The Basques beat Mallorca (1-0) and the Betis tied with Cádiz
Valladolid thrash RC Celta and catch some air
MADRID, 19 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -
Real Sociedad won the fight for the place in the Champions League against Real Betis after beating Mallorca 1-0 at the Reale Arena, while Manuel Pellegrini's men could not get past the draw at the Nuevo Mirandilla (0-0) against a Cádiz that remains in decline, on a Wednesday that gave Real Valladolid a resounding 4-1 win over Celta de Vigo at the José Zorrilla.
La Real found its latest victim in Mallorca to extend, a little more, a winning streak that has already become historic. There are 8 games in a row in which the Basque team only knows victory and which, moreover, helps them rise to third place in LaLiga.
The momentum of the Basque team soon materialized in the form of a goal, after a good connection by one of the most fashionable couples in the league championship. Brais Méndez took a corner kick to the penalty spot where, jumping free of a mark, Mikel Merino headed the ball into the back of the net.
Kubo and Brais himself were able to increase the lead but were met by a great Rajkovic, who saved his team from going into the break with a greater disadvantage. The clearest of Javier Aguirre's was Angel, who ended up crashing a ball centered by Dani Rodríguez into the woodwork.
Already in the second half, the game of both teams was even and it was a VAR decision that prevented the vermilion team from scratching a point from the Reale Arena. The referee Ortiz Arias annulled a goal by Amath for a prior foul on Aritz. He was able to extend his lead to the 'txuri urdin' team through Kubo, but the Japanese was not successful.
Imanol Alguacil's men end the day in Champions League positions, surpassing Atlético de Madrid (20) in the table and equaling FC Barcelona (22) on points, while Mallorca complicates life by closely watching the area of decline.
In addition, Betis was not able to put an end to a two-month streak without winning in the League as a visitor and could not get past the draw against a Cádiz team that deserved more and did not stop trying for 90 minutes. The urgency of the locals to get out of the relegation zone soon translated into great intensity.
The depth of the Cadiz wingers put Verdiblanco goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in trouble, who, with his interventions, stopped the local momentum. Thus came the clearest opportunity for Cádiz in the first half, a shot by Álex Fernández from inside the area that, after brushing against a central defender, took out the Chilean goalkeeper with his feet.
Brian Ocampo became the nightmare of the Betis defense and although on several occasions he had it in his boots to undo the tie, the Cadista team met again in the second half with an excellent Bravo who, like Ledesma, were the best of their teams.
The clearest, however, was from Lucas Pérez, who in added time started a counterattack after stealing a ball in the center of the field and after reaching the rival area with little strength, he sent the ball high. Almost with the whistle in hand to blow the final whistle, Mateu Lahoz expelled Canales for a double yellow due to the Cantabrian midfielder's protests.
Not having won at home yet is still too heavy a burden for Sergio González's team, who despite the improvement shown in the last five games, with one win and four draws, have not left the relegation places. For their part, Manuel Pellegrini's men see their moment slowed down but remain within range of the 'Top 4', with the same 20 points as Atlético.
On the other hand, the deluge that flooded the José Zorrilla did not seem to matter to a Valladolid team that, after a brilliant second half, subdued Celta de Vigo with a festival of local goals.
The pucelano team, who had the goal as a pending issue, especially at home, soon got even and Roque Mesa's boots went ahead on the scoreboard. The Canarian player picked up a pass at the edge of the area and, after bouncing the ball off defender Hugo Mallo, surprised the sky-blue goalkeeper.
The joy of the locals did not last long when Larsen, after a great play down the central lane, tricked Joaquín and with a self-pass he left the ball to an Óscar who only had to push.
The rain did not stop falling on José Zorilla, and after an even first half, Pacheta's men took a step forward after the break. Joaquín finished off a measured cross from Aguado against which Marchesín could do little, or nothing, and Sergio León, twice, and after missing a penalty, sentenced for his team, making the final 4-1. The sky-blue team was able to make up the result but Masip guessed, also on two occasions, the penalty shot by Iago Aspas, who had to repeat the maximum penalty.
Pacheta's men take a breather with this victory and move away from the relegation places, while Chacho Coudet's men, with a victory in six games, are beginning to look over the edge of the last places.