The past week was a special one in Spanish football, with a retro-inspired matchday and with several eye-catching results in LALIGA EA SPORTS. The main headlines are outlined below.
A retro matchday in LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION
This past weekend looked a little different in Spanish football’s top two divisions, although the look was familiar. Clubs travelled back to the past by wearing retro kits, while the referees’ uniforms, balls and graphics were also retro-inspired. It made Matchday 31 of LALIGA EA SPORTS and Matchday 35 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION extra memorable.
Girona FC hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw
The LALIGA EA SPORTS matchday started with a 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Girona FC at the Bernabéu on Friday night, with Thomas Lemar producing a stunning strike to cancel out Fede Valverde’s opener.
FC Barcelona move nine points ahead
FC Barcelona capitalised on Real Madrid’s slip-up, winning ELDERBI DE BARCELONA 4-1 to move nine points clear at the top of the table. This was Los Azulgranas’ second victory over RCD Espanyol this season, and means they are now just a few wins away from mathematically sealing the title.
Real Oviedo move off the bottom
Down at the other end of the table, Real Oviedo have finally moved off the bottom position and have overtaken Levante UD to sit 19th. The Asturian side have fresh hope and are just six points away from safety, after winning three of their past four matches, including Sunday’s 3-0 win at RC Celta.
Elche CF, Sevilla FC and RCD Mallorca all win
The bad news for Real Oviedo is that several of the other teams involved in the relegation battle also achieved victories in Matchday 31. Elche CF, in 18th place, defeated Valencia CF 1-0. Sevilla FC, in 16th, overcame Atlético de Madrid 2-1. RCD Mallorca, in 15th, beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0. Even 17th-placed Deportivo Alavés secured a good result too, scoring a last gasp equaliser to draw 3-3 at Real Sociedad. The relegation battle is certainly heating up.
Muriqi closes in on Mbappé
In the race to win the Pichichi Trophy, the prize for the division’s top scorer, RCD Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi added two more goals to his tally in his side’s 3-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. As such, he is now just two goals behind Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, with the Frenchman on 23 goals and the Kosovan on 21.
Villarreal CF strengthen their grip on third
Villarreal CF travelled to San Mamés on Sunday night and left with a very impressive 2-1 victory over Athletic Club, a result which strengthens El Submarino Amarillo’s grip on third place. Marcelino’s side could mathematically confirm qualification for the Champions League in the next couple of weeks.
A historic European night in Vallecas
There was also European action last midweek, and Rayo Vallecano produced one of the most impressive results by thrashing AEK Athens 3-0 at home in their Conference League quarter-finals first leg. The fans in Vallecas were left delighted by the performance, and now the team will look to clinch a place in the semi-finals in the second leg in Greece.
All to play for for Spain’s European teams
In the other European competitions, Atlético de Madrid stunned FC Barcelona 2-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, while Real Madrid lost 2-1 at home against Bayern Munich but will look to pull off a comeback in Munich. RC Celta will also need to come back, after losing 3-0 to SC Freiburg in the Europea League quarter-finals, while Real Betis will feel they are in a good position in the same competition after drawing 1-1 away at SC Braga in their first leg.
The Zarra Trophy could be a battle between two Barça boys
In the race to clinch the Zarra Trophy, the prize for the top-scoring Spaniard in LALIGA EA SPORTS, it looks like it could come down to an internal duel at FC Barcelona. Lamine Yamal currently leads the way with 15 goals, while teammate Ferran Torres is just behind on 14 after scoring twice in ELDERBI DE BARCELONA. Mikel Oyarzabal, on 12 goals, is also very much in the mix.
