Betis abandonment overshadows Madrid loss
Leaders Real Madrid slipped to defeat at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday but that result will be overshadowed in Spain’s newspapers by the abandonment of Real Betis’ Primera Liga match against Athletic Bilbao.
Leaders Real Madrid slipped to defeat at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday but that result will be overshadowed in Spain’s newspapers by the abandonment of Real Betis’ Primera Liga match against Athletic Bilbao.
The encounter at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium was called off after visiting goalkeeper Armando Ribeiro was hit in the face by a bottle of water apparently thrown by a man from the stands behind the goal.
Armando, whose team were 2-1 up at the time of the incident, was walking back to take a goal-kick when he was struck and went down clutching his face.
He was then stretchered off and the game abandoned with around 20 minutes remaining. Fran Yeste had given the visitors an early lead by slotting low past Betis goalkeeper Ricardo from 12 yards in the ninth minute and Mark Gonzalez equalized with a close-range strike 10 minutes before the break.
David Lopez restored Athletic’s lead in the second half when he converted from the spot after Arzu had brought down Fernando Llorente.
Madrid failed to win at Riazor once again on Saturday and saw their title hopes damaged following a 1-0 defeat to lowly Depor.
Following a dire first half with few goalscoring opportunities for either side, Pepe’s own goal on 57 minutes gave Deportivo a shock lead and the visitors were unable to react at a stadium in which they have not won in the league in any of the last 17 seasons.
In Valencia, Luis Fabiano was again his side’s goal hero as Sevilla moved into the Champions League places.
La Liga’s leading scorer took his season tally to 22 with an early brace as Sevilla moved into fourth place above Atletico Madrid, who play bottom club Levante on Sunday. Raul Albiol pulled a late goal back for Valencia, but it could not prevent the home side from suffering their 12th defeat of a miserable season.
Recreativo Huelva gave their hopes of survival a massive boost with a 4-2 home win over 10-man Real Murcia.
Enrique De Lucas (16) netted the opener for visiting Murcia, but their lead lasted just three minutes before Recre equalized through Florent Sinama Pongolle.
Recre took the lead on 59 minutes through Marco Ruben before Sinama Pongolle (71) made it 3-1 two minutes after Cesar Arzo had been given his marching orders for Murcia.
Murcia were given a lifeline when Ivan Alonso fire home from the penalty spot but the 10 men could make no further inroads and Recre sealed the win through Marcos Garcia.