Real Zaragoza 0 - 3 Villarreal
La Liga Saturday Matchday 13: Villarreal Gatecrash Aguirre’s Home Debut For Real Zaragoza
Not quite the home debut Javier Aguirre was looking for. His team started just the way he would have wanted, hustling and harrying Villarreal with real vigour and purpose. But once the majestic Marcos Senna pinged in an absolute beauty from 30 yards on his return from injury there was no way back for Zaragoza, who looked a beaten side only eight minutes into the contest. Aguirre has got his men working hard but there is a distinct lack of quality at both ends of the pitch which sees them rooted to the bottom of La Liga on a paltry eight points.
Villarreal on the other hand showed a ruthlessness that will serve them well in their fight for third place. It was no great performance from the men in yellow, but they bided their time when Zaragoza where in possession and hit the home side on the counter, taking advantage of some woeful goalkeeping from Leo Franco to go two up inside 17 minutes. Santi Cazorla struck a cross-come-shot that Leo Franco really should have dealt with but contrived to allow nestle into the back of the net. How ‘Los Maños’ miss last seasons keeper Roberto.
If Real Zaragoza are going to escape relegation this year, there are certain players that simply need to step up to the mark in games like this. Angel Lafita, Nico Bertolo and Javi Lopez have talent by the bucketload, yet so often games seem to pass them by. Villarreal never looked in any danger of conceding a goal, even when the mercurial Ander Herrera entered the fray. If there was any doubt about who would come out on top, it was dispelled within two second half minutes, when Zaragoza defender Matteo Contini was sent off on 64 minutes. Nilmar then latched onto a superb Santi Cazorla pass seconds later, delightfully lifting the ball over the advancing Leo Franco to make it three. Javier Aguirre, like so many Zaragoza managers of late, has a lot of work to do to.
Sevilla 1 - 3 Getafe
Getafe got much than three points tonight at the Sanchez Pijuan. After a torrid last month that has seen the team from Madrid fall to four defeats, a half-time teamtalk from threatened manager Michel did the trick as Getafe came from behind to win 1-3 against Sevilla. Once Frederic Kanoute had put Sevilla ahead on the half hour it looked as if it could well be Michels last match in charge. The goal was typical Getafes recent plight, Marcano clearing a Romaric cross right into the path of Kanoute, who made no mistake from close range.
Apart from that moment of madness, the first half offered very little by way of entertainment. Yet whatever Michel said at half-time worked wonders as his side came out determined to fight their way back into the match. The equaliser came on the hour, as the referee awarded a penalty for a handball by full back Konko. Manu del Moral stepped up to squeeze the penalty home via Andres Palops hand and the post. Two minutes later Getafe found themselves ahead, as Miku showed great composure to control a Pedro Rios cross and fire past Palop.
Last weeks home defeat against Mallorca was evidently still playing on the minds of the Sevilla players, as they desparately struggled to find any rhythm in their attempt to draw level. The next goal was always going to be decisive and it was Getafe who found it. Pedro Rios lashing in a fantastic strike from a corner, before running over to embrace his underfire manager. It was a gesture that spoke volumes for the respect for the Getafe players have for their coach. Michel lives to fight another day.
Atletico Madrid 2 - 3 Espanyol
Espanyol showed they are in the top four on merit with a stunning away victory at Atletico Madrid, winning 2-3 in a thrilling contest. Mauricio Pochettinos team, who had only picked up four points from eighteen on the road, won through courtesy of a delicious volley from dangerman Osvaldo. It was the perfect end to a industrious performance from the Argentinian striker, and showed just how important he'll be to their fight for the European spots.
Luis Garcia put Espanyol ahead on 17 minutes after Jose Antonio Reyes was judged to have purposefully handled a Callejon free-kick. The decision looked harsh, but Luis Garcia kept his cool to stroke the ball home from the spot. From then on it was all Atletico as they lay siege on the Espanyol goal in search of the equaliser. And it came just on the stroke of half-time as Thiago rifled in from a yard out after some pinball in the Espanyol box.
If that was Espanyols cue to wilt under some incessant Atleti pressure, the players didn't read the script as the away came out all guns blazing. Verdu put Espanyol back infront only eight minutes into the second half, after Osvaldo had bulldozed his way through the Atelti defence. His shot was repelled by David De Gea, but there was Verdu to roll in from close range.
Atletico Madrid fought back once again as some delightful interplay between Diego Forlan and Sergio Agüero lead to the latter sidefooting past Carlos Kameni. But Espanyol were to have the last word, as Osvaldo got the goal his performance deserved, sending a searing volley into the net to seal the three points. Quique Sanchez Flores lost the plot on the final whistle, remonstrating wildly against the ref, but he can have no qualms with the result.
See More:
