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Analysis: Four things we learned in Spain's Matchday 32

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, April 22, 2024
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MADRID, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Jude Bellingham's late goal gave Real Madrid a 3-2 win at home to FC Barcelona and left this season's La Liga title race all-but decided, while Girona took a huge step towards assuring a top-four finish at Cadiz's expense. Here are some things we learned in Spain this weekend.

1. Real Madrid, champions elect

Jude Bellingham's 91st-minute goal gave Real Madrid three points at home to FC Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to 11 points with just 18 left to play for, and it seems virtually impossible that Madrid will let that lead slip.

Even a draw would have been a good result for Madrid, and Barcelona clearly knew that as they pushed players forward in the dying minutes looking for a win, which would have given them a slim hope of the title.

However, instead of finding the winner, they left spaces in defense that Madrid was able to exploit to make the rest of the league season a formality.

2. Goal-line technology, a no-brainer

There were three big refereeing decisions in the game which all went Madrid's way - the penalty which allowed Vinicius Jr to equalize at 1-1 in the 18th minute when Lucas Vazquez appeared to look for Pau Cubarsi's leg at least as much as the defender looked for his.

In the second half, Antonio Rudiger got away with a blatant foul on Ferran Torres, stepping across the Barca forward as he chased the ball in the area, but the biggest controversy came in the first half when Lamine Yamal flicked on a corner.

Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin scooped the ball out, but he was well behind the goalline when he did so. There was a long VAR check to see if the ball crossed the line, but incredibly there were no decisive images to prove either way.

Other major leagues have goalline technology, which would have instantly said if Yamal's effort counted or not, but Spain's league does not have this technology and that is a huge disservice to La Liga.

3. Girona keeps going and probably sinks Cadiz

Although Girona has certainly lost some of their effectiveness in the second half of the season and has dropped points on the road, they are completely reliable at home.

Michel Sanchez's side thumped Cadiz 4-1 this weekend to maintain third place, with a seven-point lead over fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and 10 points more than Athletic Bilbao, and with those two sides playing each other next Saturday, Girona looks assured of finishing in the top four and playing in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Girona was back to their best attack against Cadiz, using the wings and attacking in numbers. That was simply too good for a side that now sits six points from safety and is looking increasingly doomed to play in the second division next season.

4. Aspas, Celta's talisman and probable savior

Celta Vigo captain Iago Aspas has been arguably the best player in the club's history, and he once again sealed his hero status with a match-winning display as his side won 4-1 at home to Las Palmas to take a huge step towards avoiding relegation.

The 36-year-old has scored at least 12 goals in each of the past eight seasons and perhaps with the years taking their toll, this year he has only netted seven times, as well as giving eight assists.

Aspas opened the scoring for Celta after they had fallen behind in a vital game, before providing an assist for the third goal and scoring the fourth in a win that lifts Celta six points above Cadiz with six games to play.

The striker will be 37 in August and Celta will miss him when he finally retires. Enditem

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