La Liga Gameweek 20 Summary Part 1

Getafe - Athletic Club (2-2)

The round 20 started in absolute the best way possible. Three penalties awarded by the referee Gil Manzano, one miss and four goals. The game started with an absolute screamer from Iñaki Williams who has now five goals this season. The game continued with a penalty awarded to Gefafe after the Athletic keeper, Iago Herrerin fouled Getafe’s striker Jorge Molina who scored the penalty. Right after halftime Athletic took the lead after Rául Garcia converted their penalty, and then again another penalty was awarded to Getafe. Iago Herrerin saved the penalty, and Getafe continued to press and after 74 minutes they finally got the goal from the substitute Ángel. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, and was a pretty fun game to watch as a neutral. A had a feeling of a Getafe-win in this game, but a draw was probably ok in this game.

Picture Source

Espanyol - Sevilla (0-3)

Sevilla won a La Liga game! Without three points since the start of December, they finally got their victory in a very solid performance. A early goal from Franco Vázquez sent Sevilla into the lead, and after 34 minutes Pablo Sarabia doubled their lead after a great solo run! At halftime things looked difficult for the home side who made two substitutions, and when Léo Baptistão missed a sitter in the opening minutes, it wasn’t the day for Espanyol. The €20M-man Luis Muriel scored the final goal at the end of the game with a great goal, and Sevilla took the three points, giving them a boost into the return-leg against Atlético Madrid at Tuesday. Sevilla destroyed my prediction in this game of a draw, and clearly deserved the points.

Picture Source

Atlético Madrid - Girona (1-1)

After a goal from Antoine Griezmann in the first half things looked so good for Atleti this afternoon, and Diego Simeone clearly thought that too. After 70minutes Atleti still had their lead 1-0, and now also Diego Costa and Griezmann was substituted. When Christian Portu then equalized in the 73rd minute things started to panic for the home-fans. A very disappointing result for the Rojiblancos when everything was so good, so long.. For the seventh time this season Atleti gave away a lead, and that’s not good enough if they want to compete against Barcelona this season. Now a huge match away to Sevilla will face Atlético in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey at Tuesday after losing 2-1 at home where also a lead was given away. Girona continued to impress this game, and got a draw which was not my prediction, but «luckily» Griezmann started to score again.

Villarreal - Levante (2-1)

I don’t know how Levante is going to survive. Only a very soft penalty this evening at the final end of the game, gave them a lucky goal in this match where Villarreal clearly deserved the win. The game started with a penalty-goal from Manu Trigueros, and continued with a goal from Denis Cheryshev. Samu Castillejo played an absolute outstanding game for Villarreal in this game, and clearly deserved a goal this evening, but it couldn’t be . Instead Levante got a consolation goal from the returning Roger Martí who is now finally back for the away side. Nothing more to say about this game to be honest. The prediction was absolute right here, and Villarreal would have deserved more goals from this game, and a bigger win.

Las Palmas - Valencia (2-1)

No Dani Parejo, no José Gaya, no Ezequiel Garay, no Jeison Murillo, no Gonçalo Guedes, no Carlos Soler and no Simone Zaza. The absences was clearly too big for Valencia this evening which had a very disappointing night against the «hopeless» Las Palmas. The game started good for the away side taking the lead with another Santi Mina-goal, and could have had another goal from Mina some minutes later, but instead his shot hit the post which gave Las Palmas the chance to react. In the 20th minute Jonathan Viera equalized for Las Palmas, but I feel Valencia should have had a lead going into half time.

The second half was completely different in my opinion, and when Munuera Montero gave away a penalty after handball from Gabriel Paulista it looked tougher for the away side.. Especially when you have an idiot like Gabriel Paulista who managed to protest so he got two yellow cards, and a red card. When Calleri then scored at the penalty there was no way back for Valencia, and Las Palmas got three vital points in their campaign to survive. I had a feeling here of a tougher game for Valencia than predicted, but I clearly mean they should have won this game without the penalty and the red card they got. Now Valencia will focus to qualify from the quarter-final in the Copa del Rey against Alavés, and their 2-1 lead from Mestalla will hopefully help a bit for Los Che.

Picture Source

//Steemitfootball