News Archive

Match round-up - First Division, Day 34

Levante are almost safe for another season after they came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 1-3 on Monday evening. Raúl García fired the locals ahead early on with an impressive shot from outside of the area, but two direct free kicks in as many minutes from Bardhi just before the break turned the scoreline around, and “El Comandante” Morales ran through from his own half to wrap things up right at the end. Levante have now won five of the seven games since Paco López took over as caretaker manager, and they are now nine points clear of Deportivo with only four games to go. (23.04.18)

Barcelona only need one point to tie up the league title after their nearest rivals Atlético Madrid could only draw 0-0 at home to Betis on Sunday! With one eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final against Arsenal, Simeone rested several of his key players, and although Saúl and Tello both hit the woodwork and Fernando Torres had a shot headed off the line, neither side managed to find the net. The point keeps Betis firmly in fifth spot however, and with Sevilla and Villarreal not playing in the league this weekend, their position was further strengthened by Girona’s 0-2 defeat against regional rivals Espanyol earlier in the day. B team coach David Gallego was in charge for the Barcelona based side after Quique Sánchez Flores was sacked midweek, and he got off to the best possible start thanks to strikes by Gerard Moreno either side of the break. Real Sociedad’s chances of a return to Europe pretty much ended after they lost 2-0 at the already relegated Málaga, Adrián González and En-Nesyri getting the goals in the first half to give the Andalusians only their second win in 2018, and Las Palmas will be joining Málaga in the second division next season after they were hammered 0-4 by Alavés, Munir scoring twice after the restart and Medrán and Sobrino heading two more to send the Canary Islanders down. (22.04.18)

With the cup final taking place later in the evening, there were only two league games on Saturday. Valencia picked up another point in their push for a Champions League spot after a 1-1 draw at Celta, and they are now eleven points clear of fifth placed Betis pending their game tomorrow. Santi Mina put them ahead against his old club shortly after the restart, but Maxi Gómez headed the equaliser soon afterwards to keep his team in the hunt for the European spots. They are now three points behind Getafe however after the Madrid based side beat Eibar 0-1 earlier in the day, Mathías Olivera heading the only goal midway through the first half to take the Madrid based side level on points with Sevilla. One game on Friday as well, Deportivo dropping further away from safety after they could only draw 0-0 at Leganés. With a six point gap to Levante (who play on Monday) and four difficult games to come, the Galicians are firm favourites to go down with Málaga and Las Palmas. (21.04.18)