Real Valladolid delivered a significant blow to Barcelona’s La Liga title defense as they secured a crucial 3-1 triumph on Tuesday, bolstering their own hopes of avoiding relegation.
Right from the start, the hosts displayed their worth and now find themselves in 17th place, provisionally three points clear of the dreaded drop zone.
The match got off to an unexpected start when Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, giving Valladolid an early advantage.
Canadian striker Cyle Larin extended Valladolid’s lead by converting a penalty after Eric Garcia fouled Gonzalo Plata inside the box.
The Ecuadorian winger himself sealed the victory for the hosts with a goal on the counterattack.
Despite Barcelona’s efforts, their top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski managed to pull one back in the final stages.
During the game, Barcelona winger Raphinha showed his support for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, who had suffered racial abuse from Valencia fans in their previous match.
Raphinha displayed a message on his shirt after being substituted, emphasizing the need to eradicate racism from football.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong commended the gesture, highlighting the importance of combating racism in the sport.
Before kickoff, players from both teams united in a display of solidarity, holding up a banner that read “racists out of football.”
This act was part of an initiative by La Liga and the Spanish football federation following the racial abuse incident involving Vinicius.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s young playmaker Pablo Torre made his first La Liga start and exhibited a promising performance.
However, the entire team appeared sluggish and suffered their second consecutive defeat. Manager Xavi acknowledged Torre’s contribution but expressed disappointment in the overall performance, emphasizing the need for improvement, particularly to bid farewell to Sergio Busquets and satisfy the fans.
In another match, Real Sociedad took a significant step towards securing a spot in next season’s Champions League with a narrow 1-0 victory over 10-man Almeria.
Takefusa Kubo’s superb goal just before halftime proved to be the difference. The win now grants Real Sociedad an eight-point advantage over fifth-placed Villarreal, who have a match against Cadiz on Wednesday.
Almeria’s hopes suffered a blow when Luis Suarez was sent off in the 36th minute for a rough tackle. Real Sociedad’s Japanese winger, Kubo, showcased his brilliance with a remarkable curling effort from the right side.
Although Alexander Sorloth had an opportunity to extend the lead, his shot narrowly missed the target, while Ander Barrenetxea hit the post.
Real Sociedad, who last participated in the Champions League during the 2013-14 season, can secure qualification if Villarreal fail to win any of their remaining three matches or if Real Sociedad earn two more points themselves.
Almeria, on the other hand, find themselves provisionally in 15th place, maintaining a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Celta Vigo, currently in 14th place, were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at home, leaving them with a five-point buffer above the relegation zone.