Matchday 22 in LaLiga brought late winners, comeback draws, and emphatic statements from the title contenders. As the league enters a crucial phase, every result is beginning to carry added weight across the standings. Let’s dive right into the details of this round of matches.

Key Match Summaries

The opening match was won by Alaves over Espanyol with a close 2-1 score. THough the hosts scored the opener, Alaves equalised within 10 minutes. They also managed to score another goal in the 2nd half claiming the victory. Real Oviedo won a tight encounter with a 1-0 over Girona. Though the visitors kept most of the ball possession in the match, it was the solitary goal from Oviedo in the 74th minute that sealed the win.

League leaders Barcelona thrashed Elche at home, winning the match with 3-1. Barca’s high attack momentum saw them score two goals in the first half and one in the second half. After equalizing in the first half, Elche couldn’t withstand the visitor’s attack. The matchup between Levante and Atletico Madrid ended in a draw where neither side managed to put one past their opponent. 

Real Madrid registered a hard fought 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernebeu. The hosts opened the scoring and kept the lead alive until the end of first half. Vallecano managed to score in the early minutes of the second half equalizing the score. Two red cards for the visitors late in the match and a successful penalty in injury time ensured Real’s victory. The match between Osasuna and Villarreal ended in a 2-2 draw. The hosts kept the lead by 2 goals by the end of first half, but Villarreal managed to score two in the second half – ending the match on a tie.

Real Betis managed to win over Valencia with a 2-1 score. Valencia opened the scoring but were quickly equalised by a penalty awarded to Betis. The hosts managed to score another at the end of second half, bagging the win. Getafe and Celta ended their bout in a 0-0 draw. Athletic Club managed to draw their fixture against Real Sociedad with an equalizer in the 88th minute. Mallorca went berserk against Sevilla, winning with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline. Mallorca opened the scoring with a penalty, which was equalized at the end of first half by Sevilla. The second half saw Mallorca bagging three goals in by far their most powerful attack this season. 

Standout Players of the Week

Lamine Yamal achieved the highest Sofascore rating this weekend – 9.3 – for his exceptional attack and a goal. While Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford also added one each to the scoreboard, Frenkie de Jong chipped in with an assist. On the other hand, Álvaro Rodriguez stood out for Elche scoring their only goal. Antonio Blanco was the player of the match for Alaves, scoring their opening goal. David Costas stood out in defense for Oviedo in their victory over Girona. 

Danny Parejo and Gerard Moreno stood out for Villarreal in their draw at Osasuna. While the former controlled the midfield, the latter scored both the team’s goals. Mathew Ryan shone for Levante, holding a clean sheet with 4 saves against Atletico. Vinicius Jr. was crucial for Real Madrid, scoring their opening goal and leading the attack against Rayo Vallecano. Federico Valverde proved important for Real Madrid in their defence.

Keeper Álvaro Valles was the star of the match for Betis, for his incredible saves including a penalty. Super sub Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta made the difference for Bilbao, scoring the equalizer in the final minutes of the match. Gonçalo Guedes scored the only goal for Sociedad. Samú Costa was the standout for Mallorca scoring a goal, while Pablo Torre also pitched in with a goal.

Suspension Updates

There were 3 red cards this matchday. Rayo Vallecano saw two red cards against Real Madrid. Pathé Ismaël Ciss was shown a straight red for a foul, while Josep Chavarría saw a second yellow for an argument in the final minutes of the game. Sociedad’s Brais Méndez was sent off in the 83rd minute for violent conduct. All the three players are set to mix the fixtures on Matchday 23. 

League Table and Standings

Barcelona continue on top the standings with 55 points, with Real Madrid in second place just by one point. Atletico Madrid and Villarreal take 3rd and 4th places respectively, while Real Betis moves up to 5th place. Espanyol and Celta follow next, again separated by just one point. Real Sociedad and Osasuna take the 8th and 9th places respectively. 

Alaves, Athletic Club and Girona fall in 10th, 11th and 12 places, tied on 25 points. Elche, Mallorca and Sevilla – all tied on 24 points – take up the next three places on the table. Valencia and Getafe occupy the 16th and 17th places both on 23 points. Just a point below lies Rayo Vallecano, with Levante and Real Oviedo wrapping up the table. 

Looking Ahead

The next matchday sees Barcelona hosting Mallorca, while Real Madrid travels to Valencia. Atletico welcome Real Betis and Villarreal prepare to host Espanyol. With Barcelona and Real Madrid separated by just a point, the margin for error continues to shrink. Matchday 23 promises more movement across the table as pressure builds heading into the business end of the season.