Betis moved up to sixth, ahead of city rivals Sevilla on goal difference, after a 0-1 victory at Getafe in the Monday night game. Adán saved a second half penalty from Portillo, and Antunes hit the post with a free kick, but with two minutes to go substitute Sergio León latched on to Barragán’s centre to poke home the winner. (02.04.18)
Atlético Madrid closed to within nine points of leaders Barcelona after a 1-0 win against Deportivo on Sunday, Gameiro getting the only goal from the penalty spot shortly before the break. Valencia stay five points behind them in fourth after they won 0-1 at Leganés, Rodrigo the scorer there, and the top four have opened up a fifteen point gap over the rest after sixth placed Villarreal were beaten 1-0 by bottom club Málaga. Chory Castro got the only goal from a first half penalty to give the Andalusians their first win in almost four months. The other two matches on Sunday, at mid-day between Espanyol and Alavés, and later in the evening between neighbours Eibar and Real Sociedad, both ended without goals in what has been a very low scoring weekend on the return following the brief international break. (01.04.18)
Two goals in the last three minutes by Luis Suárez and Messi saved a 2-2 draw for leaders Barcelona at Sevilla on Saturday. Valverde’s side appeared to be heading for their first league defeat of the season after strikes by Franco Vázquez and Muriel either side of the interval put the Andalusians two up, but Messi (who had been rested at the start) came on to save the day once again. Both teams play in the Champions League this week, as do Real Madrid, who won 0-3 at Las Palmas earlier in the evening, despite leaving several key players at home. In the absence of Ronaldo though, Bale started things off, and Benzema and Bale converted penalties either side of the break for the final scoreline. The other two games on Saturday involved teams fighting for the Europa League places, Girona holding on to seventh spot after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Levante. Granell gave the Catalans the lead early on in the second half, but Morales saved a valuable draw which keeps the Valencia based team seven points clear of the drop zone. Celta remain four points below Girona after they too drew 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao, Brais Méndez firing home an injury time equaliser after Unai Nuñez had put the locals in front. (31.03.18)