Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

Smoke bomb disrupts Villarreal v Celta Vigo La Liga match

Villarreal's home game with Celta Vigo in Spain's La Liga was suspended in the 88th minute after a smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch.

Celta Vigo were leading 1-0 at El Madrigal when a canister, which was billowing smoke, was thrown.

Referee David Fernandez stopped play and led both sets of players off the pitch as fans, many covering their eyes, streamed out of the ground.

Play resumed around 20 minutes later and Celta went on to win 2-0.

It is the second incident involving items thrown on to a football pitch in Spain this week.

Atletico Madrid were fined £492 after an incident on Tuesday when visiting Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was struck on the head with a cigarette lighter.

On Saturday, a public announcer at Villarreal asked fans to evacuate the ground after the canister was thrown.

Players asked for water as the smoke apparently irritated their eyes.

The object was thrown on the pitch shortly after Chile midfielder Fabian Orellana 83rd-minute goal for the visitors.

When play resumed, Celta extended their lead through Nolito in front of a half-empty stadium.

Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

Álvarez Izquierdo expulsa a uno del Valencia,estaban jugando mucho mejor...lo ha conseguido el tio.

Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

malaga perdiendo en casa contra la real....

Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

Real Sociedad closed to within four points of the Champions League spots in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at relegation-haunted Malaga.

Carlos Vela's goal after just 10 minutes decided the game for Sociedad as they recorded only their second win in their last six league matches, but one that lifts them to within touching distance of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

While Sociedad are well in contention for a second successive top-four finish this season, things are looking a lot bleaker for a Malaga side who themselves claimed a Champions League spot just two years ago.

Monday night's defeat was their 12th of the season and left them in 17th spot in the standings and just three points above the relegation places.

Sociedad made much the better start at La Rosaleda and Haris Seferovic and Vela had already tried their luck with efforts on goal before the latter put the visitors ahead.

Antoine Griezmann and Jose Angel Valdes combined well down the left and the defender's low ball into the box was turned home from the near the penalty spot by Vela.

That ended up being the match-winning strike, with Malaga pushing hard for an equaliser but coming up short.

Sacha Iakovenko twice failed to seriously trouble Claudio Bravo with shots before the break while Sergi Darder also failed to beat the Sociedad keeper on the stroke of half-time.

It was a similar story after the interval with Vitorino Antunes and Nordin Amrabat firing wide before Bravo was called into action again twice in quick succession with 15 minutes to go to deny Roque Santa Cruz.

Substitute Santa Cruz also had one late chance to try and salvage a draw for the hosts but his stoppage-time shot was blocked by David Zurutuza and Sociedad could celebrate the victory.

Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

Real Madrid 3-0 Elche: Illarramendi, Bale and Isco claim the points

Real Madrid were given some testing moments by visiting Elche, who gave a spirited effort to test their opponents at the Bernabéu. Ultimately however, the quality and pressure of Real Madrid made the difference, as they sealed the points with goals from Illarramendi, Bale and Isco.

There was no tardiness from Real Madrid as they quickly sought to put Elche under pressure at the Bernabéu. In the second minute of play, Benzema took a pop at goal from outside the area, which needed a good sturdy hand from Elche keeper Manu Herrera to steer wide of the mark.

Elche mounted a good counter-attack in the 7th minute, just to show their intentions. Carles Gil breaking forward well and feeding the ball for Coro to shoot, which needed two attempts by Diego López to get the ball safely in his hands. Remarkably however, the next chance at the other end for Real Madrid would come from a most unlikely source. From a corner, Di María whizzed the ball in and struck the crossbar. What a goal that would have been.

With the home side setting the pace of the game as it continued, Elche had their work cut out to defend all that was coming their way, as Real Madrid enjoyed long spells of possession. In the 22nd minute, Di María got forward well with a good individual run, but only managed to strike his finish over the crossbar. The Argentine flyer stayed in the thick of the action and in the 29th minute, he made a superb pass to set up an opportunity for Jesé, but his first-time strike was well off target, when he had plenty of time to control before striking.

