Levante and Sporting edge closer to the unthinkable: La Liga Round-Up and Highlights

By Staff Writer
Updated: 29 April, 2012

GETTY IMAGES

There were big wins for Levante and Sporting Gijon on Saturday as Spain’s top flight edged towards a nail baiting finale with just two rounds of games remaining.

This season’s surprise package, Levante, moved a step closer to securing a remarkable top four finish after brushing aside Granada 3-1 at the Ciutat de Valencia. Ivorian international Arouna Kone gave the hosts the lead immediately after the break before Abel Resino’s side drew level when Odion Ighalo struck in the 67th minute. Levante were the better side however, and were rewarded when Xavi Torres restored their lead just seven minutes after losing it, before Valdo made certain in the closing stages. Levante jump back into fourth spot level on points with Malaga, who host third-placed Valencia on Sunday.

Sporting Gijon followed last week’s victory over Rayo Vallecano to record a highly impressive 3-0 win at Espanyol; keeping their survival fight still very much alive and kicking. The visitors battled from the start but had to wait until just after half-time to break the deadlock as Adrian Colunga fired past Alvarez. Oscar Trejo doubled Sporting’s lead on 70 minutes before Mate Bilic hit a third 10 minutes from time. The win moved Javier Clemente’s side to within three points of Villarreal and safety; although the yellow submarine added another point to this gap when they drew 1-1 with Osasuna in Saturday’s late game.

Bruno put Villarreal ahead on the stroke of half-time but the hosts looked nervous throughout and it came as little surprise when Raul Garcia earnt a share of the points for Osasuna midway through the second half. Miguel Angel Lotina’s side now travel to el Molinon on Tuesday to face a relegation six-pointer against Sporting.

Racing Santander finally saw their stay in top flight ended as a 3-0 defeat at Real Sociedad confirmed their relegation to la Segunda. All the goals came in the second half as Antoine Griezmann bagged a brace before Imanol Agirretxe finished the scoring seven minutes from time.

In the day’s other game Mallorca beat Getafe 3-1 at the Colesium Alfonso Perez to jump three places in the table to tenth. Goals form Victor, Alejandro Alfaro and Tomer Hamed put the visiting side firmly in control before Alexis grabbed a stoppage time consolation for Getafe.

__________________

REAL SOCIEDAD 3-0 RACING SANTANDER

ESPANYOL 0-3 SPORTING GIJON

LEVANTE 3-1 GRANADA

GETAFE 1-3 MALLORCA

VILLARREAL 1-1 OSASUNA

____________________________

Videos courtesy of Acosart

Follow @icentrocampista