© EuroFootball.com
On Saturday, in the match of the XXXVII round of the Spanish "Liga BBVA" championship, the Valencia football players achieved a dramatic and important victory.
Unai Emery's pupils, in front of their own fans, managed to break the resistance of the Villarreal team with a minimal score of 1-0 during extra time and secured the third position in the league table, guaranteeing a ticket to the Champions League next season.
Also aiming for the top spot in the most prestigious tournament on the Old Continent, the Madrid "Atletico" club defeated the "Malaga" team standing on the fourth step at home with a score of 2-1.
Meanwhile, Levante of Valencia suffered a setback during this season, losing 0-1 away to the Mallorca team, complicating their chances to participate in UEFA tournaments next year.
In the previous round, Real Madrid players, who had already secured the champion's title, defeated the struggling Granada team 1-2 in stoppage time.
Refusing to accept the defeat, the hosts blamed the referee and received two red cards just after the final whistle, with one player even throwing a plastic bottle at the head of the match official.
In the second position, Barcelona thrashed the Espanyol team 4-0 in the derby, with Lionel Messi scoring all four goals for the winners.
Results:
Athletic Bilbao 0 - 0 Getafe
Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 Malaga
38' [0 - 1] Eliseu
69' [1 - 1] Koke
79' [2 - 1] Adrian
Barcelona 4 - 0 Espanyol
12' [1 - 0] L. Messi
64' [2 - 0] L. Messi (from penalty)
74' [3 - 0] L. Messi
79' [4 - 0] L. Messi (from penalty)
Granada 1 - 2 Real Madrid
5' [1 - 0] F. Jara
81' [1 - 1] C. Ronaldo (from penalty)
90' [1 - 2] D. Cortes (own goal)
90' G. Siqueira sent off ("Granada")
90' H.P. Moises sent off ("Granada")
Mallorca 1 - 0 Levante
55' [1 - 0] T. Pina
Osasuna 1 - 0 Real Sociedad
14' [1 - 0] I. Balde
Sevilla 5 - 2 Rayo Vallecano
31' [1 - 0] Baba
37' [1 - 1] D. Costa (from penalty)
43' [2 - 1] Cala
46' [3 - 1] Baba
65' [4 - 1] J.A. Reyes
77' [4 - 2] D. Costa
81' [5 - 2] F. Kanoute
Sporting Gijon 2 - 1 Real Betis
13' [1 - 0] G. Sangoy (from penalty)
45' [1 - 1] J. Molina
55' [2 - 1] G. Sangoy
Valencia 1 - 0 Villarreal
90' [1 - 0] Jonas
Zaragoza 2 - 1 Racing Santander
12' [0 - 1] C.F. Salas
12' [1 - 1] H. Postiga
79' [2 - 1] A. Lafita
