La Liga Roundup, Matchday 35
The 35th 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 35.
Alaves 2-2 Girona
Jon Guridi scored a late goal in the 100th minute to help Deportivo Alavés secure a 2-2 draw against Girona at the Mendizorroza Stadium. This late equalizer prevented Girona from winning their third away match against Alaves in nine previous encounters across all competitions. Alavés is still aiming for their first top-half finish in seven years and will face champions Real Madrid in their upcoming midweek match.
Mallorca 1-0 Las Palmas
Mallorca took a significant step towards securing their spot in the 2024/25 LaLiga season by narrowly defeating Las Palmas 1-0 at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. This victory extended Mallorca’s lead over relegation contenders Cádiz CF to 6 points and ended their six-game winless streak. It was their first win since defeating Granada in March. On the other hand, Las Palmas, despite being two points ahead of Mallorca, suffered their eighth consecutive league defeat, a streak not seen since November 2017 under former coach Pako Ayesterán.
Villarreal 3-2 Sevilla
Sevilla’s undefeated run in La Liga and their hopes of success in Europe were dashed when Villarreal staged a thrilling comeback to secure a 3-2 victory at Estadio de la Cerámica. The real excitement came during six minutes of injury time that felt never-ending. A penalty awarded to Sevilla for a handball by Villarreal was overturned after a review, and Terrats thought he had scored a late winner, only for VAR to rule him offside. However, the game took one final turn when Baena delivered a cross into the box in the dying moments, allowing Sørloth to score his second goal with a header and clinch the win, boosting Villarreal’s chances of finishing in the top seven.
Granada 0-4 Real Madrid
Newly-crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid showed no signs of fatigue as they put on an impressive performance, defeating Granada 4-0 at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes. This marked their 16th consecutive victory over the now-relegated hosts. Díaz’s second goal, following his opener, was particularly remarkable as he skillfully maneuvered through the Granada defense before scoring from close range after a clever exchange with Luka Modrić. Granada failed to mount a comeback after falling behind, allowing Madrid to secure a third straight clean sheet on the road with ease.
Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao surprised Osasuna by scoring a last-minute equalizer in the 96th minute, resulting in a thrilling 2-2 draw and extending their unbeaten streak at Estadio San Mamés to 20 games. This late comeback by Athletic Bilbao keeps them just 8 points behind fourth-placed Atlético Madrid, and they are in a good position to achieve their first top-five finish in La Liga since 2015/16, holding an eight-point lead over Real Sociedad. On the other hand, conceding a goal in the final moments was a tough setback for Osasuna, who are currently in mid-table and have not won a match in their last five outings.
Cadiz 1-0 Getafe
Cádiz secured a well-deserved 1-0 win against Getafe CF at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla, boosting their chances of avoiding relegation. This victory ended a streak of three home matches without a win against Getafe (with two draws and one loss). The Yellow submarine managed to secure three crucial points, narrowing the gap to 17th-placed Celta Vigo to five points with three games left in the season. On the other hand, Getafe remains in 10th place and failed to strengthen their position in the top half, with just one point separating them from Deportivo Alavés.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Celta Vigo
Atlético Madrid secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga, thanks to a stunning late goal that propelled them closer to securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season. The goal, scored by de Paul, came from a corner clearance that he controlled with his chest before volleying it into the top corner. This win puts Atleti on the brink of a top-four finish and keeps their hopes alive for a podium position for the 13th consecutive season.
Valencia 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
Valencia and Rayo Vallecano played a 0-0 draw at Mestalla Stadium in a closely contested match. This marks the first time since 2002/03 that Rayo has been unable to score in both head-to-head matches in a La Liga season. The draw keeps Valencia in contention for a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League as they head into the final three matches of the season. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano is in a relatively secure position in the relegation battle, although they have not yet secured safety mathematically.
Real Betis 3-2 Almeria
Real Betis moved up to sixth place in La Liga after beating Almería, who had already been relegated, at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. This victory marked Real Betis’ ninth consecutive unbeaten match against Andalusian teams in the top flight, with three wins and six draws. Betis extended their unbeaten streak to five matches in La Liga, with four wins and one draw, putting them one point ahead of seventh-placed Real Sociedad. On the other hand, Almería, who are playing for pride as the season winds down, have only won two games out of their 35 league matches this season, with 11 draws and 22 losses.
Barcelona 2-0 Real Sociedad
Barcelona secured second place in La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad, marking their fifth consecutive home league win for the first time since October under Xavi’s leadership. In the final 15 minutes of the game, Remiro made an impressive save from Ferran Torres’ shot, but was unable to prevent Raphinha from scoring a stoppage-time penalty due to a handball, sealing the win for Barcelona. The hosts celebrated the win and their fifth clean sheet in seven home league matches, while Sociedad was left to ponder a defeat that dropped them to seventh place, one point behind Real Betis.
