Football
Associated Press 7y

Griezmann nets 100th La Liga goal in Atleti win; Villarreal victorious

Antoine Griezmann's 16th La Liga goal of the season -- and 100th of his career in Spain -- was enough to allow Atletico Madrid to strengthen their grip on the final automatic Champions League place.

The France international struck with an angled shot 17 minutes from time as the visitors won 1-0 at Espanyol to move three points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla.

In doing so he became only the second French player, after Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (120), to bring up a century of La Liga goals.

Cedric Bakambu scored twice, including the stoppage-time winner apparently with his hand, to ensure Villarreal beat Leganes 2-1.

The home victory strengthened Villarreal's hold on fifth place, which will earn a Europa League berth for next season.

The result also left Leganes winless in seven matches and clinging to the final spot above the relegation zone.

"He scored with his hand," Leganes goalkeeper Iago Herrerin said. "We are fighting for our lives. It was impossible not to see it."

Villarreal dominated but needed Bakambu to slot home the opener in the 68th.

Leganes was close to grabbing a late draw when Miguel Guerrero struck in the 90th, but Bakambu appeared to use his hand to redirect Jonathan Dos Santos' cross into the net two minutes later.

Leganes remain five points from danger with five rounds left.

Sandro Ramirez continued his good scoring form, ensuring a third win in four matches to completely dispel any relegation fears for Malaga as they ran out 2-0 winners over Valencia.

Ramirez, who scored in all three of the previous victories, blasted in his own rebound from a free kick just minutes after Jose "Recio" Garcia headed the hosts in front in the 36th minute.

Before he scored, Ramirez's powerful free kick struck Valencia's Ezequiel Garay in the head, leaving him visibly groggy as he remained on the turf. The defender underwent tests at a hospital that indicated mild head trauma. He was released from the hospital soon after the tests.

Osasuna's survival hopes suffered a serious blow as they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to fellow relegation battlers Sporting Gijon.

The home side went ahead after 19 minutes when Jorge Mere scored an own goal from an effort by Kenan Kodro.

Osasuna looked to have wrapped up the points when Kodro grabbed his side's second from a Roberto Torres pass with 18 minutes remaining.

But Sporting pulled a goal back just seven minutes later through left-back Roberto Canella before Carlos Castro completed the comeback with nine minutes remaining.

The draw leaves Sporting four points off safety but Osasuna are nine points below 17th-placed Leganes with time running out.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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