Barça could be champions tomorrow
BARCELONA could win La Liga title tomorrow (Saturday) at the Camp Nou if they beat Valenciaside Levante.
After Barcelona's midweek victory over ALAVÉS (see report on page 61) the Culés had a chance to win the title providing ATLÉTICO MADRID were defeated at home by VALENCIA CF. But the ' Colchoneros' ended their clash 32 and delayed fireworks in Barcelona.
Barça could well jump onto the field as champions if Atlético Madrid fail to defeat Valladolid at the Metropolitano a few hours earlier. If not a Barcelona victory over the ' Granotas' will see celebrations throughout the city.
At the weekend Barcelona had maintained their ninepoint lead at the top of La Liga by beating REAL SOCIEDAD 21 at the Camp Nou. La Real should have gone ahead early on but Willian José fired over from close range when it appeared easier to score, while it took Barca until just before halftime to make the breakthrough as Clement Lenglet headed home from a corner. But the visitors were back on level terms just after the hour mark, Juanmi poking the ball into the net after being set up by Mikel Merino. However, the celebrations were shortlived as Jordi Alba restored the lead just two minutes later, the fullback cutting inside to find the bottom corner with a drive beyond the reach of Gerónimo Rulli.
VALENCIA are up to fifth following a 21 victory over REAL BETIS at the Benito Villamarín. Goncalo Guedes opened the scoring for Los Che just before halftime with a shot from outside the area, and just after the break he made it 20 with a powerful drive into the bottom corner. Betis got back into it with 12 minutes left, courtesy of a Giovani Lo Celso penalty after Gabriel Paulista had handled, while Valencia finished the game with 10 men as Rodrigo received a second yellow card. The home fans, meanwhile, called for the head of coach Quique Setién at the final whistle.
Karim Benzema helped himself to a hattrick as REAL MADRID strolled to a comfortable 30 success over ATHLETIC BILBAO at the Santiago Bernabéu. Los Blancos struggled to break down a resilient Bilbao defence in the opening period, but Benzema was on hand to nod in the opener from Marco Asensio’s cross immediately after the interval. Midfielder Toni Kroos should have doubled the advantage but fired wide, before Benzema got his second of the evening with another header, this time from a corner. The Frenchman completed his hattrick in the final minute with a lob from distance after visiting goalkeeper Iago Herrerín had come out of his box and presented him with a golden opportunity. Real remain in third, four points behind Atlético Madrid and 13 behind eternal rivals Barcelona.
Struggling REAL VALLADOLID came from behind to earn a muchneeded point in a 22 home draw with ALAVÉS. The home side found themselves two down early on as goalkeeper Yoel failed to clear and the ball bounced off John Guidetti and into the net, before Yoel made another error in allowing Jony’s cross from a freekick to find the corner of the net. Nonetheless, La Pucela got one back before halftime when Joaquín Fernández got a touch on an Óscar Plano ball into the box to beat Fernando Pacheco. The comeback was complete with 15 minutes remaining as Rodrigo Ely brought down Sergi Guardiola and Eres Unal stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick.
Struggling RAYO VALLECANO drew 00 at home to bottom club HUESCA in a match where a point was no use to either side. José Pozo hit the post for Rayo just before the break, while the hosts did have the ball in the net seven minutes after the restart only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for an offside in the buildup. The teams occupy the bottom two places in the table and now look oddson to be playing in La Segunda next season barring a miracle.
ATLÉTICO MADRID strengthened their grip on second spot after a 10 victory away to EIBAR. Clearcut chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges, although after the break Eibar stopper Marko Dmitrovic needed to be in inspired form to keep out efforts from Koke and Diego Godín. Nonetheless, Atleti finally found a way through five minutes from time when substitute Thomas Lemar got on the end of a Koke cross to turn the ball past Dmitrovic.
CELTA VIGO boosted their chances of survival after a 21 success over GIRONA at Balaídos. Iago Aspas put the Galicians ahead from close range on 34 minutes, yet Girona drew level after 48 minutes through Portu after a lengthy check by VAR. Even so, it was Celta who ran out the eventual winners with Sofiane Boufal notching the allimportant goal 20 minutes from the end with a shot from distance that went in off a post.
VILLARREAL’s recent upturn in form continued with a 21 win over LEGANÉS at the Estadio de la Cerámica. But it took until the
64th minute for the Yellow Submarine to score their first goal, with Carlos Bacca poking home, before Karl Toko Ekambi added a second 16 minutes later following a neat buildup. Leganés were awarded a penalty on 87 minutes for a foul on Youssef EnNesyri, with Nabil El Zhar stepping up to net from the spot and make it a nervy ending for the home team.
GETAFE remain on course for a Champions League place following a convincing 30 win over fellow hopefuls SEVILLA at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Two penalties awarded by VAR gave the hosts a halftime lead, Jaime Mata netting the first after a Sergio Escudero handball, with Escudero again handling inside the area on the stroke of halftime for which he received a second yellow card. Jorgé Molina this time scored from the spot and the same player made it 30 after 53 minutes. Getafe themselves were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes remaining when Djené Dakonam fouled Jesús Navas, but the Madrid side held on to leapfrog their opponents and claim fourth place.
LEVANTE earned an important point in their bid for survival with a 22 draw at home to ESPANYOL. Borja Iglesias opened the scoring for Espanyol after a quarter of an hour, but Levante levelled through Ruben Vezo on 62 minutes. Marc Roca put the visitors back in front shortly afterwards, only for Rubén Rochina to equalise after 72 minutes. Rochina was then sent off but 10man Levante were able to see the game out.