Real Zaragoza 2 - 1 Sevilla(1-0) 30' Contini, (1-1) 32' Kanoute, (2-1) 40' Negredo (o.g)
Sevilla clearly had their minds focused elsewhere as Real Zaragoza recorded an important win that lifted them out of the relegation zone. Manolo Jimenez rested Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas, but the Sevilla team still had enough quality to trouble a newly-assembled Zaragoza outfit. They even managed to pull level only two minutes after going behind to Continis foirst goal for his new club, but a moment of indecision from striker Alvaro Negredo saw him divert the ball past Andres Palop for what proved to be the winning goal. Real Zaragoza will be pleased with what was probably their best performance of the season so far, but they were helped by an impotent Sevilla side who clearly wanted to get the game out of the way before their cup semi-final second leg against Getafe; a game that Stankevicius and Negredo will miss through suspension having seen red tonight.
(1-0) 2' Muniain, (1-1) 10' Moreno, (1-2) 40' Bermejo, (2-2) 64' Llorente, (3-2) 88' Llorente
It's so painfully predictable, but once I saw Xerez 1-2 up at half-time, I just knew they would throw it away. They've finally got the knack of sticking the ball in the net (thats four in two now), but regardless of Renans best efforts, they find it impossible to keep the ball out of their own. Iker Muniain got Athletic off to the perfect start when he nodded in Toqueros cross, but credit to the Andalucians as they got right back in it with a screamer by veteran Vicente Moreno. Bermejo tapped in to give Xerez a surprise half time lead, but the second half was all Athletic and they got the two goals they needed for victory through their lethal international marksman, Fernando Llorente. Momo, Carlos Calvo, Keita and Vicente Moreno all played their hearts out and ran around as if their lives depended on it, but careless errors at the back get punished in La Liga and it's onto Real Madrid at home next saturday.
(0-1) 24' Forlán, (1-1) 36' Colsa
Strange how often two teams fighting out a cup tie also meet each other straight away in La Liga. Sandwiched inbetween their Copa del Rey semi-final Atlético Madrid and Racing Santander fought out a league encounter which was characterised by defensive mistakes. Infact both goals were the result of errors from both back fours as Forlán took advantage of a woeful attempt at an offside trap, whilst Colsa pounced upon yet another foul-up by underfire defender Perea. Racing were the only team who then went for the three points whilst Atletico set about conserving energy for this weeks second-leg; strange when you consider they take a 4-0 advantage to the Sardinero. Quique sat Sergio Agüero on the bench once more as he played Forlán alone upfront. A luxury Atletico surely cannot afford themselves as they sit 12th in La Liga.
Almería 3 - 1 Sporting Gijon
(0-1) 12' Diego Castro (p), (1-1) 15' Cruzat, (2-1) 42' Cisma, (3-1) 80' Guilherme
Entertaining encounter with Almeria doing a Barcelona on us and winning having played a large part of the match with ten men. It was a remarkable turnaround from Juanma Lillas men, after a handball from Chico in the 11th minute saw him sent off, with Castro converting the penalty to leave Almeria with a mountain to climb. But climb it they did, levelling almost immediately through Cruzat and even having the audacity to take the lea before the break when Cisma hit a shot that Juan Pablo simply had to stop, but contrived to let it in, unaware that the shot was on target. Sporting offered very little in the second half and went further behind when Guilherme sealed the points for the home side. Manuel Preciado will not be a happy man.
Mallorca 1 - 0 Villarreal
(1-0) 81' Nunes
Mallorca made it ten wins out of ten in the ONO Estadi, with only them and Real Madrid able to boast a clean sweep of home league wins. Villarreal were unlucky to leave the island empty-handed, but they simply didnt make the most of their opportunites, whilst Mallorca scored the only decent one that came their way; centre-back Nunes getting the goal with a header from Julio Alvarezs cross when only ten minutes remained. Nilmar and Llorente missed a hatful of chances for the Yellow Submarine, as Rossi was forced to miss the match due to a personal matter. Jose Carlos Garrido was unable to change Villarreals fortune on his debut, and he has a huge task ahead of him as he seeks to inject confidence into a beleagured side, so used to challenging for the Champions League spots in recent years.
(1-0) 47' Aranda
Málaga 0 - 0 Deportivo La Coruña