La Liga Matchday 28 roundup – Messi produces magic, Hazard returns

Football is gradually easing back into action although the remainder of the season will still has to be played behind closed doors. The La Liga resumes after it was suspended on Thursday, the 11th of March 2020 due to the deadly coronavirus plaguing the country and the world at large.

Football resumed back in Spain on the 11h of June 2020 with Sevilla winning 2-0 at home against Real Betis. On Friday, Granada won 2-1 at home against Getafe while Valencia was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Levante.

The major story, however, was how Lionel Messi stole the show this weekend. He scored a goal for Barcelona and provided two assists on his return to football since march. He also set a record as he does these days as he becomes the only player in the Spanish First division to score 20+ goals in 12 consecutive seasons thereby staking a huge claim to his status as the best of all time.

Lionel Messi scored in the 90th minute after Suarez turned provider. He also created chances for the second and third goals of the away game at Mallorca.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid kept up the fight for the La Liga battle and kept the distance between them and their rival, Barcelona, to within 2 points when they won 3-1 at home against Eibar. Real didn’t waste much time as they were already in front four minutes into the game, courtesy of a goal from Toni Kroos. Hazard assisted captain Sergio Ramos to make it 2-0 before he was substituted at the 61 minutes. He was seen with an ice pack on the ankle he fractured during Real’s defeat to Levante in February. Marcelo completed the rout inside the first half scoring the third goal of the game on the 37th minute to secure Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Eibar.

Head coach, Zinadine Zidane, assures Eden Hazard is fine amidst fears of another injury after he took a knock and had to be substituted from the game. He says, “He’s had a knock, a scare, but that’s football. He was fine at half-time, he was happy and he’s not afraid. He is happy with what he’s done and we’re happy with his work and that of the whole team.”

Athletico Madrid still couldn’t find a way to break into the top 4 yet as they could only manage to salvage a 1-1 draw at the San Mames. Iker Munain put the hosts in front after 37 minutes and Diego Costa didn’t waste much time restoring parity as he equalised 2 minutes later.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico side had the best chance to win the game after the interval when Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon parried a cross from Renan Lodi into the path of Santiago Arias but the ‘keeper recovered to block the rebound with his leg.

Matchday 28 results

Sevilla 2-0 Real Betis

Granada 2-1 Getafe

Valencia 1-1 Levante

Espanyol 2-0 Alaves

Celta Vigo 0-1 Villareal

Leganes 1-2 Real Valladolid

Mallorca 0-4 Barcelona

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid 3-1 Eibar

Real Soceidad 1-1 Osasuna

As It Stood

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