Eventually the pressure from the home side told and in the 33rd minute, another corner brought about the opening goal. Di María swinging the ball into the area, at first half cleared by the Elche defence, but falling to the feet of Illarramendi to strike powerfully into the back of the net.

Into the final five minutes and keeping up their dominance, two more chances came for Real Madrid. A great attacking move in the 40th minute, Di María once more at the heart of things and pulling the strings, presented an opportunity for Bale to strike at goal, only for it to be deflected by Botía, as he got his body in the way. Benzema then game close in the following minute, after a good run and cross on the overlap from Arbeloa.

Out for the second half and after a brief spell of pressure from Real Madrid in the opening moments, Elche pressed forward and won themselves a corner in the 51st minute, after Carvajal managed to intervene as Manu Del Moral latched onto a dangerous ball from Carles Gil. From that set-piece, Márquez had a glorious chance to level the game, but his finish sailed over the crossbar.

The good spell continued for Elche though and Real Madrid were forced back into their own half, unable to to break forward on the counter, but holding firm against the visitors. Eventually the home side did break forward, when Coro slipped and Pepe launched the ball forward to Bale to set off individually towards goal in the 58th minute, only for his final shot to end up well over the crossbar and amongst the fans behind the goal.

After a good ball from Illarramendi found Bale free to head just a fraction wide in the 66th minute, Elche enjoyed a good spell of attacking. Coro twice coming close, but unable to beat either Varane or Diego López with his efforts from outside the area.

Real Madrid scored their second of the afternoon though in the 71st minute, deflating the spirited effort from Elche. Bale with a superb strike from outside the area, clipping the underside of the crossbar as it flew into the back of the net, with Manu Herrera no chance of getting a hand anywhere near it.

Elche looked for their response from the bench, as manager Escríba promptly made a double chance, with Aarón and Fidel replacing Rivera and Manu Del Moral in the 72nd minute. Seconds later, Ancelotti also made a move of his own, giving Isco an opportunity and replacing Jesé.

It didn’t take Isco long to get himself involved in the action, setting up Carvajal for what should have been the third Real Madrid goal, but the full-back couldn’t get his finish right with everything in his favour in the 75th minute.

Elche made their final change in the 78th minute, as Cristian Herrera cam on for Carles Gil, but within a matter of moments, Real Madrid were stepping up their pressure. In the 80th minute, they had their third goal of the game, as Benzema sent an excellent ball through into space, spotting the run of Isco, who prodded the ball home at the near post.

Job done and the game finished as a contest, in the 81st minute Ancelotti made a double change with Morata and Casemiro on for Benzema and Xabi Alonso. Morata could have set Isco up for another goal in the 84th minute, but delayed his pass and ended up trying a difficult shot himself, without success.

Aarón tried an audacious pop at goal for Elche in the 87th minute, from way out, but unable to surprise Diego López in the Real Madrid goal. The final chance of the game came into added time with Morata powering forward as his team countered swiftly, but again going solo, after Bale was alongside in a much better position.

Three more points for Real Madrid who had contained when they had to at the back, whilst being lethal when they got forward. Temporarily top of La Liga, the gauntlet thrown down for Atlético Madrid and Barcelona. Elche worked hard and had some good chances, but ultimately the difference in quality overcame all their merits for trying to get back into the game.

Real Madrid 3-0 Elche

Referee: Prieto Iglesias

Real Madrid XI: Diego López; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Arbeloa; Illarramendi, Xabi Alonso (81′), Di María; Bale, Benzema (81′), Jesé (73′).

Goals: Illarramendi (34′), Bale (71′), Isco (80′)

Subs: Isco (73′), Morata (81′), Casemiro (81′)

Yellow Cards: Pepe (50′)

Elche XI: Manu Herrera; Cisma, Lombán, Botía, Albácar; Rivera (72′), Rubén Pérez, Márquez; Carles Gil (78′), Coro, Manu Del Moral (72′).

Goals: None.

Subs: Aarón (72′), Fidel (72′), Cristian Herrera (78′)

Yellow Cards: Rivera (39′), Botía (62′), Javi Màrquez (69′)

Re: Jornada 24 - primera división

Asenjo le da 3 puntos al Villarreal...ha parado un penalti en el 90'