A late Marcelo winner was enough to keep Real Madrid in charge of La Liga while Barcelona keep up the pressure and still hold the top spot.
But Los Blancos have that crucial game in hand and are the betting websites’ favourites to lift the title. At the other end of the table, Tony Adams’ Granada were relegated.
Real Madrid 2-1 Valencia
Mobile betting fans needed nerves of steel as Marcelo won the points on 86 minutes after Daniel Parejo looked to have given Valencia an unlikely draw. Cristiano Ronaldo had headed the hosts in front before Parejo’s brilliant 82nd-minute free kick gave the home fans the jitters.
Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona
Barca reclaimed top spot with a resounding win to keep Los Blancos on their toes. Luis Suarez latched onto a poor back pass to score on 50 minutes before Ivan Rakitic made it two. Another defensive slip up let Suarez in for his second to give Barcelona a comfortable night.
Real Sociedad 2-1 Granada
So it’s curtains for Granada after Tony Adams’ fourth defeat in his four matches in charge. Carlos Vela and Juanmi did the damage for Sociedad while Adrian Ramos briefly gave the visitors hope with a well-placed header. To be fair to Adams, Granada were just as bad before he arrived!
Las Palmas 0-5 Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s Atletico were in rampant mood, smashing Las Palmas for five while the usually confident hosts went down to ten men. Star of the show was Kevin Gameiro with a first-half brace, and the win cements Atletico in third place; ideal preparation for the Madrid Champions League clash this week.
Malaga 4-2 Sevilla
Malaga saw off fourth-placed Sevilla in an entertaining clash. The visitors’ Franco Vazquez scored either side of half-time as did Malaga, through Pablo Fornals with a first-half screamer, and Sandro Ramirez. Diego Llorente gave the hosts a 3-2 lead with a deft header before Juankar made the points safe on 89 minutes.
Villarreal 3-1 Sporting Gijon
The Yellow Submarine stay in the Europa hunt after consigning Sporting to a seventh consecutive winless game. Cedric Bakambu did the damage with a brace, and the defeat leaves Sporting six points from safety with three games left.
Celta Vigo 0-3 Athletic Club
Celta Vigo continue to protect its players in the run up to the Europa League tie with Manchester United and lost again to sixth-placed Athletic Club. Raul Garcia scored either side of half-time before Mikel Rico wrapped up the points with a late third.
Eibar 2-0 Leganes
Two goals in five second-half minutes gave Eibar a win to keep them in eighth. Kike Garcia and Sergi Enrich both struck soon after the hour. Leganes tried in vain to get back in the game, but six points above the drop is agonisingly close to safety and that would be some achievement.
Real Betis 1-4 Alaves
A second-half blitz by Copa finalists Alaves turned this match on its head after Ruben Pardo had fired the hosts in front. Three goals in ten minutes from Nenad Krsticic, Ruben Sobrino and Christian Santos put Alaves firmly in charge before Aleksandar Katai added a last-minute fourth.
Osasuna 2-2 Deportivo La Coruna
Relegated Osasuna can at least play with freedom now and shared the spoils with Deportivo in an entertaining tussle. Jhon Mondragon gave the hosts an early lead before Guilherme dos Santos scored twice to put Depor in charge. A Juanfran own goal gave the home fans a rare cheer.
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