Spanish La Liga Round Eighteen
Posted on January 19, 2009
Filed Under La Liga
Saturday 10th January 2009
There was excitement at the Mestalla as Valencia drew 3-3 against Villarreal. Ruben Baraja headed the home side into an early lead after just a minute. David Villa doubled that lead after 10 minutes for Los Ches. Fabricio Fuentes got Villarreal back into the game after 45 minutes. Villarreal equalised in the 77th minute through Joseba Llorente, after Valencia had missed numerous chances. Substitute Edu put Valencia back in the lead with a header on 79 minutes. Giuseppe Rossi rescued a point for the away side in the 84th minute from the penalty spot.
Sevilla recorded a good 3-1 away victory at Deportivo. The home side went in front however through a Rodolfo Bodipo strike after 34 minutes. Enzo Maresca was dismissed after 41 minutes. The 10 men equalised however, after 50 minutes through Luis Fabiano. Sevilla then took the lead after 78 minutes with a goal from Brazilian Renato. Diego Capel completed the scoring in the 90th minute.
Sunday 11th January 2009
Barcelona left it late to beat Osasuna, 3-2 away from home. Samuel Eto’o gave Barca the lead on the stroke of half-time. Osasuna came back with two goals in the second half to stun the leaders. Miguel Flano equalised for the basement side with a header in the 63rd minute and Walter Pandiani put them in the lead after 73 minutes. It looked like there could be a shock in store until Xavi fired Barca level on 80 minutes. Lionel Messi once again proved the match winner as he fired home the winner with just five minutes remaining.
Real Madrid went into second place in La Liga, with a convincing 3-0 away defeat of Real Mallorca. Arjen Robben gave Real the lead after just three minutes. Raul doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Defender Sergio Ramos completed the rout with the third goal after 66 minutes for the away side.
Athletic Bilbao scored an impressive 3-2 away victory over Atletico Madrid. Antonio Lopez gave the home side the lead after just 15 minutes. Koikilli equalised for Bilbao on the stroke of half-time. Bilbao raced into a 3-1 lead thanks to two Fernando Llorente strikes in the 50th and 66th minutes. Maniche was dismissed in the 72nd minute to add to Atletico’s woes, they did get a consolation goal in the 90th minute from a Diego Forlan strike.
Almeria threw away a two goal lead at Espanyol to draw 2-2. Almeria took the lead in the fifth minute, through Kalu Uche. Uche doubled his and Almeria’s account on 54 minutes. Substitute Roman Martinez got the home side back into the game after 62 minutes. Nicolas Pareja was on hand in the 90th minute to rescue an all-important point for Espanyol.
Numancia beat Getafe 2-0, as Getafe goalkeeper Robert Abbondanzieri was sent off after just four minutes. Numancia took just five minutes to capitalise from a Jose Barkero penalty. Substitute Carlos Aranda Made the points secure with an 80th minute strike. Racing Santander drew 1-1 with Recreativo Huelva. Jonathan gave the home side the lead after 33 minutes, before Javier Camunas equalised in the 43rd minute to earn Recre a point.
Sporting Gijon defeated Real Valladolid 2-1 at El Molinon. Gonzalez Carmelo gave the home side the lead after 20 minutes. Marcos Rey was dismissed after 32 minutes for two bookable offences. Gijon took advantage of the extra man by doubling their lead through David Barral after 37 minutes. Jose Garcia Calvo scored a Consolation goal for the visitors in the 87th minute.
Malaga beat nine man Real Betis 2-1 in Seville. Antonio Apono gave Malaga the lead after 19 minutes from the penalty spot. Juan Melli was sent off in the 25th minute, but somehow Betis equalised in the 38th minute through Achille Emana. Emana became the second Betis player to be dismissed in the 68th minute. Pereira Eliseu finally scored Malaga’s second in the 90th minute to give the visitors a valuable three points.
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