Monday 26 February 2018 09:01, UK
A significant step was taken by Rob Palmer in the latest chapter of #RevistaPredictor, and there's life in the title race yet. David Garrido looks back on Matchday 25 of La Liga.
Kevin Keatings will be quaking in his boots. Well, maybe not, but 11 points is significantly less than previous advantages he's held at the top of the table, and it's mainly down to Rob Palmer reeling him in...
Enes Unal got only his second La Liga goal early in this game, but to be honest, it was a slightly scuffed finish, and Getafe only have themselves to blame after having not one but two penalties saved by Sergio Asenjo - still, Villarreal will take that victory after a five-game winless run in all competitions and a limp exit from the Europa League in the round of 32. They needed the result to make sure they kept fifth place, to stay on course for qualifying for the competition again next season. Rob correctly picked Unal for first goalscorer, and he, Jon Driscoll and David Phillips backed the home side for the win, so a point apiece there. Getafe's run without a win away from home extends to 11 games in all competitions.
It feels like Valencia really have now turned the corner - their first-half display perhaps deserved more than just a 1-0 lead, but despite Mikel Oyarzabal's equaliser after the break, Santi Mina's second goal gave them a third straight win. He's delivered beyond expectations, whether from the start or as a sub, and he's now top-goalscorer for Los Che, ahead of Simone Zaza. Four points to me for the correct 2-1 scoreline, and a single point for everyone for the Valencia victory. For Real Sociedad, life away from Anoeta is not getting any easier - that's five defeats on the road in all competitions, and how things have changed...Eusebio's side had won three of their first four away games in La Liga this season.
Only the second time in 15 months that Sevilla have lost at home, and yet on both occasions, they've conceded five goals - against Real Betis and now against Atlético. Antoine Griezmann's hat-trick will deservedly grab the headlines, especially his brilliant second goal, but Diego Costa's opener after an Ever Banega error gave Messrs Palmer and Keatings six more points each for first goalscorer, with Kevin and David P getting a extra point for backing Atleti for the win. Diego Simeone called the second half his team's best display yet this season, and it was historic too - the first time they've netted five away to Sevilla, who continue to be erratic under Vincenzo Montella. Title race still on...just.
As is the race for the experts' title in #RevistaPredictor, with Rob making valuable inroads into Kevin's lead...
Out there on Twitter, there were some notable efforts:
There were 14 points for @alex_farrar - who predicted both first goalscorer AND the right match outcomes at the Estadio de la Ceramica and the Sanchez Pizjuan. Also impressive work from @SamLeveridge, @Charterz_, @steven_c00k and @superkos - they each got 11 points.
We have midweek LaLiga fixtures this week, so the next chosen trio of games, for Matchday 26 of LaLiga, will be on Twitter on @SkyRevista on Tuesday.
