La Liga Roundup, Matchday 14
Matchday 14 of the 2024/25 La Liga season has wrapped up, showcasing thrilling games, standout player performances, and unexpected results. Here is the La Liga roundup of the weekend’s events.
Getafe 2-0 Real Valladolid
Getafe achieved an important 2-0 win against fellow relegation contenders Real Valladolid, ending their five-match winless streak in La Liga (with three draws and two losses). This victory elevates the delighted Azulones to 15th place, while Los Blanquivioletas drop to the 20th position, continuing to face significant challenges at the bottom of the standings, as their five-match unbeaten head-to-head record was broken.
Valencia 4-2 Real Betis
Valencia secured a vital 4-2 victory against Real Betis with three goals in just six minutes during an emotional return to La Liga, breaking a streak of five matches without a win. This second league win of the season moves Valencia off the bottom of the La Liga standings, with a game in hand over the teams directly above them. Meanwhile, Betis, currently in 9th place, saw their seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions come to an end, as they continue to struggle away from home, having won only once in their last nine league away games.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Alaves
Atlético Madrid achieved their first five consecutive victories in all competitions since January by overcoming Alavés 2-1 in La Liga. This win propels Atleti to 3rd place, 5 points behind leaders Barcelona. Meanwhile, Alavés stays just three points above the relegation zone after suffering their sixth straight defeat on the road in the league.
Las Palmas 2-3 Mallorca
Mallorca, playing with ten men, broke their three-match winless streak (with one draw and two losses) during which they hadn’t scored, by securing a thrilling 3-2 victory against Las Palmas at the Estadio de Gran Canaria. This win propels Mallorca into the top 8 after this round. On the other hand, Las Palmas is now closer to the relegation zone, sitting just two points above the bottom three.
Girona 4-1 Espanyol
Girona secured a comfortable victory over Espanyol in the latest Catalan derby, scoring four goals in the first 30 minutes. This win marked Girona’s third consecutive victory in the 2024/25 LaLiga season, while Espanyol’s defeat extended their losing streak to four games. The result should boost Girona’s confidence ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Sturm Graz on Wednesday, and it has propelled them to 7th place in the standings. In contrast, Espanyol remains in the relegation zone.
Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona
Celta Vigo scored two quick late goals to equalize 2-2 against Barcelona at the Estadio de Balaídos, resulting in the Catalan team’s first draw of the season. The Blaugrana struggled once more in Vigo, providing Real Madrid the opportunity to close the gap after they defeated Leganés on Sunday. Celta is now on a four-match unbeaten streak and will take on another Catalan side, Espanyol, next week.
Osasuna 2-2 Villarreal
Gerard Moreno scored a thrilling penalty in the 93rd minute for Villarreal, helping them maintain their unbeaten streak at five matches in all competitions after they rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw against Osasuna. Ultimately, it was a penalty awarded to Villarreal that salvaged a point for them. Lucas Torró was penalized for pulling down Logan Costa, which allowed the returning Moreno to calmly score from the spot, leaving Osasuna devastated as they were just moments away from securing their sixth home league victory of the season.
Sevilla 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Djibril Sow played a key role in Sevilla maintaining their unbeaten head-to-head record against Rayo Vallecano, which now stands at four matches (2 wins, 2 draws), after a 1-0 win over the 10-man team at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. Although Rayo had a talented group of substitutes to rely on in hopes of securing a late equalizer, they left the stadium disappointed. Sevilla’s victory allowed them to move ahead of Rayo, placing them in 12th place in the La Liga table.
Leganes 0-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten head-to-head streak against Leganes, now at nine matches, with a 3-0 win at Estadio Municipal de Butarque. This victory keeps them close to their rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga. The home team struggled throughout the match, failing to record a single shot on target, and Jude Bellingham’s late goal confirmed the win, allowing Real Madrid to move ahead of Atletico Madrid into second place, four points behind leaders Barcelona with a game in hand. On the other hand, Leganes sits in 14th place, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Sociedad
Athletic Bilbao achieved victory in consecutive Basque derbies for the first time since 2017, defeating Real Sociedad 1-0 at San Mamés. Cautious of a potential late equalizer, Athletic showcased their strong defense, shifting their focus from seeking a second goal to effectively managing the game and securing the win. This result extended their unbeaten streak in the league to five matches and propelled them into the top five of La Liga.
