Round 22 of La Liga BBVA kicked off on Friday through Monday and we’ve seen some incredible matches take place. The Madrid derby took place, Sevilla dropped points, Barcelona got closer to first place thanks to Real Madrid dropping three points, and many other matches in which we only saw one game end in a tie. Let’s see how these games took place.
Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid
Six times these two teams met throughout the 2014-15 season so far and six times, Real Madrid was handed a loss with either dropping 3 points or being kicked out or losing the possibility of winning silverware. Though being the best team of La Liga so far, they haven’t been able to somehow find that spark to beat their city rivals.
Real Madrid had the absentees of Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez, who suffered injuries during the Sevilla match earlier this week. Cristiano Ronaldo was back from a two-game suspension but didn’t shine throughout the game. The Vicente Calderon Stadium and its fans had a beautiful scenery that you just couldn’t resist to watch in which fans waved red and white flags, representing the colors of Atlético Madrid.
The energy of the stadium seemed to brush unto the players. Atléti started out strong and caused problems for Real Madrid right away. In the 14 minute, Tiago Mendes started the brutality that Real Madrid would receive. Juanfran crossed the ball inside the box with Mario Mandžukić receiving it with his chest as it rebounded of Antoine Griezmann’s head, found Tiago just outside the box and Tiago struck it with such force that even Iker Casillas couldn’t stop the ball from going in. The ball bounced of Iker, but went under his arm and passed the line to give Atlético Madrid the 1-0.
In the 18 minute it was the man who came in for Koke, Saul Ñíguez, who got his team up on the scoreboard. Guilherme Siqueira raced down the left flank against Nacho Fernandez and passed it to Saul. Saul then scored the most incredible goal of the match, trying a bicycle kick with the ball hitting the bottom of the left post and going into the net to give Atleti the 2-0 lead over Real Madrid.
There was a controversial call in which Diego Godin had a chance to get his team up 3-0 but as he brought down the ball and went for goal, the ball bounced of Sami Khedira’s arm. The Atlético players reclaimed for the penalty, but the ref being so close to the play didn’t call anything and this saved Real Madrid from a penalty and being down 3-0.
In the 58 minute, Griezmann also tried a bicycle kick towards goal to put them up 3-0 but the ball went just over the top post and kept the game at 2-0.
In the 67 minute, Griezmann finally got his chance to get on the scoreboard as a cross to Saul at the far post was then passed down to Griezmann with a beautiful header from Saul. Griezmann then went up against Raphael Varane to get the ball first and Griezmann was able to get there first and tap it in under Varane’s leg. This gave Atlético the 3-0 lead but it wasn’t over just yet.
With a minute to go in the match, Tiago passed the ball to Fernando Torres in the right flank. Torres then crossed the ball to the middle of the box only for Mario Mandžukić to head it in nicely past two defenders and Iker to end the brutality and the game with a 4-0 score.
Real Madrid struggled and couldn’t do anything to get on the scoreboard. The man of the match has to go to Saul Ñíguez due to his beautiful bicycle kick and ending the play with a goal to get his team up 2-0 in the first half. With this game, Atlético Madrid gets closer to first place, being behind just by 4 points. Real Madrid faces Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday while Atlético Madrid faces Celta Vigo on Sunday.
FC Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona faced Athletic Bilbao on Sunday; a team that Barcelona has struggled against in the past but it seemed to be a different story on Sunday for the Catalan team. Seeing that their rivals, Real Madrid, dropped points against Atlético Madrid, they took the chance to get closer to first place.
As the game kicked off, Bilbao started out strong, pressuring Barcelona but it wasn’t enough to get them in the scoreboard early into the game. In the 15 minute, Lionel Messi put the Catalan team up on the scoreboard with a beautiful free kick. As Lionel took the free kick, it deflected off Ander Iturraspe’s head, but in the moment goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz thought he had the save. But the deflection threw him off, giving him still the chance to get to the ball, but as it got to the net, it bounced off his glove and Messi was able to celebrate the free kick goal.
In the 25 minute, Luis Suarez was finally able to score for his team after a long scoring drought. Luis Suarez passed the ball to Messi, who took time to wait for Suarez to get his closer. As Suarez reached the ball, he curled the ball and was able to get it past Iraizoz to make it 2-0.
In the 59 minute, it was Mikel Rico that got Athletic Bilbao back in the game. Claudio Bravo denied Unai Lopez first with a great save but Mikel got to the rebound and Bravo had no chance to get to that one.
But then the swarm of goals came in the span of six minutes. And it all started with an own goal by Oscar de Marcos in the 62 minute. Ivan Rakitic passed the ball to Luis Suarez on the right flank, who then crossed the ball inside the box. Neymar tried to get to it first with a header, but went past him and arrived to Messi. Messi had an open shot and tapped it in, with the ball bouncing off De Marcos and getting Barca up 3-1.
Two minutes later, Neymar put his team up 4-1. Rakitiç set up Messi, who then put it out for Neymar. Neymar curled it with his right foot and past Iraizoz to give Barcelona a bigger lead and its 100th goal of the season.
But two minutes later, Aritz Aduriz put up Athletic Bilbao back on the scoreboard. Bad defending came from the Catalan team, as Aduriz went against three defenders and Bravo looked poorly on that play, letting the ball get past him and under his legs to make the game 4-2.
In the 75 minute, Athletic saw themselves with 10 men on the field. Xabier Etxeita was shown a red card right away as he kicked Luis Suarez on the right leg.
