La Liga Roundup, Matchday 21
Matchday 21 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 for matchday 21.
Las Palmas 1-1 Osasuna
Adnan Januzaj scored a last-minute equalizer in the 98th minute, allowing 10-man Las Palmas to secure a late draw against Osasuna in a heated 1-1 La Liga match at the Gran Canaria Stadium. The late celebration for Las Palmas helps them distance themselves from the relegation zone, while Osasuna will regret losing two points, leaving them three points behind sixth-place Mallorca.
Mallorca 0-1 Real Betis
Real Betis secured a 1-0 victory over Mallorca with a late goal during injury time at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. Mallorca continues to struggle, while Betis maintains their unbeaten streak in away matches against them since 2013. This win also contributes to Manuel Pellegrini’s impressive track record against Mallorca, which now stands at 19 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses.
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Villarreal
Atlético Madrid came back after trailing at the Estadio Metropolitano, securing a 1-1 draw against Villarreal, which ended their seven-match home winning streak. The Yellow Submarine faced intense pressure in the closing moments but managed to earn a valuable point, maintaining their fifth-place position and preventing Atlético from temporarily taking the top spot in La Liga.
Sevilla 1-1 Espanyol
Espanyol’s streak of not winning away games in La Liga this season extended to 10 matches after they let go of a lead in a 1-1 draw against mid-table Sevilla, who have now gone 12 matches without losing in their head-to-head encounters. Sevilla has not achieved consecutive La Liga victories since March, and Espanyol was unable to escape the relegation zone, failing to capitalize on their previous win against Valladolid.
Valladolid 0-3 Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé’s three goals helped Real Madrid achieve a 3-0 win against Real Valladolid in La Liga. This victory places them four points clear at the top of the standings. Madrid has suffered just one loss in their last 26 away matches and is well-positioned to retain their title, while Valladolid’s third straight loss keeps them at the bottom of the table, 6 points adrift of safety.
Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Girona
Rayo Vallecano executed an impressive late comeback, netting two goals within three minutes in the final moments to defeat Girona 2-1 at the Estadio de Vallecas. This victory allows Rayo to surpass Girona in the standings, moving into the top seven and getting closer to the European qualification spots. On the other hand, Girona wasted their lead and suffered a 2-1 defeat for the second consecutive league match.
Real Sociedad 0-3 Getafe
Getafe delivered an exhilarating second-half display, securing a remarkable 3-0 away win against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian, marking their fifth consecutive match without a loss across all competitions. With this victory, Getafe moves three points above the relegation zone, while Sociedad’s chances of finishing in the top four are nearly extinguished.
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Leganes
Athletic Bilbao’s unbeaten streak in La Liga has reached 12 matches. Despite securing a six-point lead in the top four, the Lions were disappointed by a scoreless draw against Leganés at San Mamés. This draw solidifies Athletic’s position in the Champions League qualification spots, but they missed the opportunity to extend their lead over fifth-placed Villarreal to eight points. Meanwhile, the visitors created a three-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Barcelona 7-1 Valencia
Barcelona broke their run of three straight home losses in La Liga with an impressive 7-1 win against a faltering Valencia side, netting five goals in an exciting first half. This significant victory also puts an end to a four-match winless streak in La Liga, which had seen Barcelona fall to third place after a promising start to the season.
Alaves 1-1 Celta Vigo
Deportivo Alavés was unable to achieve consecutive wins in La Liga for the first time this season, as Celta Vigo fought back to secure a 1-1 draw. This result means Alavés has gone four home matches without a win for the first time since 2022. On the other hand, Claudio Giráldez’s team has not won in their last seven visits to the Basque Country, but they have maintained a favorable record against Alavés, losing only one of their last nine encounters.
