The Liga BBVA promises a riveting final stretch

Matchday 30 in the Liga BBVA left all the battles in the competition even more open. Both at the top and the bottom of the table, things are tighter than ever and all the clubs need to fight until the end to achieve their objectives. This week SD Eibar tasted victory for the first time in 11 matches, while RC Deportivo and RC Celta denied Córdoba CF and Granada CF what would have been vital wins. Elsewhere Sevilla FC picked up another victory while Valencia CF drew at San Mamés, taking Unai Emery’s side closer to the UEFA Champions League places. 

 

A bad week for the hosts

Playing at home normally implies a huge advantage for teams, but it is not always the case. On matchday 30 in the Liga BBVA only three teams did the business at home. Atlético Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 on Tuesday to stay third in the league table, while on the same night SD Eibar finally managed to win their first match since 10 January as they beat Málaga CF 1-0 at Ipurúa thanks to Mikel Arruabarrena’s second half goal. On Wednesday FC Barcelona also ensured the three points stayed at the Camp Nou as they thrashed UD Almería 4-0 to stay four points clear at the top of the Liga BBVA. 

 

Arruabarrena brings the armeros’ torrid run to an end

SD Eibar got back to winning ways for the first time in 11 matches. The Basques managed to beat Málaga 1-0 in Tuesday thanks to Mikel Arruabarrena’s solitary strike, giving the armeros their first victory in the second half of the season.

After a good start to their maiden season in the top flight, Eibar had only managed to pick up two points in the second half of the season and had not won won a match since matchday 18, when they beat Getafe 2-1 thanks to goals by Manu del Moral and Ander Capa. Thanks to the victory, Gaizka Garitano’s side move on to 31 points, six above the relegation zone.

 

The Galician sides leave it late

RC Deportivo and RC Celta picked up draws by scoring late goals in their matches, and making things even more difficult for their respective opponents. Córdoba CF and Granada CF, who both lie in the relegation zone, came so close to getting a vital victory. The side from Coruña hosted bottom-side Córdoba, who took the lead through Florin, but the Romanian striker put the ball through his own net to level the game in the 87th minute.

Granada also took the lead in their match at Los Cármenes thanks to Robert Ibañez’s early goal. The nazarís defended for their lives but were undone at the death when Theo Bogonda struck in the 93rd minute, scoring his first goal in the Liga BBVA.

 

The push for the Champions League heats up

The UEFA Champions League is one of the great objectives for the teams in the Liga BBVA and three teams are fighting tooth and nail for this goal: Atlético Madrid, Valencia CF and Sevilla FC. The rojiblancos beat Real Sociedad 2-0 to consolidate third place after Valencia drew 1-1 with Athletic Club at San Mámes. The Madrid side have 65 points, while Valencia have 62. Right behind los che are Sevilla FC. The hispalenses beat Levante UD 2-1 at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium 2-1 to move on to 61 points, just one behind Valencia, and will keep banging on the door to get into the UEFA Champions League.