Real Madrid has extended La Liga lead with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, while Girona also grabbed crucial victory amidst weekend drama.
MADRID, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid remained eight points clear at the top of La Liga after a 2-0 home win over Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday night.
Two goals from Rodrygo, one in each half, gave Real Madrid the win against a rival whose starting 11 and substitutions were clearly influenced by their appearance in next Saturday's Copa del Rey final.
Rodrygo opened the scoring after a diagonal run and shot into the corner of the net on nine minutes, and he doubled the lead 18 minutes from time after beating the offside trap and cutting inside to score at the near post.
Inaki Williams went close for Athletic, who can now focus their attention on their big game against Mallorca next weekend.
Also on Sunday, Girona striker Cristhian Stuani scored an injury time winner to strengthen his side's case for a top-four finish in a dramatic game, which saw Ukraine international Artem Dovbyk twice put Girona ahead, with his first from the penalty spot.
Willian Jose got Betis level on two occasions, but the visitors had to answer to Stuani's 92nd minute finish, which was given after a long VAR check.
A 58th minute header from Jon Pacheco gave Real Sociedad a 1-0 win away to Alaves to consolidate them in sixth place after Betis' defeat.
Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano drew 0-0 with a result that edges both sides closer to survival, while not allowing either to take a big step forward.
Celta had the better chances, but was unable to get the ball past Stole Dimitrievski in the Rayo goal, while the home fans were unhappy with some of the refereeing decisions against them, especially a goal disallowed against Jailson.
Played on Saturday, Raphinha's second half goal after a smart cross from Joao Felix gave FC Barcelona a 1-0 win at home to Las Palmas.
Las Palmas played for around 70 minutes with 10 men as goalkeeper Alvaro Valles was sent off in the 24th minute after bringing down Raphinha, who was through on goal.
Joao Felix then hit the bar when he should have scored, and Robert Lewandowski, Joao Cancelo and Inigo Martinez all saw second half yellow cards, which means they will be suspended against Cadiz, but free from suspension for the 'Clasico' against Real Madrid on April 21.
An early close-range goal from Sergio Ramos on his 38th birthday gave Sevilla a 1-0 win away to Getafe in a game marred by racist insults from a section of the home fans at Sevilla coach, Quique Sanchez Flores (who had spent three spells coaching Getafe) and visiting defender Marcos Acuna.
Almeria remains bottom of the table after losing 3-0 at home to Osasuna, who led 2-0 after eight minutes after goals from Jose Arnaiz and Ante Budimir, with Iker Munoz making it 3-0 in the 61st minute.
Mallorca prepared for next week's Copa del Rey final with a 0-0 draw away to Valencia, but Javier Aguirre's side lost defender Omar Mascarell to a muscle injury.
On Friday night, Robert Navarro's second half goal gave Cadiz a 1-0 win at home to Granada to keep their survival hopes alive and propel their rivals towards the second division. ■
