LaLiga Santander closes with Real Madrid’s 3-1 home victory over FC Barcelona. The weekend opened with the Madrid derby between Rayo Vallecano and Getafe, and concluded with Villarreal beating Osasuna 2-0. The gap between the ninth and tenth matchdays was barely a day, and this Tuesday kicked off with Sevilla hosting Valencia CF.
Rayo Vallecano – Getafe: 0 – 0
Rayo and Getafe finished the Madrid derby level. Vallecano could have tipped the balance in the second half, but Oscar Trejo’s penalty was saved by David Soria in a moment of decisive reflexes. After a tough loss to Almería, Vallecano arrived ready to push for the points. Getafe needed a result to push clear of danger, following consecutive defeats to Valladolid and Real Madrid.
Vallecas roared as the hosts sought the initiative, with Oscar Valentín and Santi Comesaña pulling the strings and Trejo driving play from the middle. The crowd’s energy attempted to set the tempo, while Getafe tried to contain and strike on the break.
Girona – Cádiz: 1 – 1
Cádiz’s sense of security faded late as Espino’s penalty, stopped brilliantly by Jeremías Ledesma, threatened a twist in the tale. With the referee’s whistle signaling eight minutes of added time, Cristian Stuani converted from the spot to level matters. The drama came in stoppage time, turning a near-miss into a fight for a point.
Cádiz remains narrowly above the relegation zone even after the second-half breakthrough by Álvaro Negredo, followed by Álex Fernández’s calm finish on the edge of the box. The equalizer came with a right-footed strike that found the far corner, sealing a tense result for a team clinging to its top-flight status. Girona’s coach emphasized the reality of the league, praising resilience: a draw can be a meaningful step when a side has endured multiple losses. It was a reminder that even mid-table teams face a demanding, high-stakes competition.
Valencia CF – Elche CF: 2 – 2
Edinson Cavani’s return to goals in LaLiga Santander drew attention, with his impact crossing the major European leagues. Cavani opened the scoring for Valencia from the spot, then added a header just before halftime for a 2-1 lead. A later ankle issue interrupted his momentum, though Valencia’s medical staff signaled a quick return to action. Cavani’s goal marked a sign of the striker’s continuing relevance for Valencia, now trying to sustain momentum across fixtures.
Valencia could not hold the advantage, and Elche rallied to a 2-2 draw. The on-field moment that shaped the late drama involved a potential decisive call that, if allowed, might have altered the result. The referee’s decision drew discussion, though the final outcome kept both teams locked on a shared point tally. Valencia acknowledged the error while maintaining belief in continued progress under the coach’s guidance.
Even with a point, Valencia remains outside Europe contention, while Elche’s position in the standings keeps them fighting—persistence, not perfection, defines both teams’ campaigns at this stage.
RCD Mallorca – Sevilla: 0 – 1
Sevilla’s victory continued a hopeful spell under their coach, returning to winning ways in league play and bolstering the project’s momentum. Bono’s saves and Nemanja Gudelj’s decisive moment sealed the result, a rare win that moved Sevilla from the danger zone upward in the table. The mood around the dressing room reflected relief and renewed confidence as the season presses on.
The moment of truth arrived when Sevilla pressed for a late edge and found it in a corner converted to danger, highlighting the team’s defensive organization and clinical finishing. Mallorca, meanwhile, faced a setback after a tough run, remaining in a precarious position with limited wins in recent weeks.
The result pushed Sevilla higher in the standings, a meaningful step as they navigate the rest of the campaign with a mixture of young talents and experienced performers. The team’s coach spoke after the match about the importance of consistency and belief in the project, while the players validated the plan with a disciplined performance on the field.
Athletic – Atlético Madrid: 0 – 1
Atlético Madrid claimed a late, hard-fought win over Athletic Club, with Álvaro Morata finishing a move early in the second half and linking with Antoine Griezmann. The result placed Atlético just behind the league leaders and injected fresh energy into their pursuit of the title, while Athletic pushed to leverage home advantage in a tight contest that kept the race unsettled.
The match featured a tense second half, with Griezmann’s intervention proving decisive. Tactical adjustments and penalized transitions shaped the narrative as both sides pressed with urgency. The clash underscored the relentless tempo of the league’s late-season spell, where every point carries significance in the title chase and the European race.
Atlético’s win tightened the gap at the top, even as questions lingered about form and fitness across the squad. A high-intensity clash at San Mamés delivered drama until the final whistle, with personnel decisions and injuries adding to the drama surrounding a title-contending club.
Celta de Vigo – Real Sociedad: 1 – 2
Real Sociedad extended their winning run to four league matches, reinforcing their Europa League ambitions. Celta, by contrast, has struggled for regular points in recent weeks, pressing to stem the slide. After Asier Illarramendi opened the scoring for the visitors and Iago Aspas equalized, Igor Zubeldia struck from a corner to restore Real Sociedad’s lead, a decisive moment in a contest that swung on a set piece.
The visitors maintained their advantage as Celta’s attempts to respond proved insufficient, leaving the final score reflecting Sociedad’s maturity and resilience. The win kept Real Sociedad on track for a strong finish, highlighting the team’s ability to convert chances when it matters most.
Real Madrid – FC Barcelona: 3 – 1
In the clásico, Real Madrid asserted dominance with a 3-1 triumph that punctured Barcelona’s week and signaled a return to form after a difficult run. The match carried extra meaning as the clubs’ pathways intersect in both domestic and continental competition, with Real Madrid reclaiming momentum in a season framed by high expectations.
Real Madrid’s veterans and youngsters combined for a balanced performance, capitalizing on the visitors’ defensive lapses and a more cohesive buildup. The narrative highlighted a shift in control and a message to rivals that the title chase remains firmly in Madrid’s hands as the campaign advances.
RCD Espanyol – Valladolid: 1 – 0
Espanyol ended a cycle of tense results with a victory at the RCDE Stadium, Joselu Mato’s precise header proving the decisive moment in the 78th minute. The win offered a timely boost after several matches without success, lifting the club’s mood and standing as the season crosses important thresholds for survival and progression.
Diego Martínez’s squad held firm in a tense finish, fending off Valladolid’s late presses and securing a narrow but meaningful three points. The win reinforced the belief that disciplined defense and efficient set-piece finishing can overturn rough patches in a demanding league schedule.
Betis – Almería: 3 – 1
Real Betis, guided by Manuel Pellegrini, overcame Almería with a late surge that ended a recent winless streak. A pair of goals from William Carvalho and a finish from Borja Iglesias sealed the result, with Bilal Touré’s early persistence for Almería adding drama to the match’s rhythm. Betis demonstrated depth and a clinical final third, delivering a statement performance against a stubborn opponent.
The fixture underscored Betis’ quest for consistency, a cornerstone for ambitions in domestic competition and European qualification discussions, as the season approaches its climax.
Villarreal – Osasuna: 2 – 0
Two goals from Arnaut Danjuma, one from play and another from a penalty, secured Villarreal’s win over Osasuna. The home side controlled large stretches and benefited from a second-half surge that left Osasuna without a response. The opening goal came just before halftime, followed by a second-half finish that sealed the fixture and reinforced Villarreal’s superiority on the day.
Osasuna’s early promise gave way to Villarreal’s organized spell, with the home team’s dominance clear as the game progressed. The match added another chapter to a season characterized by Villarreal’s ability to convert chances and manage critical moments with poise.