European Spots Slipping Away for Villarreal and Real Sociedad
La Liga’s chase for Europe took a dramatic twist this weekend, and not the kind Villarreal or Real Sociedad fans wanted. Villarreal, who kicked off the round in fifth place with 52 points, had the stakes set high. Every single point matters at this stage—so their 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad on April 20 felt like two dropped more than one gained. Yeremy Pino sent Villarreal off to a dream start, but things quickly got tense. Real Sociedad’s captain, Mikel Oyarzabal, proved why he wears the armband by bagging two crucial goals, one of them coolly slotted from the penalty spot. Still, Villarreal kept hanging in there, and Ayoze Pérez’s equalizer in the 60th minute gave hope to the Yellow Submarine, but the breakthrough never came.
For Real Sociedad, who sit in ninth with 42 points, the problems run deep. The goals came, sure, but they remain stuck in neutral with European competition drifting further away each week. Oyarzabal’s leadership shines, yet unanswered questions about squad depth and killer instinct keep holding them back. Both sides walked away frustrated, aware that opportunities to close the gap on those European places don’t come easy, especially with just a handful of matches left in the campaign. The pressure now ratchets up, with the next round likely to have a direct impact on their continental ambitions.
Alaves Edge Out of the Red, Survival Race Intensifies
At the other end of the table, the fight is less about European dreams and all about survival. Alaves, who started the round staring relegation in the face, managed to snatch a lifeline with a 1-1 draw against Sevilla. Kike García came up big for the Basque side, firing home an equalizer that keeps hope alive. That result means Alaves are just a single point away from 17th-placed Las Palmas, nudging them closer to safety, at least for now. The tension around these fixtures is almost physical—every defensive block and every saved shot could mean the difference between La Liga football and a trip to Segunda next year.
Sevilla, meanwhile, might have expected more from this match but couldn’t find a way past Alaves’ determined approach. The draw shakes up the lower table and makes the run-in for the final games nerve-wracking for everyone involved. With so much riding on each match, fans of clubs hovering near the trapdoor are likely counting points and nervously looking over their shoulders every week.
Other crucial games went down between clubs still within reach of Europe or fighting for their place in La Liga, namely Celta, Athletic Club, and Las Palmas. But the latest details haven’t filtered through just yet. What’s clear is that the battles at both ends of the table—whether chasing Europe or dodging relegation—are heating up, and the margin for error has almost vanished.
May, 14 2025