La Liga round-up: Sevilla close gap on Barcelona
Thursday 2 March 2017 23:47, UK
Sevilla moved to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona as Vicente Iborra's first-half winner earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
In a battle between the two principal candidates to take over at Barca next season after Luis Enrique announced his decision to step down at the end of the season, Jorge Sampaoli edged out Ernesto Valverde in a nervy 90 minutes at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Sevilla remain third, just a point behind Real Madrid, who also have a game in hand on their title rivals.
"It was a very stressful game," said Sampaoli.
"It was important to have won in a game where we didn't play our nearly at our best."
The hosts started brightly as Stefan Jovetic headed just over before Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made a fine double save to deny Jovetic and Joaquin Correa.
Sevilla were awarded a penalty on 14 minutes when Luciano Vietto was upended by Borja Etxeita.
And despite Iraizoz's best efforts once more as he saved Jovetic's spot-kick, Iborra forced home the rebound for the only goal.
Athletic twice came close to an equaliser either side of half-time as Raul Garcia headed against the woodwork before stinging the palms of Sergio Rico.
However, Sevilla held on to remain firmly in the title hunt.
Torres was hit from behind by Deportivo's Alex Bergantinos in a clash of heads five minutes from time and hit the ground hard.
"A cranial and cervical CT scan carried out on Fernando Torres has ruled out that the Rojiblanco striker has suffered any alterations or traumatic injuries," Atletico said in a statement.
"Our player, who is stable, conscious and oriented, had to be removed by ambulance after being stabilised according to the usual protocol, before entering the Model Hospital of La Coruna, where he will spend the night in observation."
The visitors had to play out seven minutes of stoppage time with 10 men as they had already made all three substitutions.
Former West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel was making his bow as Deportivo coach after only being hired on Wednesday.
And the hosts made the perfect start when Florin Andone capitalised on a poor goal kick from Jan Oblak to run through and slot past the Slovenian.
Atletico responded after half-time and equalised in stunning fashion 22 minutes from time when Antoine Griezmann thrashed home a shot from fully 30 yards.
