LA LIGA SANTANDER REVIEW: MATCHWEEK 26
A thrilling weekend of footballing action was capped off with one of the most exciting rivalries in football, the Spanish El Classico. Here we review each action as it unfolded in every game that took place over the sporting weekend in Spain.
Real Valladolid 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao side began the match-week with a resounding away win at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla with goals from Inigo Martinez, Gorka Guruzeta and Mikel Vesga were enough to secure all three points for the European chasers.
Canadian Cyle Larin pulled one back for the survival hopefuls who are two points clear off the relegation zone after the round in 16th position.
Almeria 1-1 Cadiz CF
It ended all square at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos as a 96th minute penalty goal from Gonzalo Melero saved a vital point for the home side after Spanish forward Roger Marti gave the away side the lead in the 49th minute of the game.
Only 2 points separate the sides after the clash as Almeria sit in 19th place while Cadiz are on 28 points in 15th place.
Rayo Vallecano 2-2 Girona
Ukrainian Viktor Tsygankov’s brace was enough to seal a four-goal spectacular draw for Girona away from home at the Capmpo de Futbol de Vallecas.
The home side took the lead twice in the first half through goals from Isi Palazon and Oscar Trejo but also failed to make it 3-1 when Oscar Trejo failed to convert a penalty in the 41st minute as his poor shot at goal went high over the bar into the stands.
Espanyol 1-3 Celta Vigo
Goals from Gabriel Veiga, Iago Aspas and Carles Perez were more than enough to pound more worries on relegation struggling Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium.
Jose Gragera got the consolation goal for the home side in the 86th minute with the tie already lost making it their third consecutive loss.
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Valencia
Diego Simeone’s men put in an astonishing flawless performance at the Metropolitano Stadium as goals from Antoine Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Lemar saw the Madrid based side moves 5 points closer to second placed rivals Real Madrid.
Real Betis 1-0 Mallorca
Borja Iglesias 12th league goal of the season was all Betis needed to see off Mallorca at the Estadio Benito Villamarin to keep the Sevilla based side ambition of European competition alive.
Osasuna 0-3 Villarreal
35 year old Spanish attacking player Jose Luis Morales’ brace and Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze’s 4th league goal of the campaign cemented a job well done for the travelling team.
Villarreal’s second consecutive away league victory was a moral boosting one as they saw themselves back to winning ways after being eliminated from the Europa Conference League few days before this clash.
Real Soceidad 2-0 Elche
Goals from Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea saw a golden performance from Real Sociedad help move them back to winning ways against bottom club Elche after going 6 games without a win in all competitions.
Getafe 2-0 Sevilla
Former Sevilla forward, Munir El Haddadi was the man who put his former employers through misery as his 50th minute goal caused unrest in the away team’s camp but Enes Unal’s 13th goal of the league campaign in the 95th minute put the tie to bed to seal all 3 points for the home side.
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
The season’s 2nd league El Classico saw the home side increase their lead at the top of the table to 12 points as goals from Sergi Roberto and Franck Kessie was enough to seal a comeback victory for the Blaugrana after going behind through an own goal by Ronald Araujo in the 9th minute of the game.