Gareth Bale marks Real Madrid return with Espanyol goal

He's been out for three months, but Gareth Bale did not take long to mark his return to the Real Madrid side with a goal on Saturday.

The Wales international was introduced as a 71st-minute substitute against Espanyol, making his first appearance since November 22 after a spell out with injury.

Just 13 minutes later he found the back of the net to help Real secure a 2-0 victory.

The goal was Bale's 23rd in his last 28 La Liga matches and sees Real move four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who have also played a game more.

Alvaro Morata scored the opener for Zinedine Zidane's side at the Bernabeu in the 33rd minute.

Barca are in action on Sunday evening, live on Sky Sports, when they host Leganes, looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar and Messi help 10-man Barca beat Espanyol

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-neymar-messi-help-10-man-barca-beat-165353808--sow.html

By Tim Hanlon

BARCELONA, April 25 (Reuters) - Neymar scored the opener to continue his rich vein of form as 10-man Barcelona won a one-sided La Liga derby against Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday while Antoine Griezmann's double helped Atletico Madrid beat Elche 3-0.

Brazil's Neymar followed his two goals against Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday by slotting home after Luis Suarez dummied a cross after 17 minutes.

With Barca picking holes in Espanyol's defence, Lionel Messi doubled the lead from a tight angle after 25 minutes before Jordi Alba was sent off early in the second half.

The defender was shown two yellow cards in succession after 53 minutes for a lengthy protest with the referee but Espanyol failed to apply any concerted pressure on Barca in the remainder of the match.

Xavi came on for the final three minutes for his 500th La Liga appearance for Barca who have moved five points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Deep in stoppage time Espanyol's Hector Moreno was also sent off after being given a second yellow card.

Griezmann's two goals helped Atletico put their Champions League exit behind them in order to concentrate on winning third-place in La Liga.

The Frenchman now has 22 league goals in an impressive debut season at the Calderon after heading Atletico into the lead 10 minutes into the second half and then slotting home from close range 14 minutes from the end.

In between a Raul Garcia shot from distance sneaked past the dive of keeper Przemyslaw Tytonand into the corner after 63 minutes.

Diego Simeone's side have 72 points, seven more than fourth-placed Valencia who play Granada on Monday. Elche are 14th on 34 points.

Barca lead La Liga with 81 points, five more than Real Madrid who play Celta Vigo on Sunday.

COMPLETE GAME

"It was a complete game from us ... to win a derby you have to play like that," Barca midfielderAndres Iniesta told reporters.

"The best part of the season is still to come and the hard bit as well. They are all finals from here and there won't be much between the teams."

Espanyol's defence was cut open from the start with Neymar having a shot from a tight angle saved by keeper Kiko Casilla after just two minutes.

Suarez had a header from close range parried by Casilla and then Neymar flicked a ball by Messi past the keeper but also over the crossbar.

It appeared only a matter of time before Barca scored and the goal was expertly executed, demonstrating the superb understanding between their fearsome frontline with Suarez leaving the ball for Neymar to finish.

Suarez was involved in the second goal as he played a ball across the area to Messi who finished clinically past Casilla with little angle to aim at.

Further chances fell to Barca in the second half, notably a shot by Messi that hit a post, and the result never appeared in doubt.

Atlético Madrid held by Espanyol and lose Miranda to brutal challenge

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/14/espanyol-atletico-madrid-la-liga-match-report

Atlético Madrid surrendered third place in La Liga to Valencia when they had Miranda sent off for a brutal challenge in first-half added time and were held to a 0-0 draw at mid-table Espanyol on Saturday.

Atlético had the better chances at Espanyol’s Cornella-El Prat stadium in Barcelona before Miranda was shown a straight red card when the centre-back felled Abraham with a leading arm as the pair jumped for a bouncing ball.

Fernando Torres had forced a fine save from Espanyol’s Kiko Casilla in the 11th minute and Koke fired narrowly wide a minute later.

Playing with a man fewer in the second period, the champions struggled to create scoring opportunities but Raúl García came close to breaking the deadlock 13 minutes from time when his low shot was brilliantly tipped away by Casilla.

Atlético, who are without a win in their last four games and need to overturn a 1-0 deficit when they host Bayer Leverkusen in a Champions League last-16, second-leg tie on Tuesday, have 56 points in fourth with 11 games left.

Valencia have 57 after Friday’s 2-0 success at home to Deportivo La Coruña, while fifth-placed Sevilla (49) can close to within four points of Atlético by beating Elche on Sunday.

