Bilbao Basques in glory as European race intensifies
Real Betis took advantage of rivals slipping up as the top four race heats up.
Every game matters. Of course they all do, but things feel even more significant at this stage of the season. With the games remaining dwindling into single figures, the pressure cranks up a notch and every dropped point is felt more acutely by players, coaches and fans.
Barcelona may be coasting towards the title, but in the race for European places and the battle to avoid relegation, almost nothing is certain yet. Saturday saw teams in 4th, 5th and 6th all in action, headlined by the Basque Derby at San Mamés.
The day began in Vila-real. The hosts came into this enjoying their best run of league form in years, and became the first side to win in the champion’s back yard last weekend. They were up against a Real Valladolid side who seemingly pressed the panic button in sacking Pacheta, struggling to score yet conceding plenty. But just when you think Villarreal have hit their straps, they do a Villarreal and make fools of us all. There will be no día libre mañana this weekend.
Moroccan magic saw Pucela 2-0 up before Étienne Capoue gave the Yellow Submarine hope of a comeback. World Cup stars Selim Amallah and Jawad El Yamiq both scored to give Paulo Pezzolano his first win in charge. Five goals and four points from two games is a better return than many imagined when the eyebrow-raising news was announced. The Uruguayan coach comes with pedigree from Brazil but was unable to watch the end of the match, having been sent off towards its conclusion.
“In the last few minutes I locked myself in the changing room. I didn’t want to know anything. I started to do a bit of cycling. I kept looking at my watch and I wanted time to pass”. — Paulo Pezzolano struggled to watch from afar.
Real Sociedad, therefore, had the chance to open up a gap and solidify their position in the fourth and final Champions League spot, and had the added incentive of earning local bragging rights by beating their biggest rivals. Iñaki Williams had other ideas though. He continued his hot streak by bagging a brace in a pretty comfortable win for Los Leones.
Rather than wallowing in another Copa disappointment, Ernesto Valverde’s side appear to be using the frustration as a catalyst to reinvigorate their charge for European football. Williams in particular is a man on a mission. Having not scored from October 30th to April 1st – his longest goalscoring drought – the Ghana international has now scored four goals in his last three games. He also loves a goal against La Real: this pair was his sixth and seventh against them as they became his favourite opponent in terms of hitting the back of the net. The second goal in particular was sensational, reminding everyone of how high his top level really is.
Imanol’s side will stay inside the top four but their advantage has been eroded to just three points with nine rounds to play. This is because Betis finally took advantage of the opportunity to make up ground. They beat Espanyol 3-1 on Saturday evening, consigning Los Pericos to a sixth consecutive defeat of the season. That is the worst run of losses by any club in LaLiga this season – yes, even Elche have avoided losing six on the spin! Luis García has not provided any kind of reactionary bounce in results, and Espanyol are now strong candidates to join Elche in Segunda next season. Their game at home to Cádiz next Friday night looks like a must-win.
Back to Betis, they were aided by Ayoze Pérez contributing a goal and an assist in the first half to put themselves into a commanding position. Espanyol got one back through a sensational overhead kick from César Montes, but William Carvalho soon re-established the two-goal cushion. It was Manuel Pellegrini’s 50th win in charge of Betis across all competitions, and the fans are loving the progression under the Chilean. If they can find some consistency over the remaining nine games, the golden ticket of Champions League football could be within their reach. Real Sociedad, the current incumbents of that coveted spot, visit Seville in nine days in what will be a hugely significant clash. Pellegrini has already delivered silverware. Now the prospect of glittering nights at the Benito Villamarín has fans dreaming again.