The final weeks of the 2023/24 La Liga season will feature a fascinating top four battle as Athletic Club aim for a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Athletic 2-0 Alaves
Athletic Club move into the top four overnight following a superb 2-0 home win over Basque rivals Alaves in Bilbao.
The picture could change before the end of the weekend, as Atletico Madrid take on Barcelona, and the battle for Champions League qualification rumbles on.
The tie turned on a crucial moment on the half hour mark as Unai Simon kept out Luis Rioja’s penalty, and seconds later, the in form Gorka Guruzeta slotted the hosts in front.
What a sequence to put Athletic Club in front in this Basque derby! 🤯
Gorka Guruzeta applies the finishing touch, but the move started from Unai Simon saving a penalty to deny Alaves at the other end 🦁 pic.twitter.com/AoFrHFy2r3
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 16, 2024
Guruzeta fired home his second of the game before the break as he moved on to 13 league goals from the season.
Getafe 1-0 Girona
Girona’s chances of a Champions League spot look more secure than Athletic Club’s, but their form has dropped off significantly in recent weeks.
Despite being tipped as title challengers at the start of 2024, the Catalans have won just two of their last seven league matches, and they slipped up at Getafe.
In a game of few chances in the Spanish capital, Yellu Santiago scored his first ever La Liga goal in the first half.
19 – At 19 years and 296 days, Yellu Santiago is @GetafeCFen's youngest goalscorer in @LaLigaEN since Emiliano Buendía in September 2015 against Levante (18 years and 276 days).
Youth pic.twitter.com/9Mmj57Nq91
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 16, 2024
Getafe missed chances to make the win secure late on as Girona faded.
Mallorca 1-0 Granada
Granada’s relegation fears continue to deepen as they end the weekend cut well adrift of safety.
The visitors battled to keep Mallorca at bay in the first half and hosts missed some key chances after the restart.
However, as they looked to step up the pressure in the final minutes, as Antonio Raillo escaped his marker to head home a winner in Palma.
The captain looks to have won it for Mallorca! 😱
A fantastic header from Antonio Raíllo gives the hosts the lead late on 🔴 pic.twitter.com/jq0J4LfqKN
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 16, 2024
Victory moves Mallorca on to 30 points overall so far this season and they edging closer to top flight survival.
Images via Getty Images
