Alcacer's late winner leads Valencia past Sporting; Betis top Sociedad
Paco Alcacer struck in the 90th minute to snatch all three points for Valencia at Sporting Gijon.
The Spain international came off the bench midway through the second half and in the 91st minute headed home a cross from Zakaria Bakkali to give Nuno Espirito Santo's side their first win of the season.
Although there were no goals until injury time, this was an exciting affair which threw up plenty of chances for each side. Valencia's debutant goalkeeper Jaume Domenech made a series of impressive saves to deny the hosts, tipping a volley from Jony over the bar after five minutes, and then deep into injury time kept out an effort from Antonio Sanabria to ensure his side kept all three points.
Valencia captain Dani Parejo came closest to breaking the deadlock before Alcacer struck in the death, hitting the crossbar early in the second half after playing a one-two with the impressive Enzo Perez. Later on in the half Sporting defender Bernardo Espinosa nearly diverted a Sofiane Feghouli cross into the net but was relieved to see the ball hit the side of the netting.
Two minutes earlier Sporting striker Miguel Angel Guerrero squandered a dream chance to win it for the hosts but took one touch too many, and minutes later Alcacer decided the game for Valencia. Valencia move on to five points for the season, while the Asturian side suffer their first defeat since returning to the top flight, but are still yet to score a goal.
Ruben Castro's first-half effort proved enough as 10-man Real Betis held on to record a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad at Benito Villamarin.
David Moyes' Sociedad remain winless from their opening three games of the season and sit 13th in the Primera Division standings as Betis move up to eighth with their first three pointer.
The hosts started strongest and Bruno was unfortunate not to open the scoring early on as he sent his close-range header wide before Petros' long-range strike missed the target. Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan held out Jonathas' effort as the new Sociedad signing had a go down at the other end for Moyes' side.
Ruben Pardo was denied an opener for the Beticos after the half-hour mark before they took the lead after 41 minutes. Joaquin sent a cross in from the right channel 20 yards out and Castro was well placed to tuck the ball away as he headed home at the far post to put his side ahead five minutes before the break with his second goal of the season.
The first half was not over yet and moments before the half-time whistle blew, the hosts lost summer signing Brazilian midfielder Petros to a second yellow card. Castro fired well wide as the second half got under way with the home side hoping to build on their lead, while Jonathas brought a diving save from Adan just before the hour mark as Sociedad searched for an equaliser.
Aritz Elustondo also had a go at the Betis goal as Moyes' side began to dominate but fired wide before Imanol Agirretxe had three great chances to level but each time was denied as the home side held on for all three points.
