Santander, Spain – Gaizka Toquero scored in the 12th minute as Athletic Bilbao won for the third time during a four-match unbeaten streak, 1-0 over Racing on Sunday to move up to sixth place in La Liga.
Bilbao, which is in the semifinals of the Europa League this season, has sealed all three wins during its unbeaten streak via 1-0 scores as it has moved into a Europa League place in the table.
The top six clubs earn European spots, but Bilbao has also climbed within three points of fourth place and a Champions League place next season.
Racing lost for the fourth time in its last five and sits last in the standings and 11 points from safety with just four matches remaining.
Bilbao hosts Portugal's Sporting Lisbon on Thursday in the second game of their Europa League series. Sporting won the first leg, 2-1.
Atletico Madrid 3, Espanyol 1
Madrid, Spain - Arda Turan scored a brace in the second half as Atletico Madrid downed Espanyol, 3-1, on Sunday in La Liga to remain in the hunt for a European place.
Diego Godin opened the scoring in the first half at the Vicente Calderon to put Atletico in front and, after Didac pulled a goal back later in the first half, Turan scored back-to-back goals two minutes part early in the second half.
Atletico won for the third time in its last five matches, and sits level on 48 points with Athletic Bilbao for sixth place and a Europa League berth.
The Madrid side is in the semifinals of the Europa League, and holds a 4-2 lead over Spanish rival Valencia after the first leg. Valencia hosts the second game Thursday.
Valencia 4, Real Betis 0
Valencia, Spain - Roberto Soldado scored his team-high 17th goal of the season, and Valencia rolled to a 4-0 win over nine-man Real Betis to solidify its hold on third place in La Liga on Sunday.
Jonas scored in the sixth minute as Valencia took an early lead at the Mestalla and Sofiane Feghouli, Soldado, and Pablo Piatti added goals in the second half, as the hosts all but secured a top-four place and Champions League play.
Valencia won for the second time in its last three games, and moved five points clear of Malaga - which plays Monday at Osasuna. Valencia hosts Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semifinals Thursday, down 4-2 after the first leg.
Real Betis had its six-game unbeaten streak snapped, as its European hopes took a blow. Betis is 13th, six points out of a Europa League place.
Real Sociedad 1, Villarreal 1
San Sebastian, Spain - Carlos Vela scored in the 85th minute as Real Sociedad tied Villarreal, 1-1, on Sunday at Anoeta to extend its unbeaten streak in La Liga to five games.
Sociedad has tied its last four matches during the streak, but sits nine points off the relegation zone with just four weeks remaining in the season.
Villarreal, which got its lone goal from Marcos Senna in the first half, also took another step toward safety as it sits six points out of the relegation zone in 17th.
Granada 1, Getafe 0
Granada, Spain - Franco Jara scored in the first half and Granada held on for a 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday at Los Carmenes to move eight points clear of the relegation zone in La Liga.
Granada snapped a three-match winless run and sits 16th, eight points ahead of both Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza - who are both in the bottom three.
Getafe lost for the third time in its last five, but sits 14 points clear with four matches remaining, meaning it has secured survival. Getafe is also three points out of sixth and a Europa League place.
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