mirandés) in fourth place with 43 points.
Albacete are in fifth after their home win (2-0) at lowly CD Lugo on 42 points, with Granada, in sixth position, on 41 points after their latest win.
Burgos, who for most of the early part of the season were in the play-off places, are down to seventh position after their sixth defeat of the season, and with one win from their last five games played, they are in real danger of falling too far behind the play-off places.
Leganés are in eighth position after their away draw at Eibar. They have 35 points and are one point above both Cartagena and Villarreal B, who are in joint ninth position. Andorra were beaten at the weekend and are now in 11th place on the same points as Sporting Gijón, who drew at home to Málaga.
Andorra and Gijón both have 32 points.
Three sides are in joint 13th position.
Tenerife, Huesca and Oviedo all have 31 points, after none of them could claim a win at the weekend. Mirandés and Zaragoza are just above the relegation places.
Both clubs are in joint 16th place with 30 points apiece. Mirandés were beaten and Zaragoza managed a point at home although, as it was against one of the other relegation-threatened sides, it probably felt more like a defeat.
Racing Santander and Ponferrada are in joint 18th position with 26 points as both sides drew their respective matches at the weekend.
The bottom three are becoming a regular feature in the relegation places. Málaga are in 20th place (22 points), CD Lugo have 21 points and are in 21st place, whilst Ibiza did manage to pick up a point but stay stuck to the foot of the table with 17 points.
R esults for M atch D ay 2 5 (J anuary 2 7 -3 0 )
Racing Santander 1-1 Tenerife Granada 2-0 Andorra Oviedo 0-1 Villarreal B Eibar 0-0 Leganés
Las Palmas 1-0 Huesca Mirandés 1-3 Alavés Levante 1-0 Burgos Albacete 2-0 CD Lugo Sporting Gijón 0-0 Málaga Ibiza 2-2 CD Cartagena Zaragoza 0-0 Ponferradina
F ix tures for M atch D ay 2 6 (F ebruary 3 -6 )
Málaga v Oviedo Leganés v Sporting Gijón Huesca v Mirandés Tenerife v Albacete Alavés v Eibar Villarreal B v Granada Andorra v Zaragoza FC Cartagena v Levante Ponferradina v Racing Santander
CD Lugo v Ibiza
Burgos v Las Palmas