Football
PA Sport 10y

Malaga beat Athletic Bilbao in opener

Liverpool loanee Luis Alberto scored the decisive goal on his debut for Malaga as the Andalusian side got their season off to a winning start with a 1-0 success over Athletic Bilbao in a gripping game at La Rosaleda.

Tensions boiled over in the closing stages and two Malaga players -- Duda and Vitorino Antunes -- were given straight red cards for serious foul play.

There was yet further drama as Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz appeared to head in an equaliser in injury time -- only for it to be ruled out for a foul, to the fury of the Athletic players and coaching staff.

Alberto saw a first-half penalty saved by Iraizoz but knocked in the rebound and it was enough to see off the Basques, who looked as if they were still feeling the effects of their 1-1 draw with Napoli in midweek.

The 10 men of Valencia scored a late equaliser to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Sevilla.

In a match of few chances, Valencia trailed to Aleix Vidal's goal moments before half-time, and were down to 10 men after Rodrigo de Paul's debut lasted just 63 seconds before he saw red.

But with time running out, Lucas Orban's rather unorthodox goal -- best described as a diving shoulder into the net -- settled a 1-1 draw and earned a point two minutes from time.

Granada came from a goal down to sink promoted Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 and get off to a winning start under new coach Joaquin Caparros.

The visitors -- making their return to the top flight after suffering relegation 14 months earlier -- took the lead in the first half through Ivan Cavaleiro, aided by some suspect goalkeeping from Stole Dimitrievski,.

However, Ruben Rochina levelled 10 minutes into the second half before Jean Sylvain Babin put the hosts in front to secure the three points.

In the late game, Sergio Garcia scored the latest of late equalisers to earn 10-man Espanyol a point from a 1-1 draw at Almeria.

Fernando Soriano managed to get the ball past resilient visiting goalkeeper Francisco Casilla and the Catalans had to close ranks after Anaitz Arbilla was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

But Almeria failed to finish their opponents off and were duly punished as Sergio Garcia smashed home a stoppage-time equaliser

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