Messi lead Barcelona in thrashing local rival Espanyol 5-1

Messi reminds Espanyol who's boss in Barcelona

Barcelona used a strong second half to power past city rivals Espanyol 5-1 on Sunday night at the Camp Nou.

One day after Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick for Real Madrid, Lionel Messi achieved the same feat in leading Barcelona back from an early 1-0 deficit. Gerard Piqué and Pedro also added goal for the home side.

With a key Champions League clash looming in midweek, manager Luis Enrique elected to rest midfielder Andres Iniesta and defender Jeremy Mathieu as the pair started on the bench. In front of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, it was a back four of Dani Alves, Piqué, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba. Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Xavi formed the midfield and up front it was the trusted South American trio of Luis Suárez, Messi and Neymar.

As they have done so often before, Espanyol took the Camp Nou pitch and showed no fear against their more illustrious city rivals. Their assertive attitude was awarded in the 13th minute as Sergio García shocked the home fans by opening the scoring. Felipe Caicedo dispossessed Busquets, and García simply swooped in, charged into the Barcelona area, waltzed past Piqué and then swung a left-footed shot past Bravo to make it 1-0 to the Pericos.

The goal shook Barcelona from their doldrums and soon enough the home side were hunting for the equalizer. Messi issued a warning in the 30th minute when his free kick banged off the crossbar. Nine minutes later it was Messi serving up an inch-perfect cross into Alba but the fullback was denied twice by Espanyol goalkeeper Casilla. However, if not for the intervention of Bravo in the 42nd minute, Víctor Sánchez would have doubled Espanyol’s advantage on a counter attack that the Chilean stopper managed to thwart at the last second.

Bravo’s stop proved pivotal as Barcelona were able to draw level a minute before halftime and who else but Messi to get it done. The Argentine collected a ball from Xavi at the top of the area, moved to his left and had just enough room to release a left-footed shot that somehow found its way through a sea of legs and skipped between the post and Casilla and into the net.

Barcelona had a shout for a penalty in the early going of the second half when Neymar went down in the Espanyol area after a supposed push from Eric Bailly, but the referee

waved for play to continue while the Brazilian sat on the turf dumbfounded. However any feeling of injustice dissipated thanks to another piece of genius from Messi. Suárez centered for Messi, who took two quick touches before firing in a right-footer to make it 2-1 in the 50th.

Poor marking from Espanyol enabled Barcelona to then extend their lead to 3-1 as Rakitic’s corner found Piqué, who had slipped inside Bailly to smack a header past Casilla in the 53rd minute.

The hosts cemented the victory in the 78th minute on an absolutely sensational long ball up from Alba that connected with substitute Pedro, who only had to collect the ball and shoot past Casilla to make it 4-1 to Barcelona. Four minutes later Messi capped his epic night by scoring his third goal through a simple one-two combination with Pedro, thus matching the hat trick scored by his long-time Clásico rival Ronaldo one day prior. It is Messi’s 21st career hat trick in La Liga.

Barcelona will now return to Champions League action on Wednesday with a decisive encounter against Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou.

Atletico back to winning ways, beat Espanyol 2-0

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Espanyol: Diego Simeone's side back on track after Valencia defeat

A first half Tiago header set up Atletico Madrid's 2-0 victory over Espanyol as they seek to get back on track following a stuttering start to the La Liga season.

The Portuguese leapt well and steered a cross from Gabi into the top corner before the break and mid-way through the second half substitute Mario Suarez knocked the ball home from close range.

Antoine Griezmann could have given them a more resounding win five minutes from the end but his shot with the keeper Kiko Casilla beaten came back off the outside of the post.

Atletico moved up to fourth in the table with 17 points from eight games while Espanyol, who struggled against the home side's physical play, were down at 11th on nine points.

Diego Simeone's side have lacked the consistency, especially in defence, that won them the championship but they managed to keep a clean sheet following a 3-1 defeat away to Valencia in their last match before the international break.

'I think the team did what it had to do and was in control,' Simeone told a new conference.

'We were playing in the opposition half with Raul (Garcia) and (Mario) Mandzukic in attack finding space as did Juanfran and Arda (Turan) on the wings.

'We were patient and the goal came. In the second half we were even more dominant.'

Valencia are ahead of Atletico on goal difference and later take on Deportivo La Coruna while Sevilla, a point behind, are away at Elche.

Leaders Barcelona beat Eibar 3-0 on Saturday and Real Madrid swept aside Levante 5-0 as the pair warmed up for the El Clasico next weekend. 

