With big games taking place in the Copa del Rey and in LALIGA EA SPORTS, the past week was an important one in the Spanish football calendar. The main headlines from those games are outlined below.
Real Madrid move top of the table… for now
Thanks to an impressive 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, Real Madrid have climbed to the top of the LALIGA EA SPORTS table. With FC Barcelona playing in the Monday night game, the Catalan outfit still have a chance to recover first place this matchday, but for now Los Blancos have put the pressure on thanks to their eighth league win in a row.
Valencia CF win a very important derby
There was a big derby in the city of Valencia on Sunday, with Levante UD hosting Valencia CF for a relegation six-pointer. Courtesy of goals from Largie Ramazani and Umar Sadiq, Los Che triumphed 2-0 to move further clear of the drop zone, while Levante UD remain second-bottom.
Getafe CF are four games unbeaten
Another team inching away from the relegation zone after previously sweating it out near the bottom is Getafe CF. José Bordalás’ men have picked up two draws and two wins from their past four in LALIGA EA SPORTS, including an impressive 2-1 win over Villarreal CF on Saturday.
Rayo Vallecano thrash Atlético de Madrid
Rayo Vallecano turned in one of their best performances of the season to overcame Atlético de Madrid 3-0 on Sunday. Goals from Fran Pérez, Óscar Valentín and Nobel Mendy earned all three points, moving Rayo Vallecano out of the relegation zone.
Real Betis make up ground on the top four
Real Betis remain in fifth place, but they’ve made up ground on the Champions League positions thanks to Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid’s defeats. With Real Betis winning 2-1 at RCD Mallorca, Los Verdiblancos are now just four points behind the teams coached by Marcelino and by Diego Simeone.
It’s two wins in a row for Athletic Club
By defeating bottom-placed Real Oviedo 2-1, Athletic Club have made it two wins in a row in LALIGA EA SPORTS. The Basque outfit hadn’t achieved back-to-back league victories since August, so they’ll look to build up some momentum for the final stretch of the season.
Borja Iglesias saves RC Celta
There was a big match in the European qualification race, with RCD Espanyol taking on RC Celta in Catalonia. A late Tyrhys Dolan looked like it might give Los Pericos the victory, but Borja Iglesias popped up with a 93rd-minute goal against his former club to make it a 2-2 draw.
Atleti have one foot in the Copa del Rey final
The Copa del Rey semi-final first legs took place in midweek, with Atlético de Madrid achieving a huge 4-0 victory at home against FC Barcelona. The second leg at the Spotify Camp Nou is still to come in March, but Diego Simeone’s men have taken a big step towards reaching the final.
Real Sociedad hold the edge in the Basque semi-final
In the other semi-final, Real Sociedad defeated Athletic Club 1-0 at San Mamés thanks to a Beñat Turrientes goal. The second leg in San Sebastián promises to be a thriller, as both Basque clubs seek Copa del Rey glory.
CD Castellón are the new leaders of LALIGA HYPERMOTION
There is a new leader at the top of LALIGA HYPERMOTION, with CD Castellón having defeated RC Deportivo 2-0. With Real Racing Club losing too, CD Castellón are the new leaders as they chase a first season at LALIGA EA SPORTS level since 1990/91.
