London - Arabstoday
Valencia substitute Aritz Aduriz came off the bench and scored twice to help his side earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Racing Santander. Racing went ahead in the second minute when Adrian Gonzalez turned home a delightful pass from Pedro Munitis from close range and the home team controlled the first half, enjoying the best chances. Valencia came into the game more in the second half and Aduriz scored on 66 and 79 minutes with a left-footed shot and a header that gave his side the lead. However, in a match marred by injuries and cards, Bernardo Espinosa grabbed a leveller for Santander with a header on 88 minutes to set up a grandstand finish. With seven minutes of injury time, the game descended into chaos as players from both teams clashed and Munitis for Racing and Valencia\'s Ricardo Costa both received their marching orders. The late equaliser kept Racing Santander just out of the relegation zone in 17th position, a point ahead of third-bottom Villarreal. Valencia, meanwhile, remain in third position and extend the gap to five points over city rivals Levante, who missed a golden opportunity to further secure fourth position when they lost 2- to Getafe. Sociedad sweep aside Gijon Real Sociedad defeated Sporting Gijon 5-1 in a game that opened in amazing fashion for midfielder David Zurutuza, who scored two goals in three minutes for the home team before being stretchered off in the fourth minute after a clash of heads with Gijon\'s Gregory Arnolin, who also had to leave the field. Miguel De las Cuevas got a goal back one minute into the second half for Sporting before late goals from Gorka Elustondo, Mikel Aranburu and Antoine Griezmann wrapped the game up for the home team. The defeat has left Sporting in the penultimate position in the table, while Sociedad move into 12th place. Real Betis were beaten 2-1 at home by Granada, for whom Odion Ighalo and Carlos Martins both scored first-half goals, while Jonathen Pereira scored a late goal for Betis. The result provides renewed optimism for Granada, for whom new manager Abel Resino was taking charge for the first time, and has kept the side out of the relegation zone.