Liga F match-day 20 round-up: Real Sociedad prevail in Basque derby to boost European quest

Real Sociedad tightened their grip on the final European qualification berth and stretched their unbeaten league streak to seven games with a hard-fought 2-0 Basque derby triumph over Athletic Club on match-day 20 of Liga F.

The Reale Arena was rocking inside the opening quarter-hour when winger Aiara Agirrezabala burst in from the left and squeezed a low shot past Adriana Nanclares from an acute angle. The hosts doubled the advantage ten minutes before the interval after Naia Landaluze was adjudged to have bundled over an opponent inside the box. Midfielder Paula Fernández, stepping up for her first league attempt from the spot, sent Nanclares the wrong way to register her maiden Liga F goal for la Real and seal a victory that leaves Athletic staring at a third straight defeat across all competitions.

The win keeps Real Sociedad entrenched in third place, eight points ahead of fourth-placed Costa Adeje Tenerife, who continued their own impressive form with a 2-0 success at Badalona. Noelia Ramos denied María Llompart from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, and Elba Vergés broke the deadlock midway through the second half before Clau Blanco added a late second as Tenerife made it nine competitive matches without defeat.

Barcelona remain in cruise control at the summit, preserving their perfect home record with a 4-0 dismissal of Eibar. Polish striker Ewa Pajor opened her account for the afternoon with her 16th league strike of the campaign, and Clàudia Pina converted a precise Esmee Brugts pass to make it two. Patri Guijarro’s long-range effort took a nick on its way in before Irene Paredes headed a fourth to keep the Catalans ten points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.

Las Blancas also enjoyed a routine afternoon, sweeping aside struggling Alhama 3-0. Hanna Bennison struck inside ten minutes, Sandie Toletti rolled in a 30th-minute penalty and Alba Redondo added a third early in the second half as Madrid recorded a fourth consecutive league victory, leaving Alhama without a win in 14 top-flight outings.

Sevilla produced the round’s most eye-catching performance, thrashing Deportivo La Coruña 4-0 at Abegondo after a one-sided second half. Lucía “Wifi” Moral crowned a clever free-kick routine to open the scoring, doubled her tally with a crisp finish from inside the box, and watched on as Fatou Kanteh Cham and Andrea Álvarez piled on further pain. The Andalusians have now plundered 13 goals in their last four fixtures – a sharp upturn after managing just 15 in the opening 16 matches – and climbed to fifth.

Granada edged Levante 1-0 through a second-half Andrea Gómez header, stretching their unbeaten run to five wins in six, while Espanyol and DUX Logroño traded penalties in a 1-1 draw that moves the visitors one point clear of the relegation zone.

Atletico Madrid’s frustrations deepened as they fired 19 shots without reward in a 0-0 stalemate against Madrid CFF, leaving them 12 points adrift of the Champions League places and with European qualification hopes all but extinguished.

Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla all flexed their muscles on a weekend that underlined the growing gap between the league’s heavyweights and the rest, while the Basque derby success gives Imanol Alguacil’s side valuable momentum in the race for continental football next season.