Sunday’s La Liga action featured key battles at both ends of the table as Cadiz boosted their chances of survival.
Atletico Madrid are now just one more win away from securing Champions League qualification, after beating Celta Vigo.
Real Betis are still on track for a Europa League finish with Rayo Vallecano in the relegation mix.
Cadiz 1-0 Getafe
Cadiz end the weekend five points from top-flight safety, with three games left, thanks to a timely 1-0 home win over Getafe.
Despite the result, Cadiz are still favourites to complete a trio of relegated Andalucian sides, with Almeria and Granada already down.
However, they have given themselves a fighting chance, with a first league win in six games, via Ruben Alcaraz’s first half penalty.
They face two local away derbies in the final weeks, at Sevilla and Almeria, either side of hosting mid-table Las Palmas.
Valencia 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
Despite the five point gap between the teams pushing for safety, and those above the bottom three, Rayo Vallecano face a nervous final few weeks.
Rayo look set to just about survive, following a drop in form, and they picked up a vital 0-0 draw Valencia.
The visitors carved out the best chance of the first half, with Sergio Camello denied, and they were denied a late winner by Giorgi Mamardashvili’s incredible save.
Rayo need a maximum of three more points to confirm safety ahead of hosting Granada in midweek.
Real Betis 3-2 Almeria
Real Betis are ready to take their top six fight with Real Sociedad all the way after a 3-2 win over rock bottom Almeria.
With Athletic Club almost certain to finish fifth, the final Europa League place will go to one of them, with the other dropping to seventh, and the Europa Conference League.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have a one point edge over La Real but with the Basque team hold a game in hand.
Pablo Fornals poked the hosts into an early lead, before Isco Alarcon followed up his La Liga player of the month award, to double their lead.
Leo Baptistao pulled one back for Almeria in first half added time, and the second half ebbed and flowed at both ends.
Another Almeria error allowed Ayoze Perez to extend Real Betis’ lead, before Luka Romero set up a tense finale, but Los Verdiblancos got over the line.
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