Friday, May 18th, 2012
Atlético Madrid vs. Real Betis
The problems that exist at the Vicente Calderón increased considerably as they were dealt a crushing home defeat to Real Betis in the early Sunday kick-off, and there was nowhere for Gregorio Manzano to hide.
Atleti had most of the ball throughout the game, though they simply couldn’t find a way through the resilient Betis defence. A chance for Falcao did arise after just five minutes though, but the Colombian saw his shot go wide.
Iriney then had a long ranger effort after 20 minutes which was the visitors’ first of the game, soon after Beñat was off the mark with a free-kick 20 yards out.
Atleti looked to rally before half-time, when Diego went extremely close, before Arda Turan had his effort tipped away by Casto. The situation was similar after half-time as the hosts continued to control but remained wasteful.
Betis then made them pay to take a surprise lead; Pozuelo picked up the ball and showed fine close control in the penalty area before finishing with expertly past Thibaut Courtois. The jeers began to rise from the home stands, but Atleti looked to respond instantly.
Diego Godín went close, as did Juanfran, before Adrián had a double chance. First a header was incredibly saved by Casto, and then a long range effort went wide. Diego was then removed from the field, and the Calderon voiced its disapproval and turned furiously on Manzano ever more.
Eduardo Salvio and José Antonio Reyes were next up to have a go, but ultimately failed, and once more Betis made them pay.
An error by Juanfran, taking his eye off the ball, allowed Roque Santa Cruz to finish from close range. By this time, the home support was livid, and the Atleti team looked completely dejected.
It was Atleti’s first home defeat of the season, and one the supporters won’t forget. The fans were against Manzano before, but this was something else. Betis meanwhile have now won two in a row after being on a terrible winless streak.
FT: Atlético Madrid 0 Real Betis 2 (Pozuelo 54, Santa Cruz 90’)
Racing Santander vs. Real Sociedad
Racing Santander and Real Sociedad played out a dull, inspiring draw that helps neither side in their quest to pull away from the relegation zone. Both sides seemed nervous throughout, unwilling to make a mistake that would allow the other in, as both coaches made sure their sides showed more caution than creativity.
If the first half was poor, then the second half was perhaps worse. Played at a slower pace, it saw the visitors lose Iñigo Martinez who gained two stupid, needless yellow cards. That killed the game in a sense as it was La Real who had showed the minor more invention, but this made them go into their shell more it seemed. Antoine Griezmann had several decent chances but eventually wasted them all, while there was little to report about Racing in attack, other than that they were uninspiring.
FT: Racing Santander 0 Real Sociedad 0
Osasuna vs Villarreal
Osasuna scored twice in the final 15 minutes to come from behind and and move up into fifth in the table.
Jose Luis Mendilibar had restored Raul Garcia to the Osasuna starting line-up and his drive in midfield aided the hosts as they made a bright opening. Nino twice had the chance to put them in front in the but he first shot wildly over when one-on-one with Lopez before heading just over form 10 yards out. Garcia then had to be replaced midway through the first period, but despite missing a player that has been so key to their success this season they came extremely close to opening the scoring five minutes into the second-half.
Javad Nekounam’s spectacular strikes have been a feature of Osasuna’s six-game unbeaten run and the Iranian nearly produced another wonder goal as his free-kick from all of thirty-five yards came crashing back off the underside of the bar.
One of the main differences between Villarreal’s poor form this season and last season’s fourth-placed finish has been their inability to break sides down with the quick incisive passing that was such a feature of their play last term, but they produced just that kind of move on 63 minutes to take the lead. A patient build-up around the Osasuna box involving Borja Valero and Marcos Senna finally found Cani and his low cross was expertly turned in by Marco Ruben.
The goal forced Osasuna back on the front foot and they were brought back into the game thanks to a great piece of play from Ibrahima Balde. There appeared to be no danger from Lamah’s angled cross but the Senegalese controlled the ball in an instant to put him through on Diego Lopez and placed his left-footed shot well beyond the keeper.
Alvaro Cejudo thought he had wasted the chance to win the game for the home side as Juan Oriol got across well to divert his shot wide as he raced through on goal, but from the resulting corner Sergio rose highest to power a header into the bottom corner.
Villarreal’s third defeat in four league games sees them finish the year above the relegation zone only on goal difference whilst Osasuna are now only four points off Levante in fourth.
Osasuna 2 (Ibrahima 75, Sergio 81) Villarreal 1 (Marco Ruben 63)
Granada vs Levante
First-half goals from Guillherme Siqueira and Abel Gomez were enough to give Granada their third win in five league games against a spirited Levante.
Granada manger Fabri Gonzalez had spoken ahead of the game about Levante’s threat on the counter-attack and his plan in the early stages seemed to be built around defending deep to prevent the visitors using the pace of Arouna Kone in behind.
However slowly the home side began to take control of the game and were handed the chance to open the scoring when Barkero stupidly raised his hand to deflect Abel Gomez’s free-kick and referee Carlos del Cerro Grande had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Guillherme Siqueira stepped up and cheekily chipped the ball Panenka style straight down the middle of the goal.
The visitors were extremely unlucky not to be back on level terms almost immediately as Kone got free for the first time in the match and after rounding goalkeeper Roberto his cut-back was deflected towards his own goal by Allan Nyom but somehow spun across the goal line and away to safety.
Levante then self-destructed before half-time as Xavi Torres was caught on the ball by Ikechukwu Uche who played in Odion Ighalo, he was unlucky to see his shot come off the post but the ball bounced up perfectly for Abel to fire home.
However, 15 minutes into the second-half Levante had a lifeline as Ruben Suarez’s vicious cross from the right found Kone unmarked at the near post and his flicked header nestled in the bottom corner. Granada then began to retreat and appeared happy to play on the counter-attack but that was allowing Ruben and Barkero to get on the ball in dangerous positions and both saw left-footed efforts go just wide.
Levante nearly got the equaliser their second-half display merited when Sergio Ballesteros drove forward from the back and saw his shot deflect off Inigo Lopez before coming back off the upfront and falling to a grateful Granada defender.
The win moves Granada up into a four-strong group of teams on 19 points in mid-table while Levante remain in fourth.
Granada 2 (Siqueira (pen 35), Abel 45) Levante 1 (Kone 60)
Tags: Atletico Madrid, Granada, Levante, Manzano, Osasuna, Racing Santander, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Reyes, Villarreal
