La Liga Round Up: Penultimate Fixtures Set Up Exciting Final Round

La Liga is on tenterhooks this weekend with the penultimate round of fixtures setting us up for a Barca – Real final game showdown…

BARCA & REAL TAKE IT TO THE WIRE

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid came through their penultimate fixtures unscathed to set up an exciting final day with just one point separating them.

Real produced an inspired final 20 minutes to send Athletic Bilbao home with a 5-1 defeat, with five different players on the scoresheet.

Cristiano Ronaldo kicked things off with a penalty, which saw Fernando Amorebieta harshly dismissed for deliberate handball.

Francisco Yeste then upset the applecart with an impressive solo goal, taking on the entire Madrid defence before slotting past Casillas.

But in the final 20 minutes, Real really came the fore, with Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Marcelo all finding the net to keep the heat on Barca. The result however, means Athletic have no chance of European qualification.

Barcelona produced a game of two halves to scrape past Sevilla in a 3-2 victory.

A spellbinding first-half saw Lionel Messi and Bojan put the champions 2-0 up. Abdoulay Konko was then dismissed for Sevilla for his second booking of the match and the game looked safe when Pedro added a third for Barca.

However, Sevilla hit back through two pieces of slack defending that had Pep Guardiola fuming, with Fredi Kanoute and Luis Fabiano pulling goals back.

Barca hung on though, meaning they have a slim advantage going into the final game of the season.

MALLORCA ALLOW DEPOR OUT OF THEIR SLUMP

Sevilla also have a one point advantage over Mallorca in the race for fourth spot despite their loss, as their rivals maintained their miserable away record by losing 1-0 at Deportivo.

Riki scored the only goal of the game to record his eighth of the season and condemn Mallorca to their ninth defeat on their travels.

EVEN STEVENS FOR THE FINAL EUROPA SPOT

Getafe and Villarreal go into the final game level on points in the battle for sixth, after they both recorded victories.

Villarreal triumphed over Valencia in a 2-0 win, after Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente netted in the first 20 minutes. Things got a little shaky in the second half though, as Llorente was sent off for a second booking, ruling him out of their final match.

Getafe beat relegation strugglers Malaga 2-1 to just retain the advantage over Villarreal on the basis of the head-to-head record between the two clubs.

Roberto Soldado and Pedro Leon put Getafe in firm control of the match, meaning Fernando Miguel’s last minute strike was just a consolation.

ALL SQUARE AT THE BOTTOM

It looks incredibly interesting at the foot of the table as well, with four clubs tied on 36 points, with two (possibly three) places at stake. Joining Malaga on 36 are Racing Santander, Valladolid and Tenerife, with Xerez still not down just yet.

Valladolid and Racing met on Saturday, with Valladolid taking the spoils in a 2-1 win.

Fernandez Christian gave Racing the lead, but Javier Baraja and Nauzet turned things around to leave the sides level on points.

Both teams will have to deal with last day suspensions though as Valladolid saw Fernandez Borja sent off, whilst Jose Moraton saw red for Racing, both for second bookable offences.

Tenerife gained a point, but might be disappointed not to have some breathing space after being held to a 2-2 home draw by Almeria who have nothing to play for.

Marc Bertran gave Tenerife the lead, but the visitors hit back through Pablo Piatti and Albert Crusat. However, Fernando Nino struck in added time to put them level in this four-way tussle.

Xerez are still not down yet, after they beat Real Zaragoza 3-2.

Perez Francis gave Xerez the lead, but Herrera Ander levelled. That parity lasted all of two minutes, as Carrilero Michel and Sobrado Carlos Calvo gave Xerez a two-goal cushion.

Gabi Fernandez brought Zaragoza back into the game, but their hopes were finally dashed when Matteo Contini picked up his second dismissal since joining in January.

Xerez still sit three points from safety, but providing results go their way, they could still make the most miraculous of escapes.

MERELY PLAYING OUT THE FIXTURE…

Espanyol recorded a 2-1 win over Osasuna to leapfrog them in the table.

Krizstian Vadocz gave Osasuna the lead, but Espanyol struck back through goals from Juan Forlin and Pablo Osvaldo to claim victory.

In the other game, Sporting Gijon drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid.

Miguel de Las Cuevas put Sporting in front, but Ibrahima Balde levelled for Atletico who must have their eye on their approaching finals.