L atest updates on L aL iga

L aL iga 1 - M atch D ay 2 0

BARCELONA increased their lead at the top of this division to eight points over their nearest rival, Real Madrid. Barcelona took all three points with a comfortable 3-0 home win against a struggling Sevilla side at the weekend. This latest win - their 17th of the season - means they are on 53 points and, with Real Madrid blowing hot and cold, they have opened up a huge gap between them and their nearest and fiercest rivals. Real Madrid this week blew very, very, cold. They lost 1-0 away at Mallorca, courtesy of an own goal early in the first half, and even had a second half penalty saved by the Mallorca goalkeeper. This latest defeat for ‘Los Blancos’ - their third of the season - leaves them in second place with 45 points. Real Sociedad, in third position, are on 39 points but missed a great chance to close the gap on Real Madrid as they were beaten for the first time in the last five matches. They were rather unfortunate to get beaten at home by Valladolid (0-1) as they had by far the better chances, without finishing them. On another point, there were no red cards in this match but the referee dished out nine yellows.

Atlético Madrid remain in fourth position, although they were held, at home, in their ‘derby’ match against Getafe. Certainly ‘Atléti’ were the better side on the day and when Morata had a goal ruled out for offside you felt that they would go on to take the points. The first goal of the game came about in bizarre circumstances just before the hour mark. Correo scored for the home side, after the Getafe keeper pushed a shot away, but the goal was disallowed and was subsequently looked at by VAR. Meanwhile, Correo was substituted and on the bench, when, two minutes later, the goal was allowed to stand, resulting in all the Atlético players rushing to the bench to congratulate the substituted player. Getafe equalised from the penalty spot on 83 minutes to take a share of the points.

Rayo Vallecano, another of the Madrid sides, are having their best campaign for many years. They took all three points at home against Almería, with both goals coming in the second half, one being an unfortunate own goal. Rayo are in fifth position with 32 points, one point ahead of both Villarreal and Real Betis, who both lost their respective matches, but who are in joint sixth position with 31 points apiece.

Two sides, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna, are in joint eighth position on 29 points, whilst Real Mallorca, who had that win against Real Madrid, are in 10th with one point less (28 points).

Girona are in 11th position following their 1-0 win against a struggling Valencia side that has lost four and drawn one of its last five matches. Below Girona, in joint 12th position are both Celta Vigo and Valladolid who have 23 points. Both sides had good wins at the weekend and have now won their last two matches, results which have taken them out of the relegation places. Vigo won a cracking game 3-4 away at Real Betis in a game which had pretty much everything, including lots of goals, a penalty, a couple of VAR decisions and some terrible missed chances (mostly by Betis). Valladolid had that fantastic away win at third placed Real Sociedad.

Almería are in 14th place after their defeat away at Rayo Vallecano. They have 22 points and are just above both Espanyol and Sevilla, who have 21 points and are in joint 15th position.

Valencia are just outside the relegation places but will have to improve on their recent run of results if they are not going to be dragged into the drop zone. They are in 17th position and have 20 points from their 20 matches played. Surely they are too big a club to be relegated right? On the other hand, bigger clubs than them have been relegated and people said the same thing!

There was a complete mix of results this week for the three bottom clubs. Cádiz, in 18th position, were well beaten at Athletic Bilbao (4-1) and they stay on 19 points. Getafe, in 19th position, managed an excellent 1-1 draw away at Atlético Madrid, and Elche have at last won a league game, following their 3-1 home victory against Villarreal. They move onto nine points for the season. Could they still manage to turn their terrible season round?

R esults for M atch D ay 2 0 (F ebruary 3 -6 )

Athletic Bilbao 4-1 Cádiz Espanyol 1-1 Osasuna

Elche 3-1 Villarreal Atlético Madrid 1-1 Getafe Real Betis 3-4 Celta Vigo

Real Mallorca 1-0 Real Madrid Girona 1-0 Valencia

Real Sociedad 0-1 Valladolid Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Almería

F ix tures for M atch D ay 2 1 (F ebruary 1 0 -1 5 )

Cádiz v Girona

Almería v Real Betis Sevilla v Mallorca Valencia v Athletic Club Getafe v Rayo Vallecano Celta Vigo v Atlético Madrid Valladolid v Osasuna Villarreal v Barcelona Espanyol v Real Sociedad Real Madrid v Elche

L a L iga 2 - M atch D ay 2 6

There is no change at the top of this division following last weekend's results. Last week’s league leaders, Las Palmas were held to a draw away at Burgos, but stay in top spot with 49 points. Levante jumped into second spot after their away win (1-2) at Cartagena, as they go level on points (47) with Eibar, who lost 2-0 away at Alavés. The win for Alavés keeps them in fourth position (46 points) but they closed in on the clubs above them.

Also winners at the weekend were Granada. Their 0-2 away win at Villarreal B moves them up one place, into fifth spot and above Albacete, who drop into sixth after their defeat away at Tenerife. Granada have 44 points with Albacete on 42. Burgos are in seventh with 40 points, after they held the league leaders, Las Palmas to a goalless draw at home. They are two points above Leganés (eighth place), who won their home game against Sporting Gijón (1-0).

There are five sides all level in ninth position on 34 points, after the latest round of matches. Tenerife (won 1-0), Cartagena (lost 1-2), Huesca (won 1-0), Oviedo (won 0-1) and Villarreal B (lost 0-2). These five sides should have enough points on the board to be safe from relegation - unless they have a terrible run of form from now until the end of the season. However, I am sure that Tenerife and perhaps Villarreal B will be looking to finishing in one of the play off places.

Below these five sides, Zaragoza are in 14th position with 33 points after their excellent away win (0-1) at Andorra, who drop one position into 15th, where they are level on points (32) with Sporting Gijón, who lost their away match at Leganés (1-0).

As we now get into the danger zone, Mirandés are in 17th after their 1-0 defeat at Huesca, whilst two sides, Racing Santander and Ponferradina fight it out to climb away from the first of the relegation places. Both are in joint 18th position with 27 points.

The three bottom sides are, for another week, Málaga with 22 points after their latest defeat (0-1 at home to Oviedo), CD Lugo (22 points) and Ibiza (18 points). Lugo and Ibiza played each other and drew 0-0.

After the previous weekend's record of zero red cards, last weekend was almost back to normal as referees went ‘red card crazy’ again, with no less than six players being sent off - three of those coming in the Leganés/ Sporting Gijón clash (including a Sporting player sent off whilst on the bench!).

R esults for M atch D ay 2 6 (F ebruary 3 -6 )

Málaga 0-1 Oviedo Leganés 1-0 Sporting Gijón Huesca 1-0 Mirandés Tenerife 1-0 Albacete Alavés 2-0 Eibar Villarreal B 0-2 Granada Andorra 0-1 Zaragoza FC Cartagena 1-2 Levante Ponferradina 1-1 R. Santander CD Lugo 0-0 Ibiza

Burgos 0-0 Las Palmas

F ix tures for M atch D ay 2 7 (F ebruary 1 0 -1 3 )

Granada v Tenerife Zaragoza v Alavés Mirandés v Villarreal B Levante v Andorra

Las Palmas v CD Lugo Albacete v Málaga

Oviedo v Burgos

Eibar - FC Cartagena Sporting Gijón v Huesca Ibiza v Ponferradina Racing Santander v Leganés