La Liga Matchday 33: Atletico Madrid and Betis Shine, Osasuna Continues Strong Form

The 33rd matchday of La Liga showcased several thrilling encounters on Thursday evening, April 24, 2025. Here are the highlights of the day’s matchups:

Atletico Madrid Dominates Rayo Vallecano

Atletico Madrid bounced back emphatically from a surprising defeat to Las Palmas with a commanding 3-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Madrid derby. The match began successfully for the home side as Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring just three minutes in with a well-placed header. Connor Gallagher doubled the lead with another header just before halftime. Julian Alvarez capped off a stellar performance, finding the net late with a precise shot after receiving a pass from Antoine Griezmann. This victory solidified Atletico’s position in third place, maintaining a six-point cushion over Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. Rayo Vallecano, now four matches without a win, remains in 11th place.

Real Betis Crushes Valladolid

In another standout performance, Real Betis secured a decisive 5-1 win over Real Valladolid, temporarily elevating them to fifth place in the league, putting them in contention for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Jesus Rodriguez kicked off the scoring for Betis in the 17th minute, but Valladolid responded with an equalizer through Chucky Lozano in the 41st minute. However, the second half saw Betis take control, with goals from Cuco Hernandez, Isco, and Romain Praud sealing a convincing victory. Abdelaziz Azzoului added a final flourish in the 90th minute, scoring the fifth goal.

Osasuna Continues Strong Push for European Spot

Osasuna claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over a struggling Sevilla, continuing their recent successful run. Ruben Garcia Santos scored the only goal in the 25th minute, and Sevilla was dealt a further blow with the dismissal of Dodi Lukabakio just minutes later. Osasuna’s win allows them to remain in the hunt for European competition, sitting eighth in the standings.

Dramatic Draw Between Leganes and Girona

In a closely fought encounter, Leganes and Girona ended their match in a 1-1 draw. Despite being down to ten players after the expulsion of Seydouba Sissako in the 19th minute, Leganes managed to equalize in stoppage time thanks to Munir El Haddadi, who equalized after Christian Stuani had put Girona ahead in the 54th minute. This result leaves both teams closely battling against relegation, with Girona now having gstart 11 matches without a win.

The day’s matches kept the battle for European places tense while adding pressure on teams at the bottom of the table. As the season approaches its climax, every point is crucial for teams on both ends of the standings