Girona missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of La Liga, settling for a goalless draw against Almeria, the league's bottom side. Despite Almeria's lackluster record with just five draws from 19 games, they outperformed Girona, who were rescued by outstanding saves from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona faced defensive woes with the absence of injured David Lopez and Eric Garcia, and their troubles compounded as midfielder Aleix Garcia received a red card for a professional foul in the final 10 minutes. Garcia's suspension means he will be absent for Girona's upcoming clash with Sevilla.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao climbed to third place with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. Alex Berenguer netted twice in the first half, showcasing Athletic's dominance in pace and aggression. Although Mikel Oyarzabal pulled one back for Sociedad in the 88th minute, they couldn't complete a comeback.
In another fixture, Isco's 76th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win for Betis against Granada, keeping the latter rooted in the relegation zone. Granada was inches away from an equalizer, but VAR ruled out Matias Arezo's 83rd-minute 'goal' for a tight offside.
Cadiz faced further relegation trouble after succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against Valencia. Despite Ruben Alcaraz leveling from the penalty spot, goals from Hugo Duro, Diego Lopez, Javi Guerra, and Jesus Vazquez secured a comprehensive win for Valencia.
Villarreal's woes continued with a 3-0 defeat to Las Palmas, following their cup defeat to third-tier Unionistas. Kirian Rodriguez's two goals, along with Juan Herzog's header, condemned Villarreal to another disappointing result.
The match between Mallorca and Celta Vigo ended in a 1-1 draw, with Iago Aspas scoring for Celta in the 10th minute, answered by Cyle Larin's equalizer just before halftime.
On Friday night, Alaves secured three crucial points with a 3-2 win over Sevilla. Despite Sevilla's comeback from 2-0 down, Ruben Duarte's late winner exposed their defensive vulnerabilities, sealing a significant victory for Alaves.
(With Agency Inputs)
