Midweek Play: 9/24 - 9/26

Carlos Vela's team continues a run of bad form, Chicharito returns to the score sheet, and other midweek developments for Mexicans in Europe:

Liga BBVA

Andres Guardado played 90 minutes as Valencia snuck away with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday at Granada after a stoppage-time goal from Jonas.  Valencia has now won 2 in a row after a disastrous run of games that saw a fan boycott during their 3-0 Europa League home loss to Swansea City.  Valencia now sit in 7th place in La Liga with 9 points.

Elsewhere in La Liga, Carlos Vela was rested as Real Sociedad were thrashed by Barcelona, 4-1, at the Camp Nou on Tuesday.  Fellow Mexican Jonathan Dos Santos was not called to the Barcelona squad for the match as a pending move to Real Sociedad is still up in the air.

In another match featuring teams with Mexicans in their ranks, Villarreal, where Javier Aquino and Giovani Dos Santos ply their trade, hosted Hector Moreno's Espanyol at La Madrigal Stadium.  Villarreal scored in the first minute of the match, and took off to a 2-0 lead before eeking out a 2-1 victory.  Dos Santos started the match and played 90 minutes, while Aquino was substituted on at 60'.

And last, Nery Castillo once again missed a match as his team, Rayo Vallecano, were beaten soundly at Sevilla, 4-1.  Castillo is expected to miss the remainder of the month before his debut.

Capital One Cup

Chicharito's In-Air Wizardry

In England's Capital One Cup, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was given a rare start for Manchester United and made the most of his minutes, scoring the match's only goal 45 seconds after halftime to give his team a 1-0 victory and eliminating bitter rival Liverpool FC from the tournament.  Chicharito scored on a corner from Wayne Rooney, with a fabulous bit of evasion from his marker and in-air redirection that saw him neatly tuck the ball into the corner of the net.  Hernandez had a very quality match before being substituted at 72'.  Whether this wins him playing time during more important matches is another question.

Ligue 1

Guillermo Ochoa had one of his patented, ridiculous saves against Lyon as AC Ajaccio won 2-1 in midweek French League action.  Ochoa has become accustomed to these sorts of saves as Ajaccio is once again struggling to avoid relegation.

KNVB ("Dutch") Cup

In KNVB Cup action, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona made his debut with Twente, being substituted at 69' as his side took on Heerenveen.  Twente was playing a man down after a red card to Roberto Rosales at 24'.  Twente was hammered 3-0 by Heerenveen in the match, as Twente were eliminated from the Cup.