LaLiga pitchside makes its debut!
Real Madrid secured a second LaLiga title in three seasons with four games to spare, Alavés gave their survival hopes a boost but Levante look set for relegation despite a come-from-behind derby draw.
Here is what the key figures had to say after each of matchday 34’s fixtures (full interviews were originally aired on Movistar LaLiga/Gol and these translated extracts were taken from the highlights posted on the LaLiga YouTube channel).
Sevilla 1-1 Cádiz
Cádiz goalscorer Lucas Pérez:
“Picking up points here is really tough so I’m really happy. We had several chances in the first half and in the second too. It’s really difficult to create opportunities against teams like Sevilla. But, in the end, I’m pleased because my goal has helped us get a point and we need to kick on from here.”
“I knew there was a good chance it would go in as soon as the ball left my foot. It reminded me of the one I had against Getafe which hit the goalkeeper’s head and came back out. This one went in and that’s what happens to us strikers – we don’t score for a few games then score in three in a row.”
Sevilla full-back Jesús Navas:
“We started the first half really well and got the first goal. But we weren’t able to keep it up after that, which was a pity for us. We need to pick ourselves back up.”
“I’m focused on keeping going. It’s a big deal to be able to play every game for Sevilla. We need to keep giving our all, there are four difficult games left and we just have to keep going.”
alavés 2-1 Villarreal
Villarreal midfielder Manu Trigueros:
“I think we deserved to win. They made the most of the chances they had at the start of the game. Even so, I think we played well in the first half, we got into lots of dangerous positions. We knew that they would be threatening from corners and the odd counter-attack. Their first goal came early on from a corner. We tried to keep going and create some opportunities but they didn’t pay off.”
“We know that this is a great place to come and play, there’s a good atmosphere, their fans always drive them on. Players enjoy playing here.”
“Let’s hope we can pull off a huge win on Tuesday (against Liverpool in the Champions League) with the backing of our fans and the whole of Spain.”
Alavés’ Gonzalo Escalante, who scored what turned out to be the winning goal:
“Luckily, I’ve been on a good goalscoring run lately, I’m really happy. It was the kind of game that we’re going to have more of. It’s going to be a battle for us every weekend and we’re ready to fight until the end.”
Real Madrid 4-0 Espanyol
Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, celebrating his sixth LaLiga title:
“We’re delighted. We’ve managed to win the league as early as we could because of the work that the whole team have put in. I’m really happy, now we need to keep going and look to the next one.”
“Work, happiness, sacrifice. Lots of things. I think the combination of these factors has allowed us to win it early.”
“There’s nothing better than celebrating with our fans. The last time (during lockdown) I wasn’t able to but today I can. It’s their party.”
“Celebrating with the fans is the best feeling a player can experience. Following a home game after so many years playing for the best club in the world. It’s just pure happiness.”
“Today is a day for celebration but we know we’ve got an important game coming up (against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday). I think It’s OK to celebrate properly today, we’ll be motivated for the next game.”
Valencia 1-1 Levante
Valencia attacker Hugo Duro, who opened the scoring:
“Last weekend (the Copa del Rey final defeat on penalties) was obviously very painful for us. It’s hard to get back up from that. But I think we competed well, especially with so many things going against us. We’ll have to look at them again because I don’t understand them. We put in a lot of effort but a set play cost us.”
“No matter what, whether there’s something at stake or not, we give our all for the fans and fight even when things are going against us.”
Levante captain José Luis Morales:
“It’s a pity because we started really well. We had some good openings and then they scored with their first chance.”
“We need to keep going, there are still points left to play for. We’re six points from safety so it’s going to be very difficult but we need to keep trying and keep fighting for the shirt. We want to continue playing in Primera División.”
Athletic Club 2-0 Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak:
“We can’t start games like that, we lost our heads and we were too unsure of ourselves. It’s hard to come back after that. In the end, we had some chances, they had a few more and they also had a bit more luck, although they were better than us.”
“I honestly don’t understand what happened because everything was great in the dressing room before the game. But then we came out and already had two yellow cards inside the first five minutes. That makes things more difficult. I don’t know what we were thinking.”
Athletic Club attacker Iñaki Williams:
“I’m very happy, the team played fantastically well. We’re still in the fight (for a Europa League place) and I think the fans will be going home happy. We’re still pushing because we want to play in Europe.”
“Unfortunately, we’ve already been in the lion’s den before, we know how hard it can be for us to turn matches around. But I think that today we were really clinical and made the most of our opportunities. It was a really complete performance.”