In the 86 minute, Barcelona took advantage of being one man up and got them on the scoreboard one more time before the game ended. Sergio Busquets found Messi, and a magical play by Messi, who not only dribbled around the whole defense but also waited for Busquets to get up and run inside the box to set up Busquets with the ball. Busquets then put it over to Pedro, only for Pedro to tap it in with the back heel of his right leg.
The game ended with a score of 5-2 and got Barcelona closer to the title run and for first place. The man of the match goes to Luis Suarez who was able to finally score for the Catalan team and end the drought he was dealing with. Athletic Bilbao faces Espanyol for the Copa del Rey and then Granada on Saturday for La Liga while Barcelona faces Villarreal for the Copa del Rey on Wednesday and then Levante on Sunday for La Liga.
Valencia vs. Espanyol
Valencia faced Espanyol on Sunday night with Valencia fighting for fourth place once again seeing that Sevilla dropped points against Getafe earlier in the day. These two teams always put on a great game when they face each other with both teams being strong and creating chances but it was Valencia that saw the three points being added to the table.
Espanyol started out strong in the first couple minutes of the game, pressuring Valencia and getting the nerves really high. In the 19 minute, Rodrigo de Paul had an opportunity to put Valencia up on the scoreboard as he drove into the box before attempting to find the bottom corner, only to see his ball hit the post. It wasn’t until the 62 minute that we saw someone score a goal. Pablo Piatti converted an excellent cross from Luis Gaya to put Valencia up 1-0.
In the 85 minute, Valencia had their second goal on the scoreboard thanks to an own goal by goalkeeper Pau Lopez. Dani Parejo’s free kick smashed the post, before hitting Pau and dropping into the back of the net.
In the 89 minute, Espanyol was finally able to get something on board as well. Captain Sergio Garcia latched onto some loose Valencia defending and was able to fire one into the top corner of the net. This put the game 2-1 and Espanyol fans were hoping to see their team equalize the game at least and get a point, but it wasn’t possible as Valencia did their best to defend.
Espanyol pressured a lot during the last 4 added minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough as the game ended with Valencia winning 2-1. The man of the match goes to Pablo Piatti who was able to get a goal for his team and get them the lead early in the second half of the game. Espanyol faces Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday for the Copa del Rey and then Malaga on Saturday while Valencia faces Getafe on Sunday night.
Sevilla vs. Getafe CF
Sevilla went up against Getafe on Sunday afternoon fighting for fourth place of La Liga table standings but Getafe was too strong for Sevilla. Getafe out held their opponents throughout the game and was able to take the three points home leaving Sevilla to fight for fourth place again. Thanks to Valencia winning against Espanyol later that night, this put Valencia in fourth place and Sevilla in fifth, being only two points behind.
Striker Alvaro Garcia converted a penalty for Getafe in the 29 minute of the game that gave Getafe the 1-0 lead over a strong and great in form Sevilla team. Diogo Figueiras fouled Alvaro inside the box and gave Getafe the opportunity to take the lead, which Getafe took advantage of
In the second half, Sevilla equalized the game thanks to a goal from defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak. In the 66 minute, Vitolo tried to get one in the net from the far left side of the box but rebounded off a Getafe defender. Krychowiak got the rebound just outside the box, gave himself some time to find the perfect time to strike the ball into the net. He placed the ball and with his right leg he curled it past goalkeeper Jonathan Lopez to equalize the game.
In the 78 minute, Pedro Leon came in for Alvaro, who scored the penalty in the first half. Seven minutes later, Pedro Leon saw himself becoming the hero for his team. One of Getafe players was able to find an open space to shot for goal, but box Sergio Rico save the ball and as it rebounded Diego Castro went for goal. Sergio Rico once again saved the ball and tried to get a hold of it, but it slipped and Pedro Leon was there to get the ball inside the net and get Getafe the late 2-1 lead.
With Pedro Leon’s goal in the 85 minute, this gave Getafe the 2-1 win and we saw Sevilla go back down to fifth place and two points behind Valencia. The man of the match goes to Pedro Leon, who was able to get the late winning goal for Getafe and finish the game with three more points on the table and stay alive in La Liga. Sevilla faces Cordoba on Saturday while Getafe faces Valencia and hopes to also defeat Valencia and take away the three points.
Villarreal vs. Granada
Villarreal has been another team that has stepped it up in La Liga BBVA in recent years. With players like Jonathan dos Santos, his brother Giovani dos Santos or Bruno to the team, they have been able to produce some big plays and points into the title run. Though they have their continuous struggles like any other team, that wasn’t for them this past Saturday as they faced Granada and were able to take three points to sit in sixth place, just one point behind Sevilla, and three behind Valencia.
In the 30 minute, Valencia was given a free kick and it was Bruno who took initiative of the free kick. Bruno chipped it inside the box and found Gerard Moreno who then crossed it to the middle of the box only to find Mateo Musacchio. Mateo was able to get the ball past the goalkeeper with what looked like his chest and give Valencia the 1-0 lead.
In stoppage time, Gerard Moreno gave Valencia the late 2-0 lead. Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev got a perfect run after receiving a nice pass from his teammate. Denis went against a defender and just as he got inside the box, he passed it to his right. It went past Giovani dos Santos and right into Gerard’s legs to tap it in and end the game with a goal.
Valencia ended the game strong with a goal and Bruno deserves the man of the match as he was able to provide Gerard with a beautiful assist to get his team in the lead during the first half of the match. Granada faces Athletic Bilbao on Saturday while Villarreal faces Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
La Liga BBVA Fixtures:
Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 Eibar
Levante 4-1 Malaga
Real Sociedad 1-1 Celta Vigo
Cordoba 1-2 Almeria
Elche 2-0 Rayo Vallecano