Was this the decisive weekend in La Liga?
Recent football games had opened up the race for title glory.
But after this weekend, sports betting once more strongly favours Real Madrid winning their first title since Jose Mourinho guided them to glory in 2012.
Osasuna 1-1 Malaga
Four minutes, three goals, a share of the spoils.
However, this really was a match the hosts needed to win.
Especially after Goran Causic had given them a 76th-minute lead only for Ignacio Camacho to head Malaga level almost immediately.
Villarreal 2-0 Granada
That result, coupled with this, lifted Osasuna off the bottom.
Granted, Granada produced a dogged showing, but they never threatened to further damage Villarreal’s European qualification hopes.
A goal in each half from Bruno Soriano and Alvaro Gonzalez made sure of that.
Alaves 0-0 Atletico Madrid
It seems that fourth place is the best Atletico can hope for in the league this season.
This draw left them further behind the top three and was a game Alaves were unfortunate not to win.
The talking point in this clash of the Copa del Rey semi-finalists was an injury-time clash in which home striker Deyverson and Atletico defender Diego Godin spat at each other after Godin clattered into his opponent. Further sanctions could follow.
Eibar 3-1 Deportivo
Another fine win for Eibar against a Deportivo side yet to win in 2017.
Deportivo had their chances, but the hosts were more clinical.
Florian Lejeune’s 72nd-minute strike sealed the victory just as the visitors were threatening a comeback.
Leganes 0-2 Celta Vigo
After their Copa del Rey triumph against Real, this was a potentially tricky test for Celta.
Yet they turned on the style at basement battlers Leganes with a professional showing to consolidate eighth place in the table.
John Guidetti’s penalty midway through the second half added to Alvaro Lemos’ opener.
Real Betis 1-1 Barcelona
There are two ways of looking at this.
Yes, Barcelona were robbed of a legitimate goal when a diverted Aleix Vidal cross was cleared by Aissa Mandi after it had clearly crossed the line.
But, if anything, that decision should not detract from a super Real Betis showing in which they hit the woodwork twice and were only denied a memorable win when Luis Suarez cancelled out Alex Alegria’s opener.
It left home coach Victor Sanchez del Amo frustrated, while his Barca counterpart Luis Enrique was diplomatic about the ‘goal’ that wasn’t – perhaps because he knew his side had got away with a point.
Espanyol 3-1 Sevilla
This contest was defined by the second-minute dismissal of Nico Pareja.
From that moment Sevilla were always up against it and, even when Stevan Jovetic equalised Jose Antonio Reyes’ penalty – awarded for the Pareja foul – it was always a big ask to play a whole contest with such a numerical disadvantage.
They held out until Marc Navarro headed home in first-half stoppage time, and Gerard Moreno’s 71st-minute goal sealed the points. Although Sevilla – who now slip to third – were praised afterwards by manager Jorge Sampaoli for their endeavour.
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Sporting Gijon
A tale of two penalties and more frustration for Gijon as they fail to close the gap between themselves and safety.
After being fouled, Duje Cop picked himself up to convert the resulting spot-kick 27 minutes in.
Iker Muniain levelled soon after the break and then won the penalty from which the ever-green Aritz Aduriz grabbed the decisive winner – this 35-year-old still knows the way to goal!
Real Madrid 3-0 Real Sociedad
Four points clear with a game in hand, and suddenly the title is Real’s to lose again.
Just when it seemed – for the first time all season – there was some genuine pressure on Madrid, their nearest rivals dropped points before Real had even kicked a ball.
Goals from Mateo Kovacic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata ensured they took full advantage against fifth-placed Sociedad, who finished with 10 men.
Las Palmas 3-1 Valencia
A league double and a good day for Las Palmas.
No sooner had they announced a loan deal was in place to sign home-grown Jese Rodriguez from PSG, they went on to seal an enjoyable win to preserve their unbeaten home record, courtesy of goals from Jonathan Viera, Mauricio Lemos and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Back-to-back victories had given Valencia a new lease of life, and it seemed like it may continue when Santi Mina opened the scoring but quickly ended when loanee Munir El Haddadi was sent off for two bookings in as many minutes.
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