Liga F round-up: Atlético fall short against Betis as top three race heats up

Atlético Madrid saw their grip on third spot in the Liga F table loosen after their poor run of form continued with a 2-1 defeat against Real Betis. Meanwhile, Basque rivals Real Sociedad and Athletic Club secured three points in their respective fixtures to boost their top three hopes.

We will round up all the action from the final round of Liga F fixtures in 2024, including wins for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Granada 1-0 Madrid CFF

Edna Imade continued her impressive form to guide Granada to a third consecutive victory on Saturday. As the game entered the 14th minute, the 24-year-old raced into the box, before she slotted past Paola Ulloa to score in a fourth successive match. Imade’s ninth league goal of the season proved enough to clinch all three points, leaving Granada in sixth position in the Liga F table. As for Madrid CFF, they are in 10th place after suffering their fifth away league defeat of the season.

Real Betis 2-1 Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid gave up a slender advantage as they fell to a narrow Liga F defeat in Saturday’s away clash against Betis. Atleti led for the majority of the contest after Gio Queiroz coolly lifted the ball over the onrushing Paula Vizoso. Carol Férez levelled the scoreline in the 75th minute, sending her glancing header beyond the despairing Lola Gallardo.

Yasmine Zouhir then stole possession in Atleti’s box to tee up Naima García to score a dramatic late winner. While Atlético Madrid remain in third spot, they have now won just one of their previous six Liga F matches.

Deportivo La Coruña 1-4 Real Madrid

Real Madrid were made to work for all three points by Dépor, despite eventually winning the game by a three-goal margin. Dépor’s Francisca Lara scored the only goal of the first half, tapping in from Misa’s parry to leave Real Madrid with work to do in the second period. The hosts managed to stand firm until the 79th minute when Olga Carmona pulled the visitors level. Alba Redondo then guided the ball home from Signe Bruun’s header to complete the turnaround in the 85th minute.

There was still time for María Méndez and Bruun to add their names to the scoresheet to apply the finishing touches in a successful trip to Galicia. Alberto Toril’s side remain 11 points adrift of leaders Barcelona with two games in hand.

Real Sociedad 2-0 Costa Adeje Tenerife

Real Sociedad moved to within two points of third-placed Atleti with a successful home outing against Costa Adeje Tenerife. Amaiur Sarriegi required just 12 minutes to send an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top corner, giving Real Sociedad the early advantage at Instalaciones de Zubieta. The hosts were then given the chance to go to the penalty spot after Noelia Ramos was penalised for a foul on Claire Lavogez. Nerea Eizagirre kept her cool from the penalty spot to slot the ball into the bottom corner. Tenerife were unable to produce a response in the second half, ensuring La Real could celebrate their third win in four games.

Valencia 0-1 Barcelona

Basement side Valencia put up a strong fight in Sunday’s meeting with Barcelona. The hosts managed to frustrate the reigning Liga F champions in the first half at Mestalla. Unfortunately for Valencia, their resistance was broken in the opening stages of the second period. The referee pointed to the spot after Marta Carro had fouled Ewa Pajor in the box. Fridolina Rolfö shouldered the responsibility, rolling the ball home from the penalty spot to score what proved to be the decisive goal. Barcelona maintained their 100 percent record in Liga F, while Valencia remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Levante 1-1 Espanyol

Espanyol’s Judit Pablos Garrido guided the ball in from Iara Lacosta’s knockdown to open the scoring in the fifth minute. Lice Chamorro then spurned the chance to double the advantage when she saw her 44th minute penalty saved by Emma Holmgren. Espanyol were ultimately made to rue that penalty miss by Érika González’s 49th-minute equaliser. The Levante No.10 tapped in from Anissa Lahmari’s ball across the face of goal. González’s second league goal of the season proved enough to clinch a useful point for the hosts.

Levante Badalona 0-1 Eibar

Andrea Álvarez’s early strike proved to be the difference in Sunday’s meeting between Badalona and Eibar. The Guatemala international prodded the ball through Maria Valenzuela’s legs to score in back-to-back games. Badalona’s disappointing outing was summed up in the 65th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak was dismissed for two bookable offences. The win moved Eibar up to 12th spot, leaving them just three points adrift of Badalona in ninth place.

Sevilla 2-5 Athletic Club

Like their rivals Real Sociedad, Athletic are just two points adrift of the top three after they swept past Sevilla at the weekend. Clara Pinedo opened the scoring with a driven long-range strike, shortly before Raquel Morcillo found the net to level the scoreline. Jone Amezaga restored Athletic’s advantage from the penalty spot, before Maitane Vilariño tapped home from close range to give the visitors a two-goal advantage at the break.

Athletic went on to net two goals in the second period to quash any hopes of a Sevilla fightback. First, Amezaga slotted past Esther Sullastres to score her second goal of the contest. Sara Ortega then put her name on the scoresheet to take Athletic’s tally to five. Morcillo managed to pull a goal back in the 65th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation in a heavy defeat.

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