La Liga Roundup, Matchday 36
Matchday 36 of the 2024/25 La Liga season has wrapped up, showcasing thrilling games, standout performances from players, and unexpected results. Here is the La Liga roundup for this round of games.
Valladolid 0-1 Girona
Cristhian Stuani netted a late goal that guarantees Girona’s spot in La Liga for the upcoming season, leading to a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid, who have now suffered ten consecutive losses. Girona is now seven points above the relegation zone and achieved only their second clean sheet since mid-January.
Real Sociedad 0-1 Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo secured their position in the top eight of La Liga with a tough 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, who are now experiencing their first six-match winless streak in the league since January 2022. This loss nearly guarantees that La Reale will not qualify for European competition next season, while Celta is now in a strong position to participate in continental play for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
Sevilla 1-0 Las Palmas
Sevilla snapped an eight-match winless streak by defeating Las Palmas 1-0 at home in La Liga, securing their safety as they moved seven points ahead of 18th-placed Leganes. Meanwhile, Las Palmas suffered their fourth consecutive league loss, leaving them in 19th place and three points away from safety with just two games left. The win allowed Sevilla to climb to 14th place, effectively confirming their survival.
Villarreal 3-0 Leganes
Villarreal took a significant step towards qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in four years by solidifying their position in La Liga’s top five with a convincing 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Leganés.
Alaves 1-0 Valencia
Alavés significantly improved their chances of staying in La Liga by securing a 1-0 win against Valencia at home, which also ended Carlos Corberán’s impressive unbeaten streak of 10 matches. This victory puts Alavés four points clear of the relegation zone with just two games remaining in the season. On the other hand, Valencia still has a slight opportunity to reach the top eight, despite suffering an unexpected defeat at Mendizorroza, given their recent performance.
Real Madrid 2-1 Mallorca
Real Madrid secured a last-minute goal to win against Mallorca with a score of 2-1. Despite Los Blancos’ strong effort to close the gap, Barcelona’s win over Espanyol confirms their status as the season’s champions. On the other hand, Mallorca still has an opportunity to qualify for European competition for the first time in 22 years.
Rayo Vallecano 2-2 Betis
Real Betis rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Rayo Vallecano, which highlights that Los Franjirrojos have not won eight out of the 12 home La Liga matches where they scored first this season. Consequently, Betis has not achieved a victory in their last three matches across all competitions, but they still cling to a slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League, trailing Villarreal by five points.
Osasuna 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Osasuna enhanced their chances of qualifying for Europe in La Liga with a strong 2-0 win against Atlético Madrid, thanks to goals from Alejandro Catena and Ante Budimir. This victory also marked the end of a streak of six straight home losses in head-to-head matches against Atlético.
Getafe 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club achieved qualification for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) following a tough 2-0 victory against Getafe, who have now lost six consecutive matches in La Liga. Valverde’s team broke a five-match winless streak away from home and, more importantly, marked their return to the UCL after a 12-year hiatus since being eliminated in the group stage of the 2014/15 season.
Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona clinched their 28th La Liga title by defeating their Catalan rivals Espanyol 2-0. The team can now enjoy their achievement for the next few weeks. On the other hand, Espanyol remains in danger of relegation, and with two games still to go, they require at least one point to ensure their survival.
