August 26,2016
Real Betis 0 – 0 Deportivo La Coruna
After just a game in the season, Deportivo is sitting in 5th while Real Betis is carrying the rest of the teams at the bottom of the table. It might be too soon for any team to panic, of gloat.
Betis was unfortunate to be paired with the defending champions FC Barcelona in their season opener. A 6-2 loss was the result of that matchup. Deportivo La Coruna had a better start and a more fitting opposition, easing them into the season. La Coruna started their campaign with a win against Eibar.
It was a goalless draw when Real Betis went against Deportivo La Coruna. Real Betis has a point on the league table, but this is not enough for a team that should be thinking about finishing amongst the top 10 in Spain.
If improvement is the goal, then Real Betis would be aiming to finish in the top 10 in this season of La Liga, and Deportivo La Coruna would be aiming to move as far as possible from the relegation battle. At this point Deportivo is on track, Betis is off it.
Espanyol 2-2 Malaga
Gerard Moreno 28’ Diego Llorente 67’
Leo Baptistao 61’ Charles 90’
Both teams were looking for a win in the new season. After just a game played, Malaga had a point from their 1-1 draw with Osasuna, and Espanyol had no points after their entertaining encounter with Sevilla. It was a game that produced 10 goals, but not enough goals for Espanyol to get any point from the match.
Espanyol was once again in a dramatic match, as they gave up a two-goal lead at home to Malaga to finish the match in a draw. Gerard Moreno gave the home team the lead in the 28th minute. The lead was doubled by Leo Baptistao in the 61st minute, but it didn’t last long as Diego Llorente brought the gap back down to a goal when he scored in the 67th minute to make the score 2-1 for most of the second half.
A late goal from Charles in the 90th minute gave Malaga their second point of the season and the first point for Espanyol. Both teams remain winless.
August 27, 2016
Eibar 1-0 Valencia
Pedro Leon 62’
Valencia’s troubles keep piling up after suffering their second loss in as many matches. Both teams were searching for their first point this season, after a losing start to their season. Pedro Leon gave Eibar their first win and points of their season.
Osasuna 0-2 Real Sociedad
Juanmi 45’+2
Unai Garcia 81(o.g)
Another set of teams looking for their first win in the 2016/17 La Liga season was Osasuna and Real Sociedad. Real Sociedad was in search for both a win and a point to kickstart this season.
An own goal killed Osasuna’s dream of a comeback after they fell behind to a first-half injury time goal from Junami.
Real Madrid 2-1 Celta Vigo
Alvaro Morata 60’ Fabian Orellana 67’
Toni Kroos 82’
It is two wins in a row for Real Madrid and two losses in a row for Celta Vigo. It took a Toni Kroos specials to separate the two teams.
A good fight from Celta Vigo, but the talent on Real Madrid made it impossible for Celta Vigo to get their first point of the season.
After a goalless first half, Alvaro Morata opened the scoring and gave Madrid the lead in the 60th minute. Seven minutes later Orellana evened it up with a beautiful strike.
Toni Kroos winner in the 82nd minute broke the heart of the fans of Celta Vigo, who might have thought there was a possibility of leaving the match with at least a point.
Leganés 0-0 Atlético Madrid
Great start for Leganes and a not so great for Atletico Madrid. Newly promoted Leganes was coming from a winning start to their season, and the plan was to avoid losing a match this early in the season.
It was a goalless draw when Leganes welcomed Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid’s first two matches of the season were against newly promoted sides, and Atletico Madrid has failed to find a win. When you are considered to be on of the teams to challenge for the title, this is a very slow start.
August 28, 2016
Alaves 0-0 Sporting Gijon
Newly promoted Deportivo Alaves played a goalless home draw with Sporting Gijon. That is two draws in two matches for Alaves. Sporting Gijon also remains undefeated as they were coming from a win ahead of this meeting.
Las Palmas 5-1 Granada
Nabil El Zhar 23’ 69’ Jeremie Boga 45’+1
Kevin-Prince Boateng 51’
Momo 73’
Sergio Ezequiel Araujo 86’
After a 1-1 scoreline in the first half, Las Palmas went on to score four goals in the second half without getting a response.
Nabil El Zhar gave Las Palmas the lead in the 23rd minute, but it was canceled with an injury time equalizing goal by Jeremie Boga.
After the restart, the lead was restored for Las Palmas with a 51st-minute goal from their new signing Kevin-Prince Boateng. Nabil El Zhar gave Las Palmas the insurance goal and doubled Las Palmas lead in the 69th minute.
Athletic Club 0-1 Barcelona
Ivan Rakitic 21’
The defending champions are on track to defend their title after a first half header by Ivan Rakitic was gave Barcelona their second in as many matches. Athletic Club, on the other hand, suffered their second defeat in as many matches.
Athletic Club had chances to level things up, but all in all, FC Barcelona looked to have control of the match. It was a close match, but there was a sense that if Barcelona had been in need of a goal, they might have shifted their gear upwards to find one.
Villarreal – Sevilla
Villarreal remains winless while Sevilla remains undefeated after the two sides play a goalless draw.
