2023/24 La Liga Roundup, Matchday 31: Real Madrid triumph Mallorca to maintain lead at the top

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La Liga Roundup, Matchday 31

The 31st round of La Liga has finished, showcasing thrilling games, standout player displays, and unexpected results. Here is a recap of the La Liga matches from matchday 31.

Real Betis 2-1 Celta Vigo

Real Betis ended their four-game losing streak by defeating Claudio Giráldez’s Celta Vigo 2-1 at Estadio Benito Villamarín. This victory marked the first time Celta Vigo had been beaten under their new manager and ended their two-game unbeaten streak. Betis did concede a goal in injury time, but they managed to hold on for the win. On the other hand, Celta Vigo’s record of one win in four matches leaves them in a precarious position near the relegation zone.

Atletico Madrid 3-1 Girona

Atlético Madrid solidified their position in the top four of La Liga with a 3-1 victory over Girona, thanks to two goals from Antoine Griezmann. This win further enhances Atlético’s strong home record this season, with 21 wins in 24 matches. Girona came close to scoring a late consolation goal, but Atlético dominated the closing stages to secure their third consecutive win in all competitions. Girona, on the other hand, will be eager to recover from their fifth consecutive away defeat in La Liga when they face Cádiz next weekend.

Antoine Griezmann scores during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Girona FC at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium.
Antoine Griezmann scores during the La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Girona FC at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium.

Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Getafe

Rayo Vallecano had to be content with a scoreless draw against a determined Getafe team, missing a chance to alleviate their relegation worries. Despite Rayo’s late attacking efforts, they were unable to secure a win, putting them six points ahead of 18th-placed Cádiz. On the other hand, Getafe’s hopes for a European spot took a blow as they are now 11 points behind Real Sociedad and have not won in their last seven matches against Rayo Vallecano, with five draws and two losses.

Mallorca 0-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid continued their march towards the La Liga title with a 1-0 victory over RCD Mallorca at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. This marked their second win by that scoreline against the Copa del Rey finalists this season. Mallorca was unable to score a late equalizer, extending their streak of five consecutive league matches with one goal or fewer. Real Madrid secured the three points at San Moix, a feat that neither Barcelona nor Girona achieved this season.

Aurelien Tchouameni shots to score during the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at the Mallorca Son Moix stadium.
Aurelien Tchouameni shots to score during the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at the Mallorca Son Moix stadium.

Cadiz 0-1 Barcelona

A spectacular goal by João Félix helped FC Barcelona increase the pressure on Real Madrid in the La Liga title race with a 1-0 victory against Cádiz CF. This win marked the sixth consecutive victory for Xavi’s team in all competitions. Barcelona’s defense held strong throughout the match, securing a clean sheet for the sixth league game in a row, with 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí impressing in the back line. Despite not closing the gap with Celta Vigo in the fight for safety, Mauricio Pellegrino can draw positives from his team’s performance as they aim to prolong their stay in Spain’s top division for a fifth season.

Joao Felix shoots to score during the La Liga match played between Cadiz CF and FC Barcelona at Nuevo Mirandilla stadium.
Joao Felix shoots to score during the La Liga match played between Cadiz CF and FC Barcelona at Nuevo Mirandilla stadium.

Las Palmas 0-2 Sevilla

Sevilla secured a crucial 2-0 victory over 10-man Las Palmas in LaLiga, alleviating their relegation concerns and extending their winning streak against their opponents to seven matches. Las Palmas, eager to break their goal drought in the league, pushed forward in search of an equalizer late in the game. However, it was Sevilla who sealed the win with a second goal in stoppage time, as substitute Dodi Lukebakio scored from Lucien Agoumé’s assist. This victory moved Sevilla nine points clear of the relegation zone. Las Palmas, on the other hand, will look to bounce back against Celta Vigo in their next match after going winless in their last seven La Liga games.

Granada 2-0 Alaves

Granada, who were in danger of relegation, broke their streak of 11 winless games by defeating Deportivo Alavés 2-0 at home. This victory marked Alavés’ third consecutive loss without scoring. Towards the end of the match, Alavés managed to force Batalla to make a crucial save, but Granada held on to secure the win. Despite this victory, Granada still needs to overcome an 11-point gap to avoid relegation, while Alavés maintains a seven-point lead over the relegation zone.

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Villarreal

Athletic Club’s unbeaten streak at home continued to 18 matches in all competitions, but their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League took a hit with a 1-1 draw against 10-man Villarreal. The game was dominated by Athletic, and they finally broke through just after the hour mark. Ander Herrera’s precise pass was headed down by Guruzeta to Sancet, who scored with a brilliant volley. However, in stoppage time, the hosts were unlucky as Berchiche was controversially called for a handball, leading to Villarreal’s equalizer by Parejo. This result left the fans frustrated as Athletic missed the opportunity to close the gap to the top four in La Liga.

Daniel Parejo and his teammates celebrate after scoring from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Villarreal CF at the San Mames stadium.
Daniel Parejo and his teammates celebrate after scoring from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Villarreal CF at the San Mames stadium.

Real Sociedad 2-2 Almeria

Real Sociedad have only won one of their last seven league matches at the Reale Arena, as Almería secured a 2-2 draw with a late penalty from Adri Embarba in LaLiga. This result doesn’t significantly improve Almería’s chances of avoiding relegation, as they remain 13 points away from safety. However, it does show that they are not giving up yet. Real Sociedad missed an opportunity to extend their lead over Real Betis Balompié in eighth place. They will aim to return to winning form in their upcoming match against Getafe.

Osasuna 0-1 Valencia

Ante Budimir’s penalty miss in stoppage time allowed Valencia to close the gap to three points behind Real Sociedad in the final European spot in La Liga. This also dashed Osasuna’s hopes of qualifying for European competition with a 1-0 win at Estadio El Sadar. Despite Osasuna dominating possession in the second half and coming close with a late header that hit the crossbar, Budimir had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot after being fouled by Hugo Guillamón. However, his spot kick was poorly taken and easily saved by Mamardashvili, as Valencia aim for their first European campaign since 2019/20.

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