Sam Parker rounds up the latest La Liga action, as Barcelona recovered from their continental failure with a convincing win over Villarreal, whilst Real Madrid left it late.
BARCA CONVINCING, REAL SCRAPE PAST OSASUNA
Barca bounced back from their European defeat by Inter Milan to cruise past Villarreal in convincing style. Any fears their season could implode after Champions League disappointment were soon quelled as they had raced into a three goal lead by half-time.
Lionel Messi ended what has been a barren spell by his standards by opening the scoring, before a brilliant free-kick from Xavi and a further goal from Bojan Krkic made the result safe by the interval.
Joseba Llorente pulled a goal back for Villarreal in the second half, but Messi restored the three goal advantage with his 29th league goal of the season to secure a 4-1 win.
Real Madrid just about kept pace, but required a last minute strike from Cristiano Ronaldo to win 3-2.
Osasuna showed no signs of coming to the Bernabeu and rolling over, as they twice took the lead through Carlos Aranda and Krizstian Vadocz, but strikes from Ronaldo and Marcelo meant those leads were short lived.
The game looked set to end in stalemate and leave Real trailing Barca by three points again, but the Portuguese forward intervened to keep the title race on.
FOURTH PLACE IS A TWO HORSE RACE
Mallorca and Sevilla have all but decided that the final Champions League spot will be contested between them, as they both secured 3-1 victories.
Considering their away form and Athletic Bilbao’s respective record at home, Mallorca’s victory at the San Mames ranks as something of an upset, ensuring Athletic will have no chance of Champions League football.
Gonzalo Castro and Fernando Llorente scored to ensure the sides went into the break level, but Jose Carlos Nunes and Aritz Aduriz scored in a three-minute salvo just after the interval to give Mallorca a welcome boost in their hopes to reach Europe’s premier competition.
Sevilla remain two points behind them after mirroring that scoreline at home to Atletico Madrid.
The game started in frantic fashion, with three goals in the first 11 minutes, with Luis Fabiano and Alvaro Negredo (penalty) scoring either side of Tiago’s strike. Negredo then converted his second penalty of the game five minutes before half-time to wrap up the points.
THREE WINNERS AT THE BOTTOM
Xerez were expected to be relegated by the time Spring rolled around, yet are still not mathematically down after defeating Almeria, who no longer look safe themselves.
Juanma Ortiz scored an own goal to give Xerez the lead, which was swiftly cancelled out by Fernando Soriano. The basement side were dealt a blow when Sidi Keita picked up his second booking five minutes before half-time, but Almeria couldn’t take advantage in the 44 minutes they had an advantage, before Guilherme suffered the same fate to level the numbers again.
Deep into stoppage time Mario Bermejo was once again on target to salvage another victory.
Zaragoza were also winners, taking advantage of Deportivo’s serious slump in form to record a 1-0 victory.
Adrian Colunga scored the only goal of the game to put a couple of teams between Zaragoza and the drop zone, although the points difference is still only two.
This is due to Tenerife also recording a win, beating fellow strugglers Racing Santander 2-1. Roman Martinez scored in first-half stoppage time to give the Canary Islanders the lead, which was duly doubled when Fabio Coltorti brought down Alejandro Alfaro, allowing Ayoze Garcia to convert the resulting penalty.
Xisco gave the visitors hope 20 minutes from time, but it was not enough, as only one point now separates the sides.
DRAWS FOR OTHER STRUGGLERS
Malaga, however, only sit above Tenerife on the basis of their head-to-head record, which could have been worse had it not been for Felipe Caceido. The on-loan Manchester City striker salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw against Sporting Gijon after Antonio Apono had put into his own net to gift Sporting the lead.
Sporting themselves are now only three points off the drop zone, as their form has dwindled in the latter stages of the season.
Valladolid missed the chance to go level on points with Malaga as well, as they were held 0-0 at home by ten-man Getafe. David Cortes was sent off just prior to the hour mark for the visitors, but no breakthrough could be made as the game ended in stalemate.
VALENCIA BEAT ESPANYOL
Valencia beat Espanyol in the round’s other game, with a brace from giant Serbian striker Nicola Zigic enough to lighten a dull game, which smacked of two sides already on their holidays with their respective objectives basically secured.