Title chasers Girona dropped two crucial points on Saturday, to hand Real Madrid an opportunity to pull clear at the top of the La Liga table when they host Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
Girona’s clash with Sociedad gave Michel’s title race gatecrashers a chance to return to the summit but they could not break through a stubborn Basque defence and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
With 52 goals already scored this season, Girona have a huge attacking threat, but they were without their injured top scorer, Artem Dovbyk, and lacked the killer punch, and La Real were superbly disciplined to limit their hosts to three shots on target.
Los Gironistas midfielder Yangel Herrera thought he’d broken the deadlock in the first half, but his celebrations were cut short as his goal was ruled out for an offside in the build-up play some 36 seconds before he scored.
And then Sociedad keeper Remiro made a strong save to deny Herrera before full-back Valery Fernandez missed a gilt-edged chance to grab all three points in injury time.
Next week, Girona will meet the league leaders, and they will do so with manager Michel in the stands after he was red carded for berating the officials, as well as Herrera and the experienced Daley Blind, who were both booked and will be suspended. Los Gironsitas must hope that Dovbyk can shake off his knee injury.
Now it’s over to Los Blancos, who play in the Madrid Derby at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night, the La Liga 2024 betting odds have already taken a sharp shift towards the capital.
Gundogan is pure class
Girona remain six points clear of their Catalan neighbours Barcelona who picked up an impressive 3-1 win away to mid table Alaves; and Barca’s cultured midfielder Ilkay Gundogan ran the show.
First he found Robert Lewandowski with a killer pass, and the lethal Pole chipped the ball over the Alaves keeper, and then the former Manchester City star doubled the lead with a clinical finish soon after the break.
Samu Omorodion headed in for the hosts, but any thoughts of a comeback were swiftly ended when Victor Roque converted from academy player Hector Fort’s cross. But 18-year-old Roque was sent off soon after when he picked up his second yellow card, with 20 minutes still on the clock.
The Catalans held on comfortably to record their third successive victory and moved into third place.
Ten up for super Duro… and Yaremchuk off the mark
Here at SBOTOP we reported the move of centre back Gabriel Paulista to Atletico Madrid on deadline day, but when Los Ches met Almeria on Saturday it was their strikers who took centre stage as both Hugo Duro and Roman Yaremchuck were on target in a 2-1 win.
24-year-old Duro is having his best season yet and notched his tenth goal of the campaign when he struck on 14 minutes, and Yaremchuck made it two midway through the second half.
Almeria’s Sergio Arribas halved the deficit, but, much as the bottom club tried, they could not find the leveller, and things went from bad to worse when Leo Baptistao was red carded for 93 minutes.
Miranchuck, on loan from Club Brugge, was delighted with his strike, saying, “I’m happy to be here; it’s a massive club. This is a big chance for me, and this season I will do my best.” Los Ches’ manager Ruben Baraja, who watched his team pick up a fourth win in five to move within two points of sixth-placed Sociedad, added: “Without doubt, it has been a contested match, but finishing and putting yourself ahead always helps.”
Bilbao keep up the pressure
In other La Liga 2024 news, a 4-0 win over Real Mallorca on Friday night made sure Athletic Bilbao kept in touch with the top four, and Ernesto Valverde’s side show no signs of being shaken off quite yet.
The victory took them to within two points of Atletico Madrid, and the inspiration came from an unlikely source, as experienced left back Yuri Berchiche scored a spectacular brace within the opening 16 minutes.
The 33-year-old, who is in his sixth season at Bilbao, hooked in his first goal and volleyed in his second to grab a double any striker would be proud of. He averages two goals a season, and Berchiche has made his contribution this campaign in just over a quarter of an hour.
Gorka Guruzeta and Iker Muniain doubled the score in the second half as the Basque side opened the weekend’s entertainment with a big statement.
The only worries for Valverde were injuries to Inaki and Nico Williams, who both limped off in the second half. The brothers will be assessed over the weekend to see if they can take part in the club’s Cope del Rey semi-final first leg away to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Things are looking good at Saint Mames at the moment, and the Basque club is in great shape to improve. on last season’s eighth place finish; and Valverde is eying a top four place.
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