La Liga action round-up - Week 8 - October 31/November 1, 2009
Wednesday 04 November 2009
Match day nine of the La Liga campaign was the most subdued weekend of the season so far, with just 21 goals on offer from the 10 league matches. But despite the lack of goal-mouth activity, there was still plenty of drama and excitement as Europe’s most entertaining league showcased its talents once more.
Villarreal put on the performance of the week as they put Tenerife to the sword at El Madrigal. Fresh from their first win of the campaign against Málaga a week ago, the Yellow Submarine started well and were ahead inside 16 minutes when Joseba Llorente slotted the ball past Aragoneses. The deficit remained at just one goal at the interval, but three goals in 10 minutes after the restart gave the home side an unassailable lead. Robert Pirès poked home from close range before Giuseppe Rossi coolly curled the ball into the bottom corner. Llorente was on hand to grab his second a minute later when he broke free of the Tenerife defence and chipped the ball over the head of the stranded keeper, and Cani completed the scoring for the home side with just minutes remaining. The win lifts Villarreal up to 13th, but they face a daunting trip to Sevilla next weekend.
At the top of the table, Barcelona are now just one point ahead of rivals Real Madrid after succumbing to a stoppage-time equalizer against Osasuna at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra. It was a tight encounter and the champions looked to have done enough when Seydou Keita latched onto a Carles Puyol cross in the 72nd minute to put his side ahead. But in the third minute of added time, substitute defender Rafael Márquez was caught in possession by Javier Camuñas and the winger rifled the ball across the face of the goal. Gerard Piqué got a touch, but it was only enough to send the ball past Víctor Valdés and into his own net. Two dropped points for Barca, but their lacklustre performance merited little more.
Real Madrid capitalized on their rivals’ misfortunes as they beat Getafe 2-0 in a routine encounter at the Bernabéu. Los Blancos had been embarrassed in midweek having lost 4-0 to local minnows Alcorcón in the Copa Del Rey, and were looking for an assured performance. Karim Benzema came back into the line-up after injury, but it was Gonzalo Higuaín, seemingly out of favour amongst the wealth of attacking talent, who stole the show. A goalless first half was the product of a poor display from both sides, but Madrid got the breakthrough in the 52nd minute when Higuaín controlled a Marcelo cross before setting himself and placing the ball in the top corner. The lead was doubled just three minutes later when Benzema broke through the centre before playing the ball wide to Higuaín. The Argentine again showed great composure and slotted the ball underneath Ustari to effectively secure the points for the home side.
Sevilla and Valencia maintained their positions within the top four with away wins over Xerez and Málaga respectively. Alvaro Negredo opened the scoring for Sevilla before Luís Fabiano secured the points in 89th minute when he fired the ball past Renan at the near post. Valencia was frustrated by the organized Málaga defence, but their good work was undone when David Navarro was allowed to sneak it at the far post and connect with a cross from Pablo. The home side had little in reply and Valencia held on to collect all three points.
Atlético Madrid’s woes continue as they were beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés. Javi Martínez put the home side ahead in the 19th minute with a thunderous header, and despite Atlético hitting the woodwork twice in two minutes in the second half, Bilbao held on for the win. The visitors deserved at least a point from the game, but their missed chances leave them in 18th place with a tough test ahead as they welcome bitter rivals Real Madrid to the Vicente Calderón next weekend.
In other results, Deportivo La Coruña and Sporting Gijón laboured to a 1-1 draw, while Espanyol and Valladolid managed the same score at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. Real Zaragoza edged out a 2-1 home win over Almería and Mallorca maintain fifth place after beating Racing Santander 1-0 courtesy of a first-half strike from Cameroonian striker Pierre Webó.
Full Results
Saturday October 31, 2009
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atlético Madrid
Xerez 0-2 Sevilla
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona
Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe
Sunday November 1, 2009
Deportivo La Coruña 1-1 Sporting Gijón
Málaga 0-1 Valencia
Espanyol 1-1 Valldolid
Zaragoza 2-1 Almería
Villarreal 5-0 Tenerife
Mallorca 1-0 Santander
La Liga action round-ups
Week 1 - August 29/30/31, 2009
Week 2 - September 12/13, 2009
Week 3 - September 19/20, 2009
Week 4 - September 22-27, 2009
Week 5 - October 3/4, 2009
Week 6 - October 17/18, 2009
Week 7 - October 24/25, 2009
Week 8 - October 31/November 1, 2009
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