Ramos reigns as Sevilla thrill & Barca hit four – La Liga Roundup Week 19

Sergio Ramos celebrates against Malaga. Image via Real Madrid.

Real relying on Ramos

Another week in La Liga, another Sergio Ramos header – albeit in the right net this time – and then another Ramos header actually and Real Madrid are back to winning ways. Twice Toni Kroos picked out the skipper, and twice he headed past Carlos Kameni. The centre-back has now scored five goals in his last nine games, eight in his last 19 in all competitions and 50 career goals in La Liga. But wait there’s more: he also has six La Liga goals for the season (more than Bale, Benzema and Morata) already his best return in a campaign and we’ve only played 19 games. He also didn’t care that his second goal was offside, fortunately for Madrid neither did the officials. It wasn’t all good news however, Madrid did not play well and the injuries keep coming. Hamstrung Marcelo was forced off and Zinedine Zidane admitted after the game that Luka Modric will need a scan.

Superb Sevilla thrill again

Last weekend a last-minute comeback win over Real Madrid, this week another comeback against Osasuna as Jorge Sampaoli’s side continue to give full value for money. Where to start? Twice they went behind, twice they equalised, both goals through Vincent Iborra who also scored an own goal. Franco Vázquez finally gave them the lead for the first time in the match on 80 minutes, shoving a defender out of the way before heading home before the influential Pablo Sarabia made it 4-2 in stoppage time. Osasuna grabbed one back but it was too little too late as Sevilla hit four at the El Sadar for the first time ever. Sampaoli’s side also have the highest points total they have ever collected at this stage of the season but more importantly they are breathing down Real’s necks still, just one point behind.

Barca hit four at Eibar

Barcelona were without Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique and lost Sergio Busquets to injury after just eight minutes but still put four past an Eibar side that has lost just twice at home previously. Denis Suarez came on for Busquets and promptly scored his first senior goal before Lionel Messi turned on the style. The Argentine scored the second, Luis Suarez grabbed the third and Neymar even got on the scoresheet in stoppage time – his first goal from open play since October.

Griezmann shines but Atletico held

Atletico were held in Bilbao but striker Antoine Griezmann put in a display that will have Manchester United fans drooling. Koke got the visitors off to the perfect start with a goal after just three minutes but goals from Inigo Lekue and De Marcos put Athletic ahead. Griezmann then thought he’d levelled with a sublime strike, a cheeky dink over the goalkeeper from a ridiculously tight angle that was chalked off for offside. Not to be denied, the France international thumped home from 25 yards as the game finished 2-2.

Sociedad move level with Atletico

Real Sociedad took on a Celta side with a 100% record from four games in 2017 and sneaked a win late on that pushes them level on points with Atleti in fourth. Juanmi did his very best Sergio Ramos impression, thundering home a header as the hosts won 1-0.

Victorious Valencia on a roll

Valencia eased their relegation worries with their second win a row to move seven points clear of the drop zone. Carlos Soler fizzed home the first before Santi Mina took advantage of some fine dawdling by goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, picking his pocket before rolling into empty net. An impressive win for Los Che, who also kept a clean sheet away from home for the first time in 26 games and even gave new signing Simone Zaza a debut. And no he didn’t score.

Deportivo denied at Las Palmas

Las Palmas celebrated reaching the midway point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo, a result that means they still have not been beaten at home in La Liga this season. Mateo Garcia put the hosts ahead, Florin Andone equalised while Aythami Artiles was sent off late on Las Palmas, after managing the rather impressive feat of collecting two yellow cards in the space of five minutes.

Espanyol ease past Granada

Espanyol piled on the misery for Granada with a comfortable win. Jose Antonio Reyes curled home the opener after 12 minutes, although on-loan Manchester United man Andreas Pereira’s clever free-kick, slid under the wall, levelled it up. A lovely Pablo Piatti finish put the hosts back in front, he now has six goals and seven assists in 14 Liga games, before debutant Marc Navarro’s goal added the gloss to the scoreline.

Leganes still without a win

Leganes’ poor run continues with the visitors grabbing a point at Alaves thanks to an 84^th minute equaliser through Pablo Insua. The draw means they are now without in a win in their last seven games, their worst ever top flight run. Next up? Just the small matter of an in-form Celta who have four wins from five games in 2017.

Results in full:

Las Palmas 1-1 Deportivo

Espanyol 3-1 Granada

Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga

Alaves 2-2 Leganes

Villarreal 0-2 Valencia

Osasuna 3-4 Sevilla

Athletic 2-2 Atletico

Betis 0-0 Gijon

Real Sociedad 1-0 Celta

Eibar 0-4 Barcelona