Espanyol scores first win in Liga, beats Getafe 2-0

Espanyol claim Getafe victory

Goals from Sergio Garcia and Christian Stuani handed Espanyol their first win of the season as they leapfrogged fellow strugglers Getafe at the foot of the Primera Division.

The home side had taken just two points from four matches heading into the match, with the visitors just one better off, but los Periquitos built on an improved showing against Malaga last time out to run out 2-0 winners on the night.

It took 65 minutes to part the sides, Garcia netting with a crisp volley, and the result was sealed when Stuani stepped off the bench to finish from 12 yards.

Defeat leaves Getafe ahead of only Cordoba, who are the last team in the division to remain winless.

In a thinly populated Power8 Stadium the contest got off to a scrappy start before Garcia tested Vicente Guaita with a 15th-minute header.

The hosts had started to enjoy the majority of possession but Guaita was not called on to make another save before the half-time break.

Instead it was Getafe who almost stole the lead with their first real chance just moments before the whistle, Pablo Sarabia striking from 30 yards and Francisco Casilla diving to palm the ball round the post.

Casilla was in action again soon after the restart, Michel denied with another long-range attempt.

But it was Espanyol who made the decisive move, Salva Sevilla feigning to shoot from the edge of the area only to dink a lovely pass over the top for Garcia.

The number timed his run and finished first time to grab the lead.

Stuani missed a decent chance to make it safe when heading over from a corner but buried a low right-footed effort in the 82nd minute to ease any lingering nerves.

Malaga's Duda denied Espanyol its first win with a late free kick 2-2

Espanyol 2-2 Malaga

A brilliant stoppage-time free-kick from Duda earned Malaga a 2-2 draw at Espanyol as they twice came from behind to snatch a point.

Duda curled a beautiful effort into the top corner from 25 yards, a matter of minutes after Christian Stuani's header looked to have won it for the hosts.

The late strike denied Espanyol a first La Liga win of the season and left them second bottom of the standings.

Earlier Felipe Caicedo had opened the scoring for Espanyol, with Ignacio Camacho levelling shortly after the break.

The home side came into the contest with just one point from their opening three matches, but took the lead with the first real chance of the game after 16 minutes.

Caicedo ran on to a through-ball from Sergio Garcia, rounded goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and tapped the ball in. Juanmi fired wide from inside the area as Malaga sought a response, but at the other end Garcia almost made it two heading wide from a corner.

Alvaro also headed wide as Espanyol threatened again from a corner before the break, but the hosts were undone by a dead ball eight minutes into the second half.

Luis Alberto swung over a corner from the right and Camacho defied the attentions of opposition defenders to power home a header.

Kameni parried away a Lucas shot, but could do nothing two minutes from time when Lucas sent in a free-kick which Stuani headed into the net.

Espanyol celebrations were short-lived, though, as Malaga again fought back to rescue a point.

It was a piece of individual brilliance from Duda that earned it as he curled a free-kick from right of centre with his left foot into the near top corner.

Valencia moves to second place after beating Espanyol 3-1

Pablo Piatti on target as Valencia beat Espanyol to go second in Spain

Valencia moved up to second place in La Liga, two points behind Barcelona, with a 3-1 win over Espanyol at the Mestalla on Sunday.

A close-range finish from Pablo Piatti put Valencia ahead after eight minutes and second-half goals by Dani Parejo and Paco Alcácer wrapped up the win, before Sergio García pulled a goal back with a late penalty.

Valencia are unbeaten under their new coach Nuno Espírito Santo’s and playing with a confidence and fluidity not seen since Unai Emery was in charge.

Afterwards Espírito Santo said: “We have to win at lot of points to qualify for the Champions League. That is our goal and that is what we are going to try and do.”

Valencia were still without their summer loan signing from Manchester City Alvaro Negredo, who is recovering from injury and has yet to make his debut.

Jonathas de Jesus scored one and made another as Elche earned their first win of the season by beating Rayo Vallecano 3-2.

Elche went ahead through a dipping free-kick from their captain Edu Albácar, but Rayo equalised just before the break through Gaël Kakuta, who is on loan from Chelsea. Kakuta took Alberto Bueno’s long pass, cut inside and slotted home.

But Jonathas restored Elche’s lead when he beat Rayo’s central defenders and swept the ball home. He then set up Pedro Mosquera, whose deflected effort increased Elche’s advantage. A penalty from Bueno proved too little too late for Rayo.

A Carlos Bacca’s first-half penalty and an Alex Vidal tap-in three minutes from time steered Sevilla to a 2-0 win over Getafe at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

“With all respect to Getafe, our goal was to win this game,” said Sevilla’s coach, Unai Emery. “The key was to play at a fast pace so they didn’t feel comfortable and we did just that.”

