FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.05.2010 13:55

Spanish League Round Up Week 37

Nick Bedson

Saturday’s games in La Liga resolved just one question -Bilbao will NOT be in Europe next season, but all the other issues, from the title itself, through the final CL spot, Europa League places and the three relegation places remain undecided.

Real Madrid struggled to break down Bilbao, reduced to 10 men after half an hour, but after Higuain added to Ronaldo’s first half penalty on 77 minutes, they fired in three more from Ramos, Benzama and Marcelo to run out 5-1 winners to end any hopes the Basques had of playing in Europe next season. Seville may have been beaten by Barca, but their Champions League hopes received an unexpected fillip as Mallorca handed Deportivo their first win in 12 games as the Galicians welcomed back their iconic Brazilian Felipe Luis with a 1-0 win. Seville lead Mallorca by a point going into their final game in Almeria, with the Islanders playing Espanyol at the ONO Stadium.

Getafe in pole position for last European spot

Villarreal and Getafe are fighting it out to accompany Seville or Mallorca into the Europa League and with both teams winning on Saturday, it’ll all be decided by trips to Atletico Madrid for Getafe and Zaragoza for Villarreal next week. Michel’s team are ahead on goal difference after beating Malaga 2-1 thanks to goals from Soldado and Pedro Leon, whilst Villarreal beat Valencia 2-0 with strikes from Rossi and Llorente, but saw both Llorente and Capdevilla sent off.

Safety for some….

Almeria, Sporting, Espanyol and Zaragoza are all assured another season in the top flight. Almeria drew 2-2 at Tenerife, who have a last gasp Nino equaliser to thank for keeping them in the division for one more week at least. Sporting also drew, 1-1 at home to Atletico Madrid, whilst Espanyol bid farewell to long time captain Raul Tamudo with a 2-1 win over Osasuna and Zaragoza, despite losing to Xerez, are safe thanks to results below them.
….and nail biting for others.

That leaves Xerez, Tenerife, Valladolid, Racing and Malaga in the frame for the drop. Here’s how they stand:

16. Valladolid 36 points
17. Malaga 36 points
18. Tenerife 36 points
19. Racing 36 points
20. Xerez 33 points

Xerez’s incredible second half of the season continued with a 3-2 victory over Zaragoza, but they will need to win in Pamplona against Osasuna next week and hope that the teams above them all lose if they are to complete what would be an amazing escape. Malaga’s defeat against Getafe and their tough game next week puts them very much in the frame for relegation, whilst Racing continued their miserable end to the season by losing their fourth game on the run to Valladolid. The 2-1 win for Xavier Clemente’s team came courtesy of a comeback with goals from Baraja and Nauzet after Christian put the visitors ahead and whatever happens next week at the Nou Camp, Valladolid could stay up if the Xerez Tenerife, Malaga and Racing results all go their way.