Valencia lifted themselves back up to fourth place in the Liga with one match to go after defeating Granada 1-0, with Real Sociedad slipping out of Spain’s final Champions League berth following their 3-3 draw against Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad held the upper hand ahead of Sunday’s games but needed a win against Madrid to keep themselves in the top four, and were thus dealt a heavy blow when Gonzalo Higuaín found the net after six minutes. José Callejón then doubled the deficit close to the hour mark, before Xabier Prieto and Antoine Griezmann levelled the score. The hosts were left reeling again when Sami Khedira struck shortly afterwards for the Merengues, and only Prieto’s added time equaliser earned them a share of the spoils.
The side coached by Rennais bound Philippe Montanier now trail Valencia by two points ahead of the final day of the season next Saturday, their rivals having moved into position courtesy of Roberto Soldado’s second-half goal against Granada. Sociedad must now win at Deportivo La Coruña and hope Valencia slip up at Sevilla.
Elsewhere, champions FC Barcelona prevailed 2-0 at local rivals Espanyol and Celta de Vigo boosted their chances of avoiding relegation by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid.
That lifted them up to 18th, a point shy of Deportivo, who lost 3-1 at Málaga. Also in the danger zone, Real Zaragoza lost 4-0 at Real Betis Balompié and Mallorca drew 0-0 at third-placed Atlético Madrid.
