La Liga Roundup, Matchday 36
The 36th round of La Liga has concluded, featuring exciting matches, impressive player performances, and surprising outcomes. Here is a summary of the La Liga games from matchday 36.
Osasuna 1-1 Mallorca
Mallorca moved one step closer to securing their place in La Liga by earning a point in a 1-1 draw against CA Osasuna. Despite having numerous opportunities to secure a win and aim for a top-half finish, the home team was unable to capitalize on their chances. The match ended in a draw as neither team could score a winning goal. This result extends Osasuna’s winless streak to six games and Mallorca’s run without an away victory to 15 games.
Real Madrid 5-0 Alaves
Real Madrid, who have already secured the title, continued their celebratory end to the season by easily defeating Deportivo Alavés 5-0 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. This victory extended their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 30 matches. Despite the another UEFA Champions League final, Carlo Ancelotti’s team remained focused in this game. Real Madrid’s win maintains their unbeaten record at home in the league, which has now lasted for over a year. On the other hand, Alavés suffered their fourth away defeat in five matches.
Girona 0-1 Villarreal
Bertrand Traoré’s goal in the second half put a dent in Girona’s chances of finishing ahead of Barcelona, ending their four-game unbeaten streak (with three wins and one draw) and helping Villarreal secure a surprising 1-0 victory with only 10 players at Estadi Montilivi. Despite a slow start to the season, Villarreal has been consistently achieving positive results since the beginning of the year. By defeating Girona, Villarreal has a slim chance of qualifying for European competition next season. Girona now seems likely to finish third behind Barcelona, but regardless of this setback, Los Blanquivermells have had an impressive season.
Sevilla 0-1 Cadiz
Sergio Guardiola came off the bench and scored a dramatic 97th-minute goal for Cádiz against Sevilla, breaking a streak of 17 winless away games in La Liga. This victory gives Cádiz a last-minute chance to avoid relegation. Despite the pressure, the visitors continued to push for a goal, and Guardiola finally delivered in the sixth minute of added time. His goal, which beat the goalkeeper Nyland, has given Cádiz hope for survival.
Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Granada
Rayo Vallecano, playing with ten men, scored a goal before and after halftime to secure a crucial 2-1 victory at home against Granada. This win almost ensures their place in LaLiga for the 2024/25 season. However, their top-flight survival is not yet guaranteed as Cadiz’s late goal against Sevilla delayed the confirmation. Rayo Vallecano will have to wait until the weekend to secure their status, but the win did help them break a three-game winless streak. Granada, on the other hand, have no stakes in their final two matches of the season but will look to finish on a positive note with upcoming games against Celta Vigo and Girona.
Getafe 0-3 Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann scored three goals to secure Atlético Madrid’s 12th consecutive qualification for the UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Getafe at the Estadio Coliseum. Diego Simeone’s team could potentially finish in second place if they win their remaining two matches and other results favor them. Despite the loss, Getafe is still on track for a top-half finish.
Celta Vigo 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Celta Vigo took a significant step towards securing their 13th consecutive season in La Liga with a remarkable comeback victory over Athletic Club, winning 2-1. Hugo Álvarez scored the winning goal in the second half, putting Celta five points clear of the relegation zone with just two matches remaining. Athletic, managed by Ernesto Valverde, failed to mount a comeback and have now lost their chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after winning only one of their six matches since winning the Copa del Rey last month. This victory marked Celta’s first come-from-behind win in La Liga this season.
Las Palmas 2-2 Real Betis
Las Palmas fought back twice to earn a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Real Betis, putting an end to their disastrous eight-game losing streak. This result means that Las Palmas only need one more point from their remaining two matches to secure their place in La Liga. The draw may have been more favorable to Betis, but Las Palmas’ performance arguably deserved all three points. Both teams will face their direct rivals in the upcoming weekend, with Betis competing against Real Sociedad for sixth place, while Las Palmas will aim to avoid defeat against Cádiz to remain in the top division.
Almeria 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona extended their lead over third-placed Girona in LaLiga to four points with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Almería, who have already been relegated. Fermín López scored twice to secure the win for Barcelona, effectively ending Almería’s hopes of a late comeback. Xavi’s team now has an impressive record against Almería, with just one defeat in their last 18 meetings. Almería, on the other hand, will be eager to earn points in their final two matches as no team in La Liga has finished a season with as few as their 17 points this century.
Real Sociedad 1-0 Valencia
Real Sociedad has almost guaranteed themselves a spot in European competition for the fifth year in a row. They defeated Valencia with an early goal from André Silva, while Valencia’s recent struggles have diminished their hopes of European qualification. Real Sociedad, under the leadership of Imanol Alguacil, took control of the game and secured a victory, moving ahead of Real Betis in the standings and establishing a six-point lead over Villarreal.
