Levante UD fought back to beat RCD Espanyol 2-1 at home on Friday to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Spanish league.
Hernan Perez gave the visitors the lead in the seventh minute after controlling Victor Sanchez’s pass.
Giuseppe Rossi equalized for Levante in the 23rd when his free-kick, which was intended for a teammate, slipped through the defense and into the net.
Defender Carl Medjani completed the comeback when he volleyed in Joan Verdu’s free-kick in the 66th.
Levante provisionally rose out of last place and within two points of safety before the rest of the round’s matches. There will be five matches left after this round.
Espanyol was left in 15th after a second-consecutive defeat.
Leaders Barcelona host Valencia today, looking to end a three-game winless skid in the league after also exiting the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid, who ousted Barcelona from Europe’s top-tier tournament this week, trail the Catalan club by three points in the league before hosting Granada today.
Third-place Real Madrid were four points off the pace before yesterday’s match at Getafe.
BUNDESLIGA
AP, FRANKFURT, Germany
Last-place Hannover 96 gave themselves a glimmer of hope by beating Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Moenchengladbach’s hopes of securing a place in the Champions League next season were dented as they dropped to fifth provisionally.
Waldemar Anton and Artur Sobiech scored in the second half as Hannover earned their first home win after seven matches and gave interim coach Daniel Stendel his first three points. Stendel has a draw and a win in two matches.
However, Hannover remain at least nine points away from safety, with four matches remaining. The club could have been relegated this weekend with a loss.
Anton volleyed in a cross from Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee in the 49th and Sobiech completed the win by tapping in a rebound from the post from Kenan Karaman’s shot in the 60th.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at