Sunday’s La Liga action saw Athletic Club keep up the pressure on a top four spot and Rayo Vallecano remain relegation danger.
Alaves 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
Alaves secured key win over relegation rivals Rayo Vallecano in the Basque Country.
Victory means the hosts move on to 32 points, ten above the drop zone, as they edge closer to top flight safety for next season.
The home side were denied a breakthrough early on before Andoni Gorosabel chipped them in front before the break.
🔚 ¡¡¡CONSEGUIMOS TRES PUNTOS DE ORO!!!
¡¡¡¡QUÉ GRANDES SON ESTOS TIOS!!!!!!!#AlavésRayo | #GoazenGlorioso ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/ZMDlKWSLl7
— Deportivo Alavés (@Alaves) March 10, 2024
Rayo almost grabbed an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time as Isi Palazon hit the post.
Las Palmas 0-2 Athletic Club
Athletic Club have kept up pressure on top four rivals Atletico Madrid with a vital victory away at Las Palmas.
The Basque giants look set battle Los Rojoblancos in the run in with a ten point lead now opened up to rivals Real Sociedad in sixth spot.
Gorka Guruzeta continued his recent superb goal scoring form to nod the away side in front in Gran Canaria.
👑 𝗠𝗩𝗣
⭐️ Gorka Guruzeta#LasPalmasAthletic #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/6JbZVC6ctl
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) March 10, 2024
Las Palmas looked to rally late on, but an unfortunate own goal clinched the contest for Athletic Club, ahead of a Basque derby against Alaves next weekend.
Real Betis 2-3 Villarreal
The final clash on the Sunday night schedule saw a bad tempered five goal thriller end with three points for Villarreal at Real Betis.
Guido Rodriguez’s calmly taken finish put the hosts ahead, before Alex Baena tied the game, and Willian Jose fired Real Betis back in front before the break.
🗣️ "Half an hour in, Betis lead!"
Guido Rodríguez opens the scoring with a nice finish into the corner 🌴 pic.twitter.com/dlafopHFTA
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 10, 2024
Carvalho ➡️ Fornals ➡️ Willian José
Brilliant volley by the Real Betis forward to make it 2-1 against Villarreal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FWLfMunxd9
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 10, 2024
An own goal brought Villarreal back level after the restart as the match took another Sunday night twist.
Hard and low! 💥
Alexander Sørloth gives Villarreal the lead with a fantastic strike 🟡 pic.twitter.com/ujUYhxAR3c
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 10, 2024
Alexander Sorloth’s goal eventually tipped the balance for Villarreal with both teams losing their cool late on as Chimy Avila and Alberto Moreno were dismissed.
Chimy Ávila and Alberto Moreno are both sent off for their sides 😱
The two initially received yellows, but they were shortly upgraded to reds as tensions rose between the pair 🟥 pic.twitter.com/Qf6ibFobTE
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 10, 2024
Villarreal move up to 11th in the table as Real Betis remain in seventh place.
Images via Getty Images
