La Liga Roundup, Matchday 37
The 37th 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 37.
Alaves 1-0 Getafe
Getafe missed the opportunity to achieve their first-ever back-to-back wins against Deportivo Alavés in the league when they lost 1-0, allowing the hosts to secure only their second victory in 14 La Liga matches between the two teams. Despite this setback, Getafe still has a chance to finish in the top half of the table, but they will need to surpass Alavés to do so. The hosts have not finished in the top 10 in La Liga since the 2016/17 season, and with pressure from teams below them, they will likely need a positive result in their final match against Las Palmas to secure their position.
Villarreal 4-4 Real Madrid
Four goals scored by Alexander Sørloth helped Villarreal to secure a 4-4 draw against Real Madrid at Estadio de la Cerámica, despite initially being 4-1 down. However, this result did not keep Villarreal’s hopes of qualifying for European football alive. Real Madrid, on the other hand, extended their unbeaten streak in LaLiga to 31 matches, surpassing their previous record set in 1988-89. After the final goal, Ancelloti made significant changes which helped to halt Villarreal’s momentum as they searched for a crucial winning goal. Ultimately, neither team could secure a victory, leaving both with inconsequential final games as Madrid’s winless streak at Villarreal extended to seven matches.
Valencia 1-3 Girona
Girona is having an impressive season in La Liga, securing a third-place finish with 78 points after defeating Valencia 3-1 at the Mestalla. Despite Diego López’s attempt to rally Valencia with a goal and Pepelu’s penalty kick, Valencia was unable to mount a comeback. Valencia had already abandoned their hopes for a European spot and are likely to finish in ninth place. Girona’s chances of finishing second were dashed by Barcelona’s victory over Rayo Vallecano, but a surprise loss by Atlético Madrid ensured that Girona would not fall below third place.
Mallorca 2-2 Almeria
Mallorca managed to secure a draw against Almería, who had already been relegated, at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. This result, along with Cádiz’s goalless draw against Las Palmas, ensures that Los Piratas will remain in LaLiga for the 2024/25 season. Trailing by one goal in the later part of the match, Javier Aguirre’s team pushed forward aggressively in search of an equalizer, which they eventually found through Darder. Despite their late attempts to secure a win, Mallorca settled for a point that was enough to guarantee their place in the top division for another year.
Granada 1-2 Celta Vigo
Jørgen Strand Larsen and Jonathan Bamba scored goals that helped Celta Vigo secure their 13th consecutive year in La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Granada. Granada now needs at least a draw against Girona to avoid finishing in last place, as Almería’s draw against Mallorca added pressure. Meanwhile, Celta can face Valencia in their next match without worry, aiming for a 12th place finish and a potential increase in prize money.
Cadiz 0-0 Las Palmas
Cádiz, playing with ten men, held Las Palmas to a scoreless draw in their recent match at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla. This marked the first draw in their last seven head-to-head encounters. The draw led to the hosts being eliminated from La Liga, while Las Palmas managed to secure their place in the top division for another season. On the other hand, Las Palmas have not won a league game in 13 consecutive matches since their 2-0 victory over Valencia in February. This winless streak is their longest in a single top-flight season since 2017/18.
Real Betis 0-2 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad secured a place in the UEFA Europa League by defeating Real Betis 2-0 on the road, ending Betis’ six-game unbeaten streak in La Liga. Despite Betis having a goal disallowed by VAR due to a handball, Sociedad managed to hold on for the win in their 100th league meeting. Betis, who dominated most of the match, will feel disappointed to finish in seventh place while Sociedad claimed sixth place.
Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano
Barcelona secured second place in La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, breaking a streak of five winless head-to-head meetings. Pedri scored his second goal shortly after, receiving a long ball from Ronald Araújo and calmly finishing past Stole Dimitrievski. Barcelona then controlled the game for the remaining fifteen minutes, while Rayo Vallecano were also pleased as other results confirmed their place in the top flight for the 2024/25 season.
Atletico Madrid 1-4 Osasuna
Osasuna caused a surprise at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano by beating Atlético Madrid 4-1 in their final home game of the La Liga season. This victory marked only the third time Osasuna has defeated Atlético in their 21 encounters (with one draw and 17 losses). The win has propelled Osasuna to 11th place in the La Liga standings, giving them a chance to finish in the top half of the table under Jagoba Arrasate’s management. On the other hand, Atlético’s loss ended their four-game winning streak and confirmed their fourth-place finish for the season following Girona’s victory over Valencia.
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Sevilla
Athletic Bilbao earned their second victory in eight La Liga matches by defeating Sevilla 2-0, clinching a fifth-place finish and a spot in the UEFA Europa League. Despite Sevilla’s efforts, they were unable to score, resulting in Athletic securing fifth place ahead of Real Sociedad. Sevilla’s hopes of finishing in the top half were dashed after suffering their third straight loss.
