La Liga Matchday 19 – Sevilla apply the pressure as Atlético give up title hopes

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La Liga has shown how unpredictable it can be, and no game has typified that more than Sevilla’s trip to Osasuna this weekend. Jorge Sampaoli’s team traveled to the league’s bottom side but twice had to come from behind on an appalling playing surface to seal the victory. Vicente Iborra was in the thick of the action, scoring a peculiar hat-trick with one of his three goals in his own net. Refereeing controversy surrounded Franco Vazquez’s late header to give his side the lead but Pablo Sarabia’s injury time strike proved decisive after Kenan Kodro pulled one back in the dying moments.

That kept the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table, but perhaps the biggest news of the weekend was Atletico Madrid all but surrendering any hopes of a title challenge. After a second minute goal from Koke it seemed that a vintage Diego Simeone display may be imminent, but in the end, it took a fine strike from Antoine Griezmann to rescue a point after Athletic Bilbao turned the tie on its head at San Mames. That leaves los Colchoneros eight points behind their city rivals, who have a game in hand, with all eyes now set on keeping their place in the top four.

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Real Madrid should have returned to normal service against an injury-stricken and struggling Malaga, but their victory was laboured. The fact that Sergio Ramos’ decisive winning goal, his second of the game and eighth of the season, was clearly offside did little to help boost the confidence of a side who lost two in a row after over 40 games unbeaten.

Barcelona had no such problems, though. A nasty ankle injury for Sergio Busquets looked concerning, but his replacement Denis Suarez opened the scoring after his introduction. A vintage Lionel Messi display saw the MSN trio all find the net at Eibar as they continued their fine run of form.

One of the surprises of the weekend came from the east coast as a derby game saw Valencia stun Villarreal by beating the Yellow Submarine by two goals to nil thanks to Carlos Soler and Santi Mina. Soler, on only his third career start, scored with a remarkable effort before Mina applied the pressure on Sergio Asenjo in goal to capitalise on his error. The result lifts Valencia six points clear of the drop zone to 19 points, with 13 of them coming under the management of interim manager Voro.

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Real Sociedad took advantage of Fran Escriba’s disappointment as they stretched their lead in fifth to four points and are now level with Atletico on points and only behind on goal difference. The Basque side faced a weakened Celta Vigo side who rested key stars with one eye on their midweek Copa del Rey clash with Real Madrid. In a hard-fought game between the two sides, it was ex-Southampton man Juanmi who made the breakthrough to earn his side the three points.

This weekend’s results in full:

Las Palmas 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna

Espanyol 3-1 Granada

Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga

Deportivo Alaves 2-2 CD Leganes

Villarreal 0-2 Valencia

Osasuna 3-4 Sevilla

Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Atletico Madrid

Real Betis 0-0 Sporting Gijon

Real Sociedad 1-0 Celta Vigo

Eibar 0-4 Barcelona

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