LaLiga early roundup: Madrid leave it late to beat Rayo, Villarreal keep up Euro charge
Elche 1 Sevilla 1
Ten-man Sevilla missed the chance to move into the European places after being held 1-1 by already-relegated Elche, who made it three games unbeaten in LaLiga for the first time since May 2022.
Los Franjiverdes have belatedly picked up form in recent weeks under Sebastian Beccacece, their fourth permanent manager of the season.
Coincidentally, Beccacece was appointed on the same day (March 21st) as his opposite number Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Since the 62-year-old’s appointment, Sevilla had earned 20 points heading into this gameweek - a figure only eclipsed in that time by Atletico Madrid.
And the considerable upturn in form under Mendilibar looked to continue when John Nwankwo’s clearing header went only as far as Pape Gueye.
The Senegal international fed Youssef En-Nesyri, who slipped in Erik Lamela for the former Tottenham Hotspur attacker to slot in his 50th career league goal.
However, after playing a key role in the opener, Gueye was unexpectedly dismissed as he went sliding in to win the ball, only to plant his studs into Lucas Boyé’s left leg.
Elche quickly made the man advantage count as Josan swung in a cross from the right wing for Tete Morente to divert the ball over Marko Dmitrovic via his right shoulder, with the winger outjumping Jesus Navas to make contact.
Dmitrovic quickly refocused to repel a stinging Morente effort moments later, with the Spaniard again trying his luck just before the break only to be denied by the Serbian stopper.
Beccacece introduced Barcelona loanee Alex Collado at the break before Mendilibar then opted to make a defensive change, swapping Lamela for Nemanja Gudelj.
The second period did not see as much goalmouth action as the first, although Navas was perhaps lucky not to be awarded a red card along with Gueye after catching Morente, before home substitute Ezequiel Ponce twice misdirected headers from searching Gerard Gumbau deliveries.
The draw means the UEFA Europa League finalists were unable to leapfrog Athletic Bilbao and claim a record-extending fifth straight away win in the top flight ahead of hosting Real Madrid on Saturday.
Elche, meanwhile, travel to Bilbao on Sunday in search of just their second league victory on the road this term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tete Morente (Elche)
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Real Madrid 2 Rayo Vallecano 1
Real Madrid left it late, but Rodrygo’s late goal proved enough to see off Rayo Vallecano in a 2-1 victory that boosts their hopes of finishing second in La Liga.
Los Blancos put in a blunt display as they managed just three shots on target, but eventually picked up the three points as the Brazilian curled home with just one minute remaining.
The Red Sashes, who were looking to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for European football for the first time, made a strong start, with Oscar Valentin fizzing one effort narrowly over the bar from outside the area.
Unai Lopez and Santi Comesana then had shots from a similar range saved, as Andoni Iraola’s side impressed going forward.
A far-from-full Bernabeu crowd rose to their feet in a show of support for Vinicius Junior on 20 minutes, following the racial abuse the forward suffered during the weekend defeat to Valencia.
Despite his red card from that match being rescinded, the Brazilian was still out injured, and his absence was telling as Carlo Ancelotti’s side created next to nothing until breaking the deadlock against the run of play when Karim Benzema burst onto Fede Valverde’s pass to round the goalkeeper and fire home.
That strike extended Vallecano’s run without a clean sheet to a dozen outings, but they were undeterred, nearly hitting back before the break when Thibaut Courtois denied Isi Palazon, while Sergio Camello headed wide.
The visitors saw less of the ball after the break though, with Real dictating the tempo without creating any real openings, bar Antonio Rudiger heading harmlessly wide.
Iraola’s side kept plugging away, and equalised with just six minutes left when substitute de Tomas converted from inside the area.
That looked enough to earn Vallecano a point - and end their 11 match losing streak at the Bernabeu - but Rodrygo had other ideas, running at the defence and deliciously curling into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The result all but ends the visitors’ hopes of qualifying for Europe, whereas their hosts are back up to second.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Oscar Valentin (Rayo Vallecano)
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Villarreal 2 Cadiz 0
Nicolas Jackson scored a brace for a third consecutive home game to guide Villarreal to a 2-0 win over Cadiz, keeping the home side’s lingering UEFA Champions League hopes alive.
After claiming a precious win over relegation rivals Valladolid on Friday, Cadiz knew that a win at Estadio de la Cerámica would move them a huge step closer to La Liga survival.
The visitors made an impressive start to the contest, and they nearly caught their hosts off guard when Theo Bongonda forced Pepe Reina into an early save.
Following that early scare, Villarreal swiftly stamped their authority on the contest, taking the lead in the 20th minute through the in-form Jackson.
The Villarreal striker rounded the onrushing Conan Ledesma, before driving across the face of goal and tapping home from inside the six-yard box.
The home side continued to dominate the remainder of the first half, and they thought they had doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time through Manu Trigueros, but his composed finish was chalked off for a foul in the build-up.
There was still time for the hosts to consolidate their lead before the break, as Cadiz gifted their opponents a second goal in first-half stoppage time.
After Pacho Espino gifted possession to Gerard Moreno, the Spain international found the run of Jackson, who for the second time in the first period, rounded the goalkeeper and placed the ball into the empty net to register his eighth goal in six games.
Sergi Guardiola attempted to lead the Cadiz fightback after the interval, producing a low strike that was kept out by Reina at the near post.
The visitors certainly carried a greater threat in the second period, but they could find no way past Reina, who was on hand to deny his former Lazio teammate Gonzalo Escalante, ensuring Villarreal ended their eight-game run without a clean sheet.
Despite recording a fourth consecutive home win, Villarreal are five points adrift of the Champions League places with just two games left to play. Cadiz, meanwhile, remain three points clear of the drop zone for the time being.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)