La Liga Roundup – Week 25

Just when you thought La Liga was over fate has conspired to inject some drama into the title race like Barry Bonds injected steroids.  

Real Madrid won its 10th straight match defeating Espanyol 2-0 in Barcelona.  The veteran Merengues stepped up with Guti & Raul scoring to give Juande Ramos’ side a big road win.  The team Espanyol defeated a week earlier dropped points in a 7 goal thriller.

Barcelona lost an entertaining match 4-3 to Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.  2 goals each from Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan doomed the Catalans.  Los Colchoneros exploited a Barca lineup without Eric Abidal & Andres Iniesta and poor play in central defense by Rafael Marquez to defeat the league leaders.  The loss put The Blaugrana only 4 points ahead of surging Real Madrid injecting new life into a La Liga title race that a couple of months ago looked like it was over.

Here are the results & standings from Week 25:

Saturday, February 28th

Espanyol 0 – 2 Real Madrid
RMA: Guti (67′) & Raúl (72′)

Athletic Bilbao 1 – 2 FC Sevilla
ATH: Gabilondo (26′).
SEV: Kanouté (39′ & 58′)

Sunday, March 1st

Sporting 0 – 1 Mallorca
MAL: Arango (49′)

Valencia 1 – 2 Valladolid
VAL: Marchena (73′)
VLD: Sesma (6′) & Albiol (o.g 31′)

Racing 1 – 1 Osasuna
RAC: Serrano (12′)
OSA: Pandiani (45′)

Real Betis 2 – 2 Villarreal
BET: Sergio Garciá (42′) & Oliveira (57′)
VIL: Santi Cazorla (6′ & 36′)

Almería 2 – 1 Getafe
ALM: Negredo (16′ & 66′)
GET: Guerrón (7′)

Malaga 0 – 2 Recreativo
REC: Camuñas (54′) & Colunga (63′)

Numancia 0 – 1 Deportivo
DEP: Rodríguez (75′)

Atlético Madrid 4 – 3 Barcelona
ATM: Forlán (32′ & pen 79′) & Agüero (56′ & 89′)
BAR: Henry (18′ & 73′) & Messi (30′)

STANDINGS: