FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.09.2009 10:45

Spanish League Round Up -Week 2

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Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid all kept up with the pace Barca have set at the top of the table with all four teams boasting six points from six.

At the other end of the table, Jerez and Espanyol remain pointless, whilst Atletico Madrid, who visit the Nou Camp next weekend, have just one point following their home draw with Racing.

Vila brace for Valencia

David Vila scored twice in Valencia's impressive 2-4 defeat over Valladolid, with Mata and Silva getting the other two, whilst Bilbao took the points at Jerez thanks to a Prieto own goal, Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who started with Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo and Van Nistelroy on the bench, bagged three goals at Espanyol's new stadium with strikes from Granero, Guti and Cristiano Ronaldo. It was an unhappy league start for Espanyol at their new stadium, with the pitch coming in for much criticism and the board announcing after the game that it would be relaid as soon as possible.

Protests at Vicente Calderon

It was also an uncomforatble time for the board at the Vicente Calderon, where more than a thousand fans protested after the team's 1-1 draw with Racing. Atletico have yet to win in the league after being beaten 3-0 on the opening day at Malaga and on Saturday a Serrano strike just before half time to equal Jurado's earlier effort was enough to give Racing a point despite being reduced to 10 men with the sending off of Crespo at the start of the second half.

Another fancied team, Villareal, are also making a stuttering sart to the season, being held to a 1-1 draw on a waterlogged pitch at the Madrigal by Mallorca, who lie fifth with 4 points. Rossi put the hosts ahead, but ex-West Bromwich Albion playmaker Borja replied for Mallorca. For their part, Seville got back on track after their defeat at Valencia with a 4-1 trouncing of Zaragoza, with two goals from Luis Fabiano and one each from Konko and Perotti.

Two reds for Osasuna

Tenerife took their first points of the season beating Osasuna 2-1 with goals from Nino and Ricardo. Pandiani was on the mark for Osasuna who continued with their miserable discipline record having Nekounam and Monreal both sent off. One-nil home wins meant Deportivo and Sporting also chalked up their first wins of the campaign, a Felipe Luis scorcher seeing off Malaga at Riazor and a Diego Castro strike enough to give Sporting the points in Gijon against Almeria.