Goals: Villarreal – Espanyol – Played on 04/27/2023

Villarreal’s hopes for Champions League qualification remain alive

Villarreal secured a crucial victory against Espanyol in the 31st stage of La Liga, keeping their hopes of Champions League qualification alive. After losing to Valladolid and Sevilla in their previous two matches, Villarreal bounced back with a 4-2 win over Espanyol, taking their balance to 50 points and fifth place in the league table. Although they are still five points behind Real Sociedad in fourth place, they have seven matches left in the season to close the gap.

Espanyol’s survival chances diminish further

In contrast, Espanyol’s position worsened as they remain second from the bottom, four points behind the safety centers. Espanyol have struggled in their last eight matches in the league, managing only one point. Although they took the lead through Javier Boadu in the 45th minute, Villarreal responded quickly with Etienne Capoue’s goal in the 53rd minute. Daniel Parejo and Nicholas Jackson added two more goals for Villarreal, while Joselu scored Espanyol’s second goal. Capoue’s second goal in added time sealed the victory for Villarreal. Espanyol ended the match with ten players after Eduardo Ecposito was sent off in added time.

Valencia’s last-minute win boosts their chances of survival

In another match, Valencia snatched a valuable win against Valladolid in stoppage time, reviving their hopes of staying in the league. After conceding an early goal to Ciel Larin, Mokhtar Diakhaby equalized for Valencia in the 60th minute. As the match seemed to be heading towards a draw, Javier Guerra Moreno scored in the third minute of stoppage time, giving Valencia a 2-1 victory. Valencia’s balance rose to 33 points, putting them in 16th place, while Valladolid remained in 14th place with 35 points.

Conclusion

Villarreal’s win keeps their Champions League qualification hopes alive, while Espanyol’s struggles continue in their fight for survival. Valencia’s last-minute win boosts their chances of avoiding relegation. With only a few matches remaining in the season, every point is crucial for these teams as they strive to achieve their goals.