Athletic Bilbao 3-2 Malaga
CD Numancia 0-2 Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Valladolid
Deportivo 3-0 Villarreal
Espanyol 1-1 Recreativo
Osasuna 1-0 Mallorca
Racing 1-2 Barcelona
Real Betis 2-2 Getafe
Sporting Gijon 1-0 Sevilla
Valencia 3-2 Almeria
On Saturday, Athletic Bilbao hosted Malaga at the San Mames in a game so good, it deserves its own match report. Malaga took the lead in just the third minute, as Albert Luque pounced on a Baha shot and turned it in to subdue the vociferous home crowd. The lead last just over half an hour when Fernando Llorente held up a through-ball, and cut it back for a fabulous strike from Yeste to level up. After the break the visitors regained the lead after a concerted spell of pressure. Duda’s free kick was glanced into the net by Lolo. However, the brilliant Llorente brought the hosts back level with an exquisite turn and finish with 20 minutes to go. Throughout a thoroughly even contest both sides had chances to win, but it was Athletic who triumphed Susaeta’s 85th minute header from Torquera’s cross.
Contrast that game with Saturday’s other match, a rather soporific encounter between Numancia and Real Madrid. The hosts were the better side for long periods, but not for the first time were guilty of squandering good chances – Brit hit the side netting and Del Pino hit the post in the first half – and being punished for their profligacy. Raul pounced on a parried Higuain shot to record is 307th Real Madrid goal (equalling Di Stefano’s record) and then a terrific run and shot from Arjen Robben made it two shortly after. Numancia are pointless in 2009.
On Sunday, Barcelona once again closed that gap back to 12 points over Real Madrid, but only did so thanks to Lionel Messi. The little Argentine wizard came off the bench with his side 1-0 down to Racing following a Nikola Zigic penalty just after half time. Racing had edged a first half by employing a relentless, pressing, physical approach and its fair to say Barcelona didn’t like it – they seemed grossly offended that their opponents didn’t simply lay down and let them score as others have done. Barca were second best before Messi’s introduction, but his two quick goals – including a marvelous volley for the winner – swung it the visitors way and by the end it was all a fatigued Racing side could do to hold on for 2-1, despite the late dismissals of Marquez and Pique.
Sevilla slumped further behind following a lackluster display at Gijon which heaps further pressure on Manolo Jiminez. They are now, in third position, six points behind Real Madrid but have Valencia breathing down their necks. Javier Aguirre is another coach drawing the ire of demanding supporters after his Atletico side went down at home to Valladolid, a result which means they are still winless in 2009 and, thanks to Depor’s win, pushes them out of the European places. Valencia were the beneficiaries of this disarray, their narrow 3-2 win at home to Almeria, with goals from Villa and Joaquin either side of Negredo strikes, putting them in a much improved position.
Villarreal continue to struggle, their 3-0 defeat at Deportivo – thanks to goals from Lafita (2) and Riki – putting their European ambitions (of any nature) in jeopardy. Osasuna scored a priceless win at home to fellow relegation-battlers Mallorca thanks to a Walter Pandiani header in a bad-tempered game in Pamplona; Espanyol and Recre played out a 1-1 stalemate that helps neither and Real Betis managed to throw away a 2-goal advantage at home to Getafe, with strikes from Uche and Soldado rescuing a point for Victor Munoz’s men. The bottom three are now only separated by goal difference with Numancia three points ahead.
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