La Liga Round Up: Xerez Pick Up First Away Win; Mallorca Continue Home Dominance

Posted Monday, March 08, 2010 by Goal.com

Bermejo, Xerez-Villarreal

Espanyol 0-0 Villarreal

Espanyol were reduced to ten men but Villarreal could not capitalise in Barcelona, where a poor contest ended goalless.

Both sides had half chances to grab all three points but the finishing on show was wayward, with neither goal ever truly in threat.

Jose Callejon forced Diego Lopez into a save early on as the Blanc i Blau took the game to the away side, but it was the Yellow Submarines who finished the stronger after Callejon was given a second yellow card for what the referee deemed to be a dive.

However a winning goal was not forthcoming, and both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Malaga 2-4 Xerez

In an astonishing match in Andalucia, bottom side Xerez picked up just their third win of the season to defeat Malaga in a topsy-turvy contest.

A Momo penalty had given the league’s bottom side the lead on five minutes, after Ivan Gonzalez had brought down Michel inside the area, but Malaga performed superbly at the Camp Nou last weekend and were unlucky to be beaten, and showed great determination to turn the match around.

The comeback commenced when Duda slammed the ball home after being laid in by Felipe Caicedo just before half-time, and Valdo put Malaga ahead ten minutes into the second half with a close range header.

Emiliano Armenteros then compounded Xerez’s woes, receiving a red card for an off-the-ball scuffle, but the numbers were equalled when Duda was dismissed for a deliberate handball inside the area.

Momo missed the resulting penalty kick, but made amends by slotting home the rebound, and from that point on Xerez held the ascendency.

Leandro Gioda bundled the ball home from close range to edge Xerez in front, and a vital win was sealed in the dying moments when Fabian Orellana hit Malaga on the break to round off a quite incredible match.

Mallorca 3-0 Sporting Gijon

Mallorca’s incredible home record continued as sporting Gijon were easily despatched 3-0 at the ONO Estadi.

Julio Alvarez opened the scoring on 12 minutes when his cross into the area eluded everyone and nestled in the far corner of the net, past a despairing Juan Pablo Colinas.

In truth Sporting were never in the match, rarely threatening the Islanders’ goal, but it took Mallorca until the 76th minute to seal the victory.

Victor Casadesus took advantage of Sporting pushing forward to combine with Gonzalo Castro and to knock the ball home from inside the area, and Pierre Webo added a third late on to add gloss to the victory.

Gregorio Manzano’s men stay in the hunt for the Champions League positions, while Sporting slip back into the bottom half of the table following this result.

Osasuna 0-0 Getafe

Osasuna produced a dominant display in Pamplona this afternoon but could not break down a stubborn Getafe side who held on for a well-earned point.

Los Rojillos peppered the visitors’ goal with efforts but a mixture of poor finishing and sturdy defending kept Jose Antonio Camacho’s men at bay.

Walter Pandiani and Juanfran both had opportunities to score but could not find the target, while Miguel Flano perhaps should have did better from close range but could only head the ball over the crossbar.

Getafe however held on and grabbed a much-needed point, while Osasuna will perhaps feel that they have missed an opportunity to secure the win.