It was 2-0 to Catalonia by the end of this week’s La Liga football games as Espanyol and Barcelona took three points apiece from Atletico and Real Madrid.
In both games the pre-match betting odds favoured the Madrid teams, but victory takes Espanyol away from the bottom and Barca away from the chasing pack at the top.
RCD Espanyol 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Espanyol shocked second-placed Atletico when Sergio Garcia slotted home on 88 minutes to send the home fans wild, and to reward those who backed them with handicap betting. Defeat for Atletico means Barcelona went nine points clear after beating Los Blancos.
Valencia 0-1 Villarreal
Valencia too dropped further behind after a Carlos Bacca goal was enough to win this grumpy affair at the Mestalla. Both sides ended up with ten men as Valencia’s Simone Zaza was followed into the early bath by Manu Trigueros. The Yellow Submarine is going nicely in sixth.
Real Sociedad 3-1 Sevilla
Sevilla stays in fifth and Sociedad moved up to ninth after this comprehensive home victory. The hosts took the initiative after going in level at half time, with Igor Zubeldia and Carlos Vela striking in the second half.
Eibar 4-1 Girona
An impressive win over the in-form Girona keeps Eibar in the hunt for a Europa place, after the hosts took advantage of an off day for the Catalans. Takashi Inui was the star for Eibar with a well taken double.
Getafe 2-0 Las Palmas
Getafe saw off Las Palmas with two goals in the first 15 minutes courtesy of Juan Cala and Amath Ndiaye. The win leaves Getafe eighth on goal difference but the Gran Canarians are rock bottom at Christmas.
Real Betis 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
In this mid-table clash Real Betis drew level with Athletic Club on 21 points after the game turned on 34 minutes. Jordi Amat was red-carded for a foul on Aymeric Laporte and Raul Garcia converted the penalty. Zouhair Feddal put through his own net to make it a miserable day for the home crowd.
Levante 0-0 Leganes
It was honours even in a shocking match here, with little quality and 12 bookings. Leganes’ Nordin Amrabat and Levante’s Jose Campana were both sent off as the hosts stay three points above the drop zone and Leganes relatively comfortably in mid table.
Deportivo La Coruna 1-3 Celta Vigo
Iago Aspas rounded off the week’s football with a well taken double to lift Celta Vigo to 11th place. Daniel Wass set Celta on the way with a third minute header and Florin Andone scored Depor’s consolation, but they drop into the bottom three.
Alaves 1-0 Malaga
Alaves had taken advantage thanks to a Munir El Haddadi goal on the hour which lifts them out of the drop zone, but defeat leaves visitors Malaga in 19th place and four points from safety.
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