Elche 1-1 Osasuna
Osasuna goalscorer Ante Budimir, who found the net for the sixth game running, a new club record:
“It’s always nice to score. Breaking the record for a club which has such a great history can only make you happy.”
“The goals make me happy although I’m not one to obsess over records. I always look towards the next match, it’s important to do that.”
“This is a club which is more than 100 years old so to go down in history here makes you happy. I’m really grateful to my teammates who have helped me set this record.”
Pere Milla, who equalised for Elche:
“I just got the slightest of touches on it and it went in.”
“A lot of our players picked up knocks, two in the first half, Pedro (Bigas) and (Raúl) Guti. Then Gonzalo wasn’t able to play on. I told him just to go up front but they told me that he couldn’t move. In the end, we just had to get on with it (playing with 10 men) as a team.”
“I think we feel as if we’re safe because of the hard work we’ve been putting in every day. We’re all working really well together, I think we’re a really competitive team and now we just need to ensure that we’re mathematically safe, which is the important thing.”
Granada 1-1 Celta Vigo
Celta goalscorer and captain Iago Aspas:
“The result is a pity after taking the lead. We had two or three counter-attacks that I wasn’t able to finish off, I didn’t see my teammates. It’s two points dropped, in the end. We have to be pleased with reaching 40 points but I think we deserved a bit more.”
“I think we all need to give a lot more, especially me, I’m the captain. I think we’ve got a great game coming up on Saturday against Alavés, which will be tough, they’re another team who haven’t given up and are giving their all. We need to make sure we are mathematically safe although I think 40 points should be enough.”
Granada’s Darwin Machís, who equalised in injury time:
“It was a very hard-fought game. They had some great opportunities to score, as did we. When they scored, we didn’t give up, we kept going right until the end. I put in quite a few crosses and luckily the last one ended up in the net. We’ve got four cup finals left, we need our fans to be right behind us until the end because it isn’t going to be easy.”
“Every team goes through good and bad spells. It’s true that our results at home haven’t been great recently but, as I said, we really need our fans to be with us all the way, we’re going to be ready to fight until the end. That’s what it’s all about.”
Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand:
“It’s a pity because it was a chance for us to move up the table. We can be satisfied with a point, it’s another one to add to our tally but there are things for us to work on.”
“Qualifying for the Champions League isn’t one of our objectives although we haven’t set ourselves any limits either. We’re hurt by the result because the opportunity was there, I think we played well in the first half. But they pushed us back in the second half and did some good things. A draw was a fair result.”
Radamel Falcao, who netted Rayo’s equaliser:
“That’s what us strikers are there for. Inside the penalty box is always where I feel most at home so I’ll do everything I can there to help the team, especially with goals.”
“Mathematically, we’re not yet safe. I think we’re really close. The team has been working really well together, even when we weren’t getting good results for a long period of time. But the team keeps on working and we’ve picked ourselves up in the last 10 days thanks to the effort that everyone has put in.”
Barcelona 2-1 Real Mallorca
Antonio Raíllo, who scored for Mallorca:
“We knew it would be difficult but, in the end, we were close to getting something. We didn’t allow them to take too big a lead. They could have scored another one but I think the team did well in the last few minutes in terms of moving the ball up the pitch.”
“We know that it’s always difficult, every game in Primera Division is tough. We need to keep going. We know that it’s in our own hands. If you do your own job, you don’t need to worry about anyone else.”
Barça midfielder Frenkie de Jong:
“I think we were the better team and deserved the win.”
“We’re focused on ourselves. We always have to win at home after losing. We’re happy with the victory.”
“I think we played quite well today. Thee are always a lot of things we can improve on but it was important to win after the defeats we’ve had. We’re happy with that.”
Getafe 0-0 Real Betis
Getafe goalkeeper David Soria:
“We always want to win at home. It’s a pity not to have been able to pick up the three points to get closer to achieving our goal. But I think each team was on top for one half, I think we were better in the second half, they were better than us in the first. A draw is probably a fair result. It’s a pity, we wanted the three points to be able to look up the table.”
“Until we’re mathematically safe, we need to keep fighting. We’re five points clear but there’s still a long way to go, 12 points to play for. A loft of teams are in the battle. We’ll need to win another game to be almost certain of staying up.”
Betis defender Germán Pezzella:
“We’re really disappointed because we came here for looking for three points to help us get fourth place. I think we deserved more from the game but we couldn’t find a goal. The positive thing is that we didn’t concede either. We just have to keep fighting until the end.”
“We’ve always believed. I think we were in the Champions League places for 15 or 16 weeks earlier this season. It’s true that it wasn’t a target for us at the start of the season but now that we have a chance, we’re going to fight for it until the very end.”