FCBARCELONA.CAT

06.05.2010 16:24

Spanish League Round Up – Week 36

After winning 4-1 in Mallorca, Real Madrid stay within a point of FC Barcelona with just two games to go. Mallorca’s defeat allowed Sevilla to leapfrog them into fourth place, while have Valencia secured Champions League qualification.

At least on paper, this was the hardest game Real Madrid still had to face, but although Aduriz put the islanders into an early lead, Madrid responded with a Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick and a fourth from Higuain to keep up the pressure on Barça, who had beaten Tenerife on Tuesday. Madrid are at home to Athletic Bilbao at the weekend and then travel to Malaga, while Barça will go to Sevilla before entertaining Valladolid on the last day.

Valencia secure third

Mallorca losing left the door open for Sevilla, who took their chance in spectacular fashion with a 5-1 win away to Racing Santander to move up to fourth. The battle for the last Champions League berth looks likely to go down to the wire, but the other three have already been taken, with Valencia securing third place with a 3-1 win against Xerez thanks to two goals from Mata and another from Silva.

Relegation woes

That defeat as good as condemns Xerez to second division football next season. Only a miracle can save them now, and things are not looking much better for Valladolid, who were beaten 3-1 at Atletico Madrid. They face fellow strugglers Racing Santander at the weekend, and should they win that, then their survival will hang on getting a result at the Camp Nou on the final weekend. Tenerife are the other side in the relegation zone, but both Racing and Malaga (who drew 1-1 in Bilbao) are also in precarious positions. Sporting drew away to Getafe, but a point was not enough to secure mathematical survival for the Asturians.

A solitary goal from the penalty spot was all it took for Real Zaragoza to overcome Espanyol, and that seems to have steered the Aragonese side away from any immediate trouble, as did wins for Almeria (4-2 against Villarreal) and Osasuna (3-1 against Deportivo).

Either Mallorca or Sevilla are now guaranteed at least a Europa League place next season, but the other slot could go to any of Getafe, Villarreal or Athletic Bilbao, none of whom won their midweek matches.