BARCELONA — Eibar consolidated its strong start to the Spanish league with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano that lifted the modest club into sixth place Sunday.
Eibar hit the woodwork twice and needed an own goal to secure the win at its tiny Ipurua Stadium, which seats just over 6,000 and is overlooked by apartment buildings in the industrial Basque Country town.
Rayo centerback Diego Llorente slid toward his goal in an attempt to clear Borja “Baston” Gonzalez’s cross, only to redirect the ball into his own net in the 21st minute.
Operating on a budget of only 18 million euros ($19.8 million) — compared to more than half a billion euros for leader Real Madrid — Eibar moved into the Europa League positions ahead of current Champions League sides Valencia and Sevilla after 10 rounds.
Elsewhere, Felipe Caicedo scored seconds before the final whistle to snatch 10-man Espanyol a 1-1 draw at home and keep Granada winless in eight rounds.
Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams scored twice before conceding a penalty for handling the ball in a 3-1 win at Real Betis.
Sporting Gijon’s 19-year-old Alen Havilovic scored before hitting the bar twice to help the promoted club get its first home win since returning to the first division by beating Malaga 1-0.
Marseille beats Nantes
Marseille midfielder Georges-Kevin N’Koudou had no qualms celebrating enthusiastically against his former club after scoring the winner in a 1-0 away to Nantes in the French league Sunday. The win moved Marseille up to 12th place with 15 points, one behind Nantes, but a massive 17 adrift from PSG.
Mario Pasalic scored for the second time in three matches as Monaco beat Angers 1-0 Sunday to leapfrog Nice into sixth place.
Earlier, Nice missed the chance to close the gap on the top five after being held to a 0-0 home draw by struggling Lille, which dropped to 16th spot.
Milan downs Lazio
AC Milan, again fielding 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, beat Lazio 3-1 away for its third successive league win to move up to joint fifth, on 19 points alongside Sassuolo, and lift the pressure on coach Sinisa Mihajlovic Sunday. — Agencies
