Sporting on the brink amid ugly scenes at El Molinón: La Liga Round-Up and Highlights

By Staff Writer
Updated: 2 May, 2012

LigaBBVA.com

Sporting Gijon moved ever closer to the abyss on Tuesday after a 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Villarreal left them on the brink of relegation to the Segunda Division. There was a tense atmoshpere at El Molinón as Javier Clemente’s side knew nothing other than a victory would suffice as they looked to drag themselves to within one point of their opponents at the bottom of the table.

Despite the hostile backing from the home support, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Mario scored from close range after Bruno Soriano had fired the ball across the six-yard box. Alberto Lora brought Sporting back on level terms six minutes later when his long range effort beat Diego Lopez but they were behind again two minutes before the break, when Marco Senna converted a penalty after Marco Ruben was brought down in the area.

Villarreal increased their lead ten minutes after the interval as Hernan Perez fired in off the post from the edge of the penalty area. The home side received a lifeline when Alejandro Galvez reduced the deficit with five minutes left on the clock but it was too little, too late for Sporting. The closing stages of the game were marred by ugly scenes as Javier Clemente and Villarreal reserve goalkeeper, Cear Sanchez were sent to the stands by the referee, while Borja Valero was hit with a number of objects thrown from the crowd.

Sporting will now be relegated if Rayo Vallecano avoid defeat against Mallorca tonight.

Granada all-but guaranteed another season in Spain’s top flight after a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at Los Carmenes. Odio Ighalo fired Abel Resino’s side into the lead just past the half-hour mark and doubled their advantage when he got a second six minutes later. Didac Vila’s 35-yard effort gave the Catalans some hope in the 54th minute, but Granada held on to move eight points clear of Real Zaragoza who host Levante tonight.

In Tuesday’s other game, Getafe were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by an already-relegated Racing Santander at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Luis García Plaza’s team still had faint hopes of securing a place in next season’s Europa League but that is now highly unlikely after Nicolas Fedor’s 64th minute strike cancelled out Miku’s penalty just before the hour mark.

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GETAFE 1-1 RACING SANTANDER

GRANADA 2-1 ESPANYOL

SPORTING GIJON 2-3 VILLARREAL

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