La Liga action round-up - Week 2 - September 12/13, 2009
Wednesday 16 September 2009
With qualification for the 2010 World Cup secured courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Estonia, Spanish attention swiftly returned to domestic matters, as La Primera Liga entered its second week.
Barcelona travelled to Madrid to face Getafe, whose 4-1 opening day destruction of Racing Santander had signalled their intent for the oncoming campaign. Getafe controlled the first half, frustrating the champions, who had started the match without Messi, Henry or Iniesta. Getafe’s energetic defence stifled the threat from Barca’s depleted attacking line and it was the home side which created the better chances in the opening period - efforts from Roberto Soldado and Juan Albin were denied only by the post.
With the game at 0-0, Pep Guardiola made the necessary changes, introducing Iniesta and Messi for the second half. This proved decisive, and Barca got the breakthrough after 65 minutes when Ibrahimovic poked home Abidal’s cross from close range. The Swede was involved again in the 79th minute, latching on to a cross-field ball to set up Messi for Barca’s second. There was no reply from Getafe, who must have felt that squandered first-half chances had ultimately cost them the match.
Real Madrid also faced a trip behind enemy lines as they took on Espanyol in Barcelona. Cristiano Ronaldo and club captain Raúl started on the bench for the visitors - Manuel Pellegrini instead deploying Karim Benzema as a lone striker and opting for Esteban Granero in midfield alongside Kaká and Higuaín. His decision was vindicated in the 39th minute when Granero linked up with Kaká on the edge of the box before curling an exquisite shot into the bottom corner. The sublime Kaká was at the heart of Madrid’s second goal too, beating two defenders and cutting the ball back for Guti, who made no mistake in putting the visitors two goals ahead in the 77th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to replace Benzema, and with the final whistle approaching, broke free down the right wing before cutting infield and coolly scoring between Kameni’s legs. After their stuttering opening weekend, this was the performance Madrid had been craving - assured, confident and cohesive.
Valencia also kept up their 100% record with a 4-2 win over Valladolid. David Silva opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a rare headed goal before Nauzet Alemán equalised for the home side following a mistake by Valencia goalkeeper Miguel Àngel Moyà. Valencia turned on the style and were in front again before the interval, David Villa finishing from close range before Mata broke free down the left flank and finished through the legs of Jacobo to put the visitors 3-1 ahead. Villa scored his second shortly after the restart and, despite a consolation goal from Manucho, Valencia completed a much-deserved win.
Elsewhere in La Liga, a brace from Luis Fabiano helped Sevilla to their first points of the campaign as they beat Real Zaragoza 4-1 at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan. Champions League hopefuls Villarreal were left to rue missed chances as they managed just a 1-1 draw at home against Mallorca despite going ahead in the 54th minute courtesy of a Giuseppe Rossi, while Atletico Madrid toil in the relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Racing Santander. Athletic Bilbao occupy fourth spot after their second consecutive 1-0 win at the expense of newly-promoted Xerez, while Tenerife, Sporting Gijón and Deportivo La Coruña all gained their first points of the season with slender wins over Osasuna, Almeria and Málaga respectively.
Full results
Saturday September 12, 2009
Sevilla 4-1 Real Zaragoza
Espanyol 0-3 Real Madrid
Atlético 1-1 Racing Santander
Getafe 0-2 Barcelona
Sunday September 13, 2009
Xerez 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Valladolid 2-4 Valencia
Tenerife 2-1 Osasuna
Villarreal 1-1 Mallorca
Sporting Gijón 1-0 Almeria
Deportivo 1-0 Málaga
La Liga action round-ups
Week 1 - August 29/30/31, 2009
Week 2 - September 12/13, 2009
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