Sevilla stay red-hot in La Liga; Granada jump clear from drop zone
Kevin Gameiro scored a late brace to give Sevilla a deserved 2-0 home win over Sporting Gijon.
After Luis Hernandez was dismissed Gameiro slammed home a penalty, and five minutes later he turned in a cross from Yevhen Konoplyanka to seal the points. Unai Emery's side move up to seventh in the Primera Division table thanks to their sixth consecutive home win in the league, while Sporting are 15th, four points above the relegation zone.
This was a dominant performance from the hosts, who are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, and they also beat Juventus 1-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the Europa League. They could have taken the lead as early as the third minute, when Ever Banega's shot from the edge of the area whistled wide of the post.
They had to wait until late on to finally find a way through, which came when Hernandez tugged Fernando Llorente's shirt in the box. The defender was shown his second yellow card in conceding the penalty, and when Gameiro powered in from the spot it seemed clear there was only going to be one winner.
Gameiro made sure there was no late surprise for Sevilla by nodding in Konoplyanka's cross.
CELTA VIGO 1, ESPANYOL 0
Celta Vigo tightened their grip on fourth spot in the Primera Division as Iago Aspas netted the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to Espanyol.
The Galicians had to play almost the entire second half with 10 men after Pablo Hernandez was sent off, but the visitors were unable to capitalize. Both sides took their time to settle into the match and it was not until nearly the half-hour mark that openings began to appear.
Theo Bongonda had the first chance for the hosts, shooting just wide of goal, and then Victor Alvarez squandered a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead, scuffing a cutback from Rafa Fuentes from close range. It was Aspas who finally broke the deadlock, racing towards goal from the halfway line and lobbing the ball over Pau Lopez.
Celta thought they had doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time when Bongonda turned in a cross from Fabian Orellana, but he was harshly ruled offside. Celta were reduced to 10 men just three minutes into the second half when Hernandez clashed heads with Pape Diop, but they almost scored again a moment later, Aspas striking the bar.
But the Galicians were grateful to goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez for preserving the three points, the goalkeeper saving Antonio Raillo's header with six minutes to go.
LEVANTE 1, GRANADA 2
Granada climbed out of the Primera Division relegation zone thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Levante.
Both goals came from 18-year-old Venezuelan Adalberto Penaranda -- his first and second for the club. He broke the deadlock on 48 minutes and then restored the visitors' lead late on after Simao Mate had got the hosts level. Jose Ramon Sandoval's side moved up to 16th in the table with 14 points after just a third win of the season, while Levante remained second from bottom on 11 points.
Penaranda, who broke into the Granada first team towards the end of last month, was playing his fourth game for the senior side, and opened his account in style. He neatly controlled a long pass before racing towards goal and knocking the ball gently past Ruben Martinez.
Levante got themselves back in the game on 65 minutes as Simao rose unmarked to head home a free-kick, but were again undone by the exciting talent of Penaranda, who shook off two markers outside the area before rifling an 88th-minute winner past Ruben.
LAS PALMAS 1, REAL BETIS 0
Substitute Willian Jose struck in the final minute of stoppage time to give Las Palmas a much-needed 1-0 victory at home to Real Betis.
The Canary Island outfit remain in the relegation zone after a first win in four league games, but are now just one point and one place from escaping the bottom three, while Betis remain 11th, on 19 points.
Although it took virtually the last kick of the game for the only goal of the game to arrive, this was an entertaining encounter which saw a total of 24 shots on goal. But it was Las Palmas who dominated the game, enjoying superior possession and creating the better of the chances.
Barely three minutes had gone before Jonathan Viera played a one-two with Sergio Araujo and forced Antonio Adan to tip round the post. His Argentinian strike partner then missed two glorious chances in the space of a few minutes, while at the other end former Las Palmas striker Ruben Castro tested Javi Varas.
The hosts continued to take the initiative after the break and kept pushing for a winner even as their legs tired. Araujo and Nauzet Aleman both squandered chances in the final 10 minutes, but Willian settled the game at the death. The Brazilian brought down a chipped pass from Araujo in the area and although his next touch was heavy, he chased after the ball to ram into the net.
