Villarreal Close on the Summit as Bilbao and Sociedad Deliver
Villarreal’s win at Vigo lifted them to third, while A. Bilbao, Real Sociedad and the sides in trouble at the bottom gave a scattered Spanish First Division round its sharp edges.
A header from Jonathan Delgado dipped low into the net on Monday, and A. Bilbao’s 49,528 supporters had their answer to a match that had refused to give them one. The 78th-minute goal beat Valencia 1-0 and settled a contest with consequences at the bottom: A. Bilbao moved to 15th, Valencia to 16th, with the Basque club taking the result that mattered.
There was no grand margin, only the pressure of a goal arriving late and the release that followed it. For A. Bilbao, a win over a side close by in the table was a firm step away from the immediate danger. Valencia left with nothing.
Villarreal’s afternoon on Sunday had a different rhythm, and a more emphatic finish. They came from behind to beat Vigo 3-1, a result that keeps them third and puts them within reach of the leading pair, though the gap remains substantial: Athletico Madrid have 79 points and Barcelona 78, with Villarreal on 67. All three have played 36 matches.
Luca Pivetti put Vigo ahead on 16 minutes with a shot at mid height. Francesco Meazzini replied seven minutes later, sending a low shot into the net. The next goal came through Moisés Baldé’s own goal in the 80th minute, before Juan Pablo Lomónaco struck low through the middle in added time to make sure of the points. Karim Diouri was named the game’s outstanding player.
Villarreal’s win gives the title race’s leading pair no room to relax, even if the arithmetic still favours the Madrid and Barcelona clubs. Vigo remain 12th.
Borge gives Sociedad a late flourish
Real Sociedad beat C. Leonesa 2-0 on Sunday, with Francisco Javier Borge scoring in each half and taking the game’s outstanding-player honour. His first came on 32 minutes, a high shot with his foot from close range. The second arrived in added time: after his own effort was blocked or saved, he followed the rebound and put the ball along the ground through the middle.
It was an assured display from a player whose consistency is part of his value. The Basque club are fifth on 59 points, one behind Girona and eight behind Villarreal.
Their meeting on Sunday ended 1-1, and did neither side the favour it needed. Jesús Ruiz gave Oviedo the lead on 16 minutes, heading low towards a post. Eduardo Cruz levelled on 71 minutes with a shot from close range at mid height. Ruiz was named the game’s outstanding player, but his side could not hold on.
Oviedo had 17 shots to Leganés’ eight, yet the home side found the equaliser and a point. Ruiz was replaced in the 72nd minute after a busy contribution; Cruz, who had also been taken off by the 80th, had given Leganés their route back. The draw leaves both clubs on 33 points. Oviedo are 18th; Leganés are 19th, having played one more match. That is not safety, and neither side has much time to improve the picture.
Getafe and Levante also shared the points on Monday, drawing 1-1. Lukas Schranz opened the scoring for Levante on 48 minutes with a high shot from outside the box, just under the bar. Manuel Brau’s header along the ground brought Getafe level in the 88th minute. Danilo Benrhoeft was named the game’s outstanding player. Getafe are 17th, Levante 11th.
Athletico Madrid lead Barcelona by one point after 36 matches; Villarreal are third, twelve points behind the leaders. Sevilla beat Espanyol 1-0 on Friday. But across this round, the clearest changes came from the clubs below.