A roundup of Saturday’s action in Spain’s top flight…
[ MORE: Super-duper Sunday preview — North London derby, plus 6 of top 7 ]
Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona
Barcelona are doing all they can do — win — in their bid to usurp Real Madrid in the race for the title. While they entered the weekend — and still are — ahead of their El Clasico rivals based on head-to-head results this season, Los Blancos still have a game in hand which will surely decide whether Madrid claim their 33rd top-division title, or a 25th for Barca.
On Saturday, Luis Enrique’s side had more than just the title at stake — also at stake: the Derbi Barceloni, against fellow Catalan side Espanyol.
For 45 minutes, the home side held firm and refused to break, but once Luis Suarez put the Blaugrana ahead in the 50th minute, that was all she wrote. Ivan Rakitic doubled the advantage in the 76th minute, and Suarez completed the scoring 11 minutes later.
THE DROUGHT IS OVER! @LuisSuarez9 grabs the lead after a bad giveaway from @RCDEspanyol #beINLaLiga pic.twitter.com/vwIl761JMz
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 29, 2017
GOAAAAAL! @ivanrakitic makes it look so easy. Impeccable run from @TeamMessi #beINLaLiga pic.twitter.com/EthfeollsP
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 29, 2017
GOAAAL! Another gift for @LuisSuarez9 to score and earn his brace. #beINLaLiga pic.twitter.com/rRTdOaYZ0y
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 29, 2017
Real Madrid 2-1 Valencia
By the time the derby kicked off, Madrid had already applied the pressure and gone three points clear with a 2-1 victory that was a whole lot closer than the final score indicates.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, and Zinedine Zidane’s side was well on its way to victory. Ronaldo followed up his opening goal with a missed penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half, and Daniel Parejo pulled the visitors level with a sensational free kick just eight minutes before the end of regular time. Points looked sure to be dropped, and the door opened wider for Barca, but Marcelo was prepared to play the part of hero on the day, and the Brazilian left back bagged one of the season’s more improbable goals, a right-footed strike from the top of the box, in the 86th minute.
GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! @Cristiano's drought is over, and how about that for a cross! @RealMadrid lead 1-0! #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/3hBsv88yF1
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 29, 2017
GOOOOOOOOOOAL!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 29, 2017
Incredible! THEY NEVER QUIT! @MarceloM12 WITH A LATE @realmadrid goal! #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/Fkt6zws99N
Elsewhere in La Liga
Las Palmas 0-5 Atletico Madrid
Real Sociedad 2-1 Granada
Sunday’s La Liga schedule
Osasuna vs. Deportivo La Coruña — 6 a.m. ET
Real Betis vs. Alaves — 10:15 a.m. ET
Eibar vs. Leganes — 12:30 p.m. ET
Celta Vigo vs. Athletic Bilbao — 2:45 p.m. ET
Monday’s La Liga schedule
Malaga vs. Sevilla — 3 p.m. ET