Can Barcelona Catch Athletico? Sevilla Take the Round’s Only Win

This one offered all three, but no change at the top: Athletico Madrid lead Barcelona by a point, with both having played 36 times, and the season still has room to breathe.

Sevilla strike, Espanyol stay put

His low, hard drive from outside the box travelled through the middle and gave a crowd of 43,135 the moment it had come to see. It was a clean, decisive finish in a game whose consequence was plain: Sevilla sit 10th, Espanyol 14th.

José Antonio was the outstanding player of the match, and on an afternoon of draws elsewhere his goal stood alone as the round’s only one among these leading reports. Sevilla did, and Espanyol left without a point.

Vallecano’s pressure, Leganés’ last stand

Also on Friday, Vallecano and Leganés shared a 0-0. Seydouba Guilavogui, assured in possession and named the match’s best player, helped Vallecano control much of the contest, but there was no goal to reward the effort.

Nuno Queirós was sent off in the 86th minute, leaving Leganés to see out the closing moments a man short. It was a hard turn for a young player who has been part of the club’s world for years, but the result still gave the visitors something precious: Leganés are 19th, level on 33 points with 18th-placed Oviedo, though they have played one more match. The bottom three are in the relegation zone, and the margin for error is thin.

For Vallecano, the draw leaves them seventh. That position will feel less satisfying after a game in which the home side had the greater share of the ball and a succession of attempts, but points are not awarded for persistence.

Levante and Leonesa leave it goalless

Today, Levante and C. Leonesa drew 0-0. Óscar Moré was the standout player, but neither side found the goal that might have shifted its place in the table. Levante are 11th; C. Leonesa remain 20th on 24 points, with the season’s danger now written plainly beside their name.

The table’s hard arithmetic

Athletico Madrid remain top on 79 points, one ahead of Barcelona, with each club having played 36 matches. The title race that has kept these pages busy for weeks is still alive; on 29 April, Athletico led by a point, and the same narrow separation remains. Villarreal are third on 67, followed by Girona on 60 and Real Sociedad on 59.

At the other end, Oviedo are 18th and Leganés 19th, both on 33 points, while C. Leonesa are bottom. Leganés’ draw did not lift them out of danger, but it kept them level with Oviedo despite having played once more. That is the sort of small gain that can matter when the calendar is nearly spent.

Instead, the round offered Sevilla’s single sharp finish, two stubborn goalless draws and a sending-off that will linger in Leganés’ memory.