Elsewhere, unbeaten Granada drew 0-0 with Villarreal in a dour encounter.

Barcelona score a hard win over Espanyol through Messi penalty

Eurosport Yahoo.com

Barcelona kept up the pressure on La Liga title rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid when Lionel Messi struck from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win at Espanyol in Saturday's Catalan derby.

The laboured victory at Espanyol's Cornella-El Prat stadium lifted the champions, who are chasing a fifth domestic league triumph in six years, above Atletico into first place on 75 points from 31 of 38 matches.

Atletico have 73 in second and can reclaim top spot with a win at fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday. Real are three points further back in third after two straight defeats and host city neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

Barca's trip across town to face their local rivals, who are eighth on 40 points and still in with a chance of qualifying for Europe, was potentially their stiffest test remaining before their final game at home to Atletico in May.

While they were far from their dynamic best against a well-drilled and fired-up Espanyol side, the victory was a positive way to prepare for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg at home to Atletico.

"We are now in a privileged position (in La Liga) and we are in charge of our own destiny," Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets said in an interview with Spanish TV broadcaster Canal Plus.

"Let's hope that is the case until the last game against Atletico," added the Spain international.

Barca and Espanyol each had chances in a frenetic opening with Messi and Neymar going close for the visitors and Pizzi wasting two excellent opportunities for the home side.

The decisive moment of the match came when Espanyol fullback Javi Lopez handled the ball in the area and Messi dispatched the spot kick with 13 minutes remaining, the Argentina forward's 23rd La Liga goal of an injury-disrupted season.

Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was shown a straight red card seven minutes from time when he sprinted out of his area and handled an attempted Messi lob.

Lopez had to replace Casilla in goal as Espanyol had used their three substitutes and did well to divert an effort from substitute Alexis Sanchez away for a corner in added time.

Espanyol beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames 2-1

Skysports.com

Athletic Bilbao's unbeaten league record at their new San Mames stadium came to an end on Sunday as Espanyol claimed a deserved 2-1 win.Goals by Sergio Garcia and Diego Colotto ensured Espanyol wrapped up a notable double, having beaten Athletic in September's reverse fixture, and also making it back-to-back league wins after their 1-0 victory over Granada last time out.

Carlos Gurpegi hit Athletic's reply early in the second period but it could not fire the hosts to an improved overall performance and Colotto duly made them pay with the winner after 65 minutes.

Aritz Aduriz was sent off late on to wrap up a miserable night for the hosts, whose unbeaten home run in La Liga came to an end at the 13th time of asking. Athletic had won nine of their previous 12 league matches at their new home, although they did lose to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

Esponyol stunned the home fans as they went ahead with just six minutes gone, Simao Sabrosa playing in Garcia who made no mistake with a low drive into the left corner.

The visitors were almost pegged back just before the half-hour when Ibai Gomez's free-kick was met with a superb diving header by Gurpegi but Francisco Casilla produced a fine save to turn the ball away.

Esponyol's lead was nearly doubled in the 38th minute but Christian Stuani saw his effort from close range come back off the post.

The hosts needed just 12 minutes of the second period to bring the scores level, Gomez again combining with Gurpegi from a set-piece, with Casilla on this occasion unable to keep out the defender's header.

But the home side were only level for eight minutes before Espanyol took the lead for a second time, Simao's inswinging corner finding its way into the net off Colotto, who did not appear to know too much about it but celebrated as if he meant it.

The visiting side continued to press and very nearly made it three in the 75th minute when Stuani broke away down the right channel and fired in a low shot across goal that Gorka Iraizoz cleared with a firm hand down low.

Stuani had another chance in the 84th minute but fired wastefully at Iraizoz when a placed effort surely would have found the target, while moments later Athletic's hopes were as good as over as Aduriz received his marching orders after picking up a second caution for a foul on Victor Sanchez.

Real Madrid ride on Pepe's header to slip past Espanyol 1-0

Pepe mobbed by team mates after scoring the winning goal

Pepe's bouncing header is what Real Madrid needs to score an important three points against Barcelona City based Espanyol in the latest round of the La Liga. 

The goal came in the 55th minute when Luka Modric fired a free kick from the right hand side from a Christian Stuani foul on Daniel Carvajal.  Real Madrid got another two good chances, the first one from Karim Benzema and the second from Cristiano Ronaldo but both were saved by an outstanding performance of Espanyol goal keeper Kiko Casilla. 

Real Madrid's win move them closer to league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid which played a nil-nil draw at Vicente Calderon.