- Valencia 2-1 Valladolid
Valencia is breathing, and Valladolid is in agony. At the Mestalla, Corberán’s side secured a vital 2-1 win that takes them out of the relegation zone after more than five months in the red zone, while the Puebla side sees salvation eleven points away, a distance that is now almost insurmountable.
The match had everything: mistakes, tension, goals, and history. Diego López opened the scoring early, taking advantage of a Grillitsch rebound with a brilliant back-heel control. Sadiq, somewhere between unpredictable and desperate, squandered several gilt-edged chances before Mamardashvili gifted Latasa the equaliser with a poor run-out. The Georgian, as capable of the impossible as the implausible, again turned the routine into a problem.
But Sadiq(4G), chaotic and unclassifiable, ended up the hero. A faulty control turned into the winning goal in the most unexpected move. Valladolid tried, but only a header from Latasa rattled Mestalla before the final whistle.
With this win, Valencia broke a 20-game relegation streak and sent Valladolid into a spiral that seems definitive.
- Alavés 1-0 Villareal
Alavés clung to the Primera Division with a heroic resistance against Villarreal (1-0). In a soggy Mendizorroza and with the fans in the stands, Coudet’s men managed to get a win that is worth gold, playing with nine men for the final stretch and with a debutant goalkeeper, Adrián Rodríguez, who made his debut in extreme circumstances after the brutal expulsion-injury of Sivera.
The game kicked off with an energetic Alavés and with the fans in the stands. Manu Sánchez gave the home side the lead in the 11th minute, taking advantage of a cross from Tenaglia and a poor save from Conde. From then on, Villarreal moved up the field, with Baena and Parejo driving the tempo and Pepe hyperactive in attack. The Submarine could have equalised on several occasions, but due to a lack of accuracy and an inspired Sivera, the 1-0 scoreline held until half-time.
The second half began with a monumental scare. Ayoze was one-on-one with Sivera, who came out on the edge and received an involuntary knee. The Albiazul goalkeeper had to be taken to the hospital, but the move also led to his sending off for handling the ball outside the area. This surreal situation left the visitors with 10 men and a debutant in goal, Adrián Rodríguez.
From then on, Villarreal’s match was a total siege, although without powder. The Alavés defence multiplied in every clearance and celebrated every cut-back as a goal. To make matters worse, in the 94th minute, Antonio Blanco was shown a second yellow card, leaving his team with nine men. Villarreal tried everything in the interminable extension (15 minutes), but Alavés resisted tooth and nail.
A victory that strengthens the locker room and rekindles hope. 26 points and a clear message: this team does not give up.
- Celta de Vigo 2-1 Leganés: Alfon lights up Celta’s European path’.
Celta is still dreaming of Europe after beating Leganés at Balaídos. The Vigo side has gone five games unbeaten and is in the clear, while the Pabellon side is again worried about the relegation zone.
The game started with both teams cautious, with hardly any chances in the first 20 minutes. However, the first shot on goal ended in a goal. Juan Cruz broke through Marcos Alonso and set up Rosier, who smashed home to make it 0-1. The Madrid full-back redeemed himself soon after, stealing in the opposition half to set up a move that culminated in the equaliser after a great pass from Alfon.
Before half-time, Celta stepped up a gear, and Aspas laid on a magical back-heel for Borja Iglesias, who set up Alfon for 2-1. The second half kicked off with Leganés looking for an equaliser from set pieces, but Guaita responded well. The Celestes managed their advantage intelligently, minimising risks and forcing Dmitrovic to intervene on several occasions.
Leganés pressed in the final minutes with hanging balls and unsuccessful claims. The final whistle certified the Celeste’s victory and their European ambition, leaving the Pepineros in the fight for salvation.
- Real Sociedad 0 – 1 Sevilla
Sevilla conquered the Reale Arena with a hard-fought win (0-1) that allowed them to overtake Real Sociedad in the table and keep their hopes of returning to Europe alive. A solitary goal from Ejuke, who returned to the starting line-up after injury, was enough to decide a duel marked by the rotations of the txuri-urdin side, more focused on the clash against Manchester United in the Europa League.
Real started with intensity, creating several clear chances, but came up against a safe Nyland and a lack of accuracy in the final metres. More reactive than proactive, Sevilla resisted the initial onslaught and knew how to strike at the key moment. At the start of the second half, a mistake on the ball allowed Saúl to link up with Ejuke, who finished with class in front of Marrero.
Imanol shook up the game with a quadruple substitution, bringing on key players such as Oyarzabal and Zubimendi. Real dominated the ball without depth or the ability to break down the Sevillian block, who knew how to suffer and protect their advantage. A shot against the post by Isaac Romero could have put the game to bed earlier, but the game was fizzling out between the home side’s impotence and the visitors’ solidity.
The final whistle sealed an essential victory for Sevilla, who now won their third consecutive away game and are just one point away from European places. Between the frustration and the need to dose their efforts, Real Sociedad will have to react at Old Trafford.
- Athletic Bilbao 1 – 1 Mallorca
San Mamés experienced a night of mixed emotions. Athletic, with the opportunity to strike a blow in the fight for the Champions League, came up against a rocky Mallorca and their state of mind was affected by the defeat in Rome and the fracture in the stands. Amid scattered chants and a team without rhythm, Raíllo gave the Balearics the lead with a header that, paradoxically, woke up the Lions. In the next move, Nico Williams equalised after a great cross from Gorosabel, and San Mamés roared again.
From then on, Athletic went all out in search of a comeback. Nico and Iñaki tried, Maroan was a threat in the box, and Unai Gómez had the last chance, but Mallorca held on. A point that leaves Athletic five ahead of Villarreal, but with the feeling of having missed a great opportunity. On Thursday, Roma awaits.
- Real Betis Balompié 1-0 Las Palmas
Under grey skies and with rain as a witness, Betis secured a key victory over Las Palmas (1-0), adding their fourth consecutive win in La Liga. The green-and-whites, not at their best, took advantage of their numerical superiority after Essugo was sent off in the 61st minute to settle a rough and dull duel. Diego Llorente, imperial in defence and decisive in attack, pounced on a loose ball in the box and beat Cillessen, unleashing euphoria in the Villamarín.
The game started awkwardly, with both teams uncomfortable in the weather. Las Palmas, tidy at the back, relied on the pace of Fabio Silva, who had the first big chance with a lob attempt that went high. With Isco omnipresent, Betis had their best chance on the stroke of half-time when Jesus Rodriguez got in front of Cillessen, but the goalkeeper kept out the effort.
After the break, Las Palmas tried to surprise with a shot from Viti, but the game changed with Essugo’s red card. Pellegrini reacted with offensive changes and, in a messy play, Llorente took advantage of a defective clearance to score the game’s only goal.
Despite playing with an extra man, Betis struggled. Cillessen saved a penalty from Isco, and McBurnie came close to an equaliser at the final whistle. With this win, the Andalusians consolidate sixth place and look towards fifth, while Las Palmas remain in free fall, second-bottom, and crisis.