FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.05.2010 14:21

Spanish League Roundup: Week 35

www.fcbarcelona.cat

We’re all set for a nail biting finish to the La Liga season here in Spain. With just three matches left to play over the next two weeks, there’s still very little decided at either end of the table.

Barca and Real Madrid secured their places in next season’s Champions League some time ago but Valencia (65 points), Mallorca (59) and Sevilla (57) are still locked in a desperate battle to take the two remaining spots. Whoever loses out will have to settle for one of the two slots available in the Europa League. Meanwhile, another three teams all have realistic hopes of taking one of those two Europa League places - Villarreal (52 points), Getafe (51) and Athletic Club Bilbao (50).

Real Madrid twice went behind at home to Osasuna before another providential late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo (min.89) cancelled out a poor defensive performance to seal a 3-2 victory and keep the side from the Spanish capital in the hunt for the league title.

Imposing Serbian striker Zigic replaced Valencia’s star Spanish striker David Villa in the 59th minutes of their match away to Espanyol in Barcelona – and then punished the home side with two goals in the remaining half hour (0-2). With six points separating Valencia from their closest pursuers, Mallorca, they look almost certain to take third place.

For their part, Mallorca hit three goals in a ten-minute spell either side of the break to secure a vital 1-3 victory away to Athletic Bilbao and take another giant step forward in their battle to join the big two in the Champions League next season.

Meanwhile, Sevilla, Mallorca’s main competitors for fourth place, did what Liverpool failed to do earlier in the week in the Europa League and defeated Atletico Madrid 3-1. This result keeps the Andalus outfit two points behind Mallorca and five points clear of Villarreal.

Race for Europa League wide open

Turning to the battle for fifth and sixth place in La Liga, Getafe failed to take full advantage of the defeats of closest rivals Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao after a disappointing goalless draw away to relegation threatened Valladolid. However, they extended their lead over Deportivo in 9th place to six points after the Galicians continued their astonishing decline with a 0-1 defeat at home to another team still in fear of the drop, Zaragoza.

Win for Tenerife ahead of Barca visit

Meanwhile, down at the bottom end of the table, there’s also plenty of competition to see who will be playing the Second Division A next season. Despite a 2-1 home win over Almeria, Xerez stay rooted to the foot of the table five points adrift of Malaga who escape the bottom three on goal difference only. While Valladolid continued their excellent run of results since Javier Clemente took over as manager by taking a point at home to high-flying Getafe, Tenerife went one better and collected all three points thanks to a 2-1 victory at home to Racing ahead of their visit to the Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Finally, Malaga must have fancied their chances of earning all three points at home to a Sporting side that are by no means clear of danger themselves. In the end it took a late equalizer to establish a 1-1 draw that leaves the team from the Costa del Sol well and truly stuck in the relegation mire.