Morata sends Madrid back to the top. Image via Getty
It was blockbuster stuff in La Liga as Sevilla and Barcelona both piled the pressure on Real Madrid before los Blancos put in an Oscar-winning comeback to swat them aside and regain the No.1 spot. Just three points separate the top three with the teams all in action again in midweek.
Madrid back on top…just
Real Madrid finish the weekend on top of the pile but they came close to disaster at Villarreal. Manuel Trigueros put the hosts ahead on 50 minutes, Cédric Bakambu made it 2-0 six minutes later and Madrid had a mountain to climb against the best defence in La Liga. But back they roared, Gareth Bale heading home on his first start since November before controversy reigned after Madrid were awarded a dubious penalty for handball. The Villarreal bench were furious, the yellow cards profuse but the decision stood and Cristiano Ronaldo thumped home the equaliser. Suddenly Madrid smelt a winner and it duly came, substitute Alvaro Morata heading Marcelo’s cross past Andres Fernandez who fumbled it over the line.
Barca beat Atletico
Another week, another unconvincing win for Barcelona and another late winner from Lionel Messi. Luis Enrique’s side remain very much in the title hunt, they’re 13/8 to retain their title, after winning on their last ever La Liga clash at the Vicente Calderon. They rode their luck at times, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen forced into some good saves but went ahead through Rafinha. Diego Godin looked as though he was going to end Barca’s title hopes yet again with an equaliser before Messi popped up to fire home an 86th minute winner.
Varas howler gives Sociedad win
Real Sociedad continued their push for a top four spot with a 1-0 win at Las Palmas. It had all been going so well for the hosts until goalkeeper Javi Varas lost the plot, passing the ball straight to Xabi Prieto on the edge of the box. Prieto was never going to pass up such a golden opportunity and took a touch before stroking the ball into an empty net. That’s four straight defeats for Las Palmas, Real Sociedad meanwhile are now breathing down the necks of Atletico Madrid in fourth, just a point behind Diego Simeone’s side.
Derby delight for Sevilla
Sevilla saw off Real Betis 2-1 but had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after Riza Durmisi’s free kick had put the hosts ahead. Jorge Sampaoli had seen enough by half-time sending on Wissam Ben Yedder and Vicente Iborra which helped changed the game. Iborra had a hand in the equaliser, forced home by Gabriel Mercado before scoring the winner with 14 minutes left. Sevilla have now gone seven games without defeat to Betis, and haven’t even conceded a goal.
Valencia brought back down to earth
Valencia fresh from beating Real Madrid could not repeat their midweek heroics, slumping to a 2-1 defeat at Alaves. Substitute Aleksandar Katai was the match-winner scoring within minutes of his arrival, after calmly going around Diego Alves before slotting home.
Deportivo dropping into trouble
Deportivo’s dreadful 2017 continues with a 4-0 thrashing at Leganes that leaves them just two points off the drop zone. The visitors have now gone nine games without a win and crashed to a fourth straight defeat thanks to goals from Alexander Szymanowski, Martin Mantovani, Unai Lopez and Alberto Bueno. Leganes’ largest ever win in the Spanish top flight also saw them leapfrog Depor in the table. Job very much done.
Malaga on the rise
Eibar bounced back from defeat to Sevilla last time out and made it four wins from their last five with a 3-0 win over Malaga. Adrian Gonzalez scored twice and Sergi Enrich grabbed one from the penalty spot as the visitors moved into seventh.
Espanyol leave Osasuna on the brink
It’s not mathematically over for Osasuna yet but another defeat, this time a 3-0 loss at Espanyol leaves them nine points from safety and with just 10 points from 24 games. La Liga’s bottom side have won just once all season and had Oier Sanjurjo sent off after just 29 minutes. Felipe Caicedo Jose Manuel, and Jurado Gerard Moreno, with his first Espanyol goal, were all on target for the hosts who could even afford to miss a penalty and still run out comfortable winners.
Athletic still eyeing Europe
Athletic Bilbao remain just a point off the European spots after a 3-1 win over Granada. Markel Susaeta, Inigo Lekue and Mikel San Jose were all on target against a visiting side that are now four points off safety and with last weekend’s 4-1 win over Betis long forgotten.
Aspas rescues Celta again
Celta Vigo needed an equaliser from Iago Aspas to salvage a point against struggling Sporting who remain in the bottom three. The hosts took the lead through a fourth minute Moi Gomez penalty but then were reduced to 10 when Jorge Mere saw red. Celta took immediate advantage, Aspas netting with his 14th Liga goal of the season.
La Liga Week 24 Results in full
Las Palmas 0-1 Real Sociedad
Alaves 2-1 Valencia
Real Betis 1-2 Sevilla
Leganes 4-0 Deportivo
Eibar 3-0 Malaga
Espanyol 3-0 Osasuna
Atletico 1-2 Barcelona
Athletic 3-1 Granada
Sporting 1-1 Celta
Villarreal 2-3 Real Madrid
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