Atletico in disappointing draw with Tenerife
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Atletico Madrid continued their disappointing run in the league with a 1-1 draw at Tenerife yesterday, a result of little benefit to either side with the relegation zone looming below them.
Juan ‘Nino’ Martinez put Tenerife ahead after three minutes, converting a knockdown by Alejandro Alfaro, but in a sloppy game Jose Jurado equalised for Atletico, who were without their talismanic striker Sergio Aguero through injury.
Nino missed several chances to give Tenerife the victory, none better than a penalty before half-time which goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo parried well.
Mallorca failed to consolidate their place among the candidates for a place in Europe after crashing 2-1 against lowly Malaga.
Fernando Fernandez seized on a loose ball in the area to score after 23 minutes but Mallorca equalised through Julio Alvarez and were in the ascendancy when Malaga, who had not won since the first week of the season, struck again with Fernando Forestieri heading home.
Villarreal continued their upward march in the table with a 2-0 win over Racing Santander, their third victory in succession.
The home side dominated the game but did not make their advantage pay until the second half with goals from Joseba Llorente and Giuseppe Rossi.
Espanyol registered their first goals in five games to beat Almeria 2-0 and put further pressure on visiting coach Hugo Sanchez.
In his first match in the starting line-up Javi Marquez scored after 45 minutes and Ferran Corominas made sure of the win with a second goal late on.
A last-minute strike by Haris Medunjanin gave Valladolid a 2-1 victory at home to Sporting Gijon.
Nivaldo Batista cancelled out a goal from the visitors by Luis Moran and the winner from Medunjanin was no more than Valladolid deserved, having squandered a number of gilt-edged chances.
Later yesterday, Valencia need a win against a rejuvenated Deportivo la Coruna if they are to keep on the shoulders of the league leaders.
Real Madrid tore apart a sorry Real Zaragoza side 6-0 on Saturday and closed the gap at the top of the table to two points.
While Barcelona were away in Abu Dhabi winning the Club World Cup, their sixth trophy this year, Real demonstrated their championship credentials by making light work of the visitors.
Rafael Van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain both got two each even before the interval. Then Cristiano Ronaldo, returning after a one-match suspension, teased the Zaragoza defence before adding the fifth and substitute Karim Benzema wrapped up the scoring with 20 minutes to go against the side which has conceded the most goals in the Spanish top flight.
Sevilla’s stuttering home form cost them further points in the championship race as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Getafe.
A brace from Roberto Soldado saw the visitors victorious and it means that Sevilla have now failed to win in three attempts at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Athletic Bilbao had a comfortable 2-0 win over Osasuna thanks to early goals from Fran Yeste and Fernando Llorente.