Getafe - Leganés (0-0)
The first Madrid-derbi ever at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in the biggest division of Spanish football, will not be remembered as a great one. Few chances and no goals in a very tight game between two of the most positive surprises of the season. Getafe could probably had won this game with a huge pressure early in the second half, but Jorge Molina, Ángel and the rest couldn’t convert their chances.
Getafe will next weekend play against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in a very difficult place against the strongest side in the league. Getafe played a pretty good game against Barcelona at home, but their away record this season, is nowhere good as their home statistics. Leganés will try to do the impossible this Wednesday and qualify to their first ever cup-final possibly against Barcelona. They will travel to the difficult place at the Pizjuán, and play Sevilla away after playing a 1-1 draw at home.
Espanyol - Barcelona (1-1)
Water polo or what? A very intense derby, but the quality wasn’t that good because of the awful circumstances they had to play in. An awful pitch probably gave Espanyol the big chance to get something from this game, and when Gerard Moreno sent Espanyol into the lead in the second half it looked dangerous for Barcelona with Lionel Messi on the bench.
However Messi came in, and right before full time the hated Gerard Piqué equalized for Barcelona, and tried to make the Espanyol-fans silent with his controversial celebration after being booed the whole game, and the awful chants being singed against his family. Piqué can now potentially face a ban, but that would be very harsh if you understand Piqué’s situation. The final minutes of the game ended with very high temperature especially between Gerard Moreno and Piqué, but also Barcelona-defender, Samuel Umtiti was also clearly angry at Sergio García with racism being rumoured.
Now Barcelona will try to make their way through from the semi final having a 1-0 lead before the important game at Mestalla against Valencia. I didn’t see Espanyol pick any points here, but the pitch made it easier and Messi rested was also a clear factor.
Girona - Athletic Club (2-0)
Finally Athletic’s unbeaten run came to an end in a very deserved way. Yet again I would say Athletic disappointed with their play, and two goals from Christian Stuani killed this game in a game where Iñigo Martínez got this debut for Athletic, and finally goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was back in the squad for the away side.
In a very close battle and a very impressive first season in the league, Girona is now placed as number 9 which is so so good, by the players of Pablo Machín. I wonder what will happen to Athletic now. Will they improve, or is it possible to sack a manager with a 10 games unbeaten run? I am not impressed by Athletic this season, but hopefully for the Basquee-team, things will improve sooner or later.
Girona will have a difficult match next weekend against Sevilla, but maybe they can take advantage of the match Sevilla will be playing at Wednesday, while Athletic will have a «must-win» at home against Las Palmas.
Atlético Madrid - Valencia (1-0)
A wondergoal from Ángel Correa, and a nightmare-appearance from Iglesias Villanueva in a game where Atlético couldn’t get their first penalty of the season even though Diego Godin was knocked down by goalkeeper Neto, and lost three teeth. The first half was like their first game against each other when it ended 0-0 in a very even game, but in the second half Atlético finally got their goal with a superb strike by Correa against a Valencia side that have now lost five games in a row! Now Marcelino’s men will have to turn this around quickly against Levante next weekend in a Valencia-derby, but first will have to play Barcelona in the second leg of the semi final in the Copa del Rey. A very strange situation we also could witness in this game was when Antoine Griezmann was clearly upset at the fans and showed that when they was a bit pissed when he wouldn’t take a counter right before the end. A bad goodbye from the frenchmen?
Atlético will play against the dead Málaga at La Rosaleda next weekend before traveling to Copenhagen in the Europa League. Can Los Rojiblancos begin to dream again after Barca dropped points?
Las Palmas - Málaga (1-0)
Probably the most important game of the weekend for any team. The two weakest teams this season met to a huge match at the Gran Canaria stadium where you could clearly watch two teams in trouble. Not a match to remember, but right before the end Alen Halilovic got a huge goal for Las Palmas meaning Málaga now is finished? I can’t see no way back for the white and blues, but for the yellows hopefully for their fans, this can give them a huge boost for the rest of the season.
Las Palmas will now have a difficult, but possible opponent next Friday away to Athletic against a side that hasn’t taken that much points even though they have had a long unbeaten run this season before this weekend. Málaga will have a match against Atlético Madrid at home, but if you can’t take any points from Las Palmas. Can you then take points from Cholo Simeone? That’s the beauty of the game. You never know, and maybe Málaga kills the hopes of the Madrid-team next weekend. I don’t think that will happen, but it has happened much stranger things in this season than that could be.
//Steemitfootball