The final five La Liga games of the weekend were played over Sunday and Monday. Join Gerry Johnston as he looks at the action.

Espanyol 2-1 Granada

Espanyol picked up a crucial three points with victory over Granada on Sunday. Felipe Caicedo gave the home side the lead on thirty-four minutes when he scrambled home after the Granada defence failed to clear. After sixty-one minutes it was the Espanyol defence that slipped up when everyone left a Piti cross from the left which eventually reached Youssef El-Arabi who tapped home. Granada were reduced to ten men when Juan Carlos received a second yellow card on eighty-two minutes. They held on to stoppage time but Espanyol got a winner when Christian Stuani was allowed to stroll in at the back post to volley home.

League Positions - Espanyol (11th); Granada (17th).

Sevilla 0-0 Eibar

Sevilla were unable to break down a tough Eibar defence in a game that ended Sevilla's run of four successive wins in all competition. Stephane M'bia thought he had broke the deadlock when he scored but the goal was chalked off as the ball went through Carlos Bacca's legs whilst the Colombian stood in an offside position. The referee decided Bacca was interfering with play despite not touching the ball and Sevilla were unable to get the goal that would have saw them go level on points with Atletico Madrid.

League Positions - Sevilla (4th); Eibar (9th).

Atletico Madrid 0-1 Villarreal

Atletico's run of twenty-seven league games at the Vicente Calderon without defeat finally came to an end on Sunday evening as Villarreal defeated the defending champions. The goal came on eighty-four minutes when Luciano Vietto turned Diego Godin skilfully before blasting past the outcoming Miguel Angel Moya in the Atleti goal. Diego Simeone was outraged at the referee after the game and he did have a case. With the score still at 0-0 in the second half Mario Mandzukic had a goal disallowed for a foul on Mario Gaspar. Contact was minimal and the goal should have stood.

League Positions - Atletico Madrid (3rd); Villarreal (6th).

Real Sociedad 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

The spoils were shared in the Basque derby wth the game ending 1-1 in Anoeta. Carlos Vela gave the home side the lead after just three minutes when he met a Gonzalo Castro cross with a powerful header. Bilbao equalised on sixty-one minutes when a teasing cross from Susaeta was volleyed home by Oscar de Marcos. Aymeric Laporte was sent off on eighty minutes for the visitors and despite Sergio Canales going close on two occasions Sociedad were unable to get the winner.

League Positions - Real Sociedad (14th); Athletic Bilbao (10th).

Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 Elche

Deportivo moved out of the relegation zone with a victory over fellow strugglers, Elche, on Monday evening. Luis Farina netted the only goal of the game after twenty-two minutes and it was a finish worthy of the three points. Elche failed to clear and Farina picked up the ball in the left of the penalty box and shifted it on to his right foot before curling into the top corner past Przemyslaw Tyton. Elche pushed for an equaliser but were unable to beat the impressive Fabricio in the home goal.

League Positions - Deportivo La Coruna (16th); Elche (19th).

Week 15 Results

Almeria 1-4 Real Madrid

Getafe 0-0 Barcelona

Valencia 3-0 Rayo Vallecano

Cordoba 0-0 Levante

Malaga 1-0 Celta Vigo

Espanyol 2-1 Granada

Sevilla 0-0 Eibar

Atletico Madrid 0-1 Villarreal

Real Sociedad 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 Elche

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Gerry Johnston
Cover Spanish and Italian football for VAVEL UK.