The Five Biggest Stories From La Liga This Weekend

It was a big weekend in La Liga, at both the top and the bottom. From last-minute derby-winning bicycle kicks to Diego Simeone celebrating trademark Conor Gallagher crunching challenges as if they were goals, here are five La Liga stories you might have missed from the weekend action.

Is Umar Sadiq The Man To Save Valencia?

An 87th-minute sensational backheel flick from Umar Sadiq salvaged a crucial point against Osasuna for Valencia in a cracking 3-3 draw in Pamplona.

What did you do, SADIQ!!!!??? 😱😱#Laligahighlights #OsasunaValencia

pic.twitter.com/rIKohaLaCo

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) March 4, 2025

Sadiq signed on loan from Real Sociedad in January, where he has struggled since signing from Almeria in 2022. However, Los Che hope they can recapture his form from the 2021/22 season, where he tore La Liga 2 apart, scoring 18 goals and assisting 9.

Valencia’s away curse continues, having not won outside the Mestalla since they coincidentally defeated Osasuna, 1-0 in April 2024. As they remain in the relegation zone, is Umar Sadiq the man to save them from the drop?

Isco Haunts His Former Side

Five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Isco, showed his everlasting class in a man-of-the-match performance in Real Betis’ 2-1 victory over Los Blancos. The Spaniard scored the winning penalty yet apologised for his celebration on social media after the game.

‘I apologise to Real Madrid fans for my celebration,’ he said. ‘I am very grateful to Real Madrid, they will always be in my heart.’

🌟 | PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Isco v Real Madrid:

👌 97 touches (🥈)
⚽️ 1 goal
🎯 3 shots/1 on target (0.87 xG)
🅰️ 1 assist
📮 0.54 xA (🥇)
🔑 6 key passes (🥇)
⚔️ 6/13 duels won
🧲 2 interceptions
🦵 2 tackles
📈 8.8 Sofascore Rating

Real Betis' captain showed up against his… pic.twitter.com/evD7OIB3YJ

— Sofascore Football (@SofascoreINT) March 1, 2025

32-year-old Isco has been very impressive this season for Real Betis and has even earned himself a call-up to Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for the upcoming Nations League matches, in line to make his first appearance in almost six years. Real Madrid were toothless, and fall three points behind Barcelona after their 4-0 demolition of Real Sociedad.

Alvarez Fires Again

Atletico Madrid served Athletic Bilbao their first La Liga defeat since October in an intense match-up between 3rd (Atletico have since moved up to 2nd) and 4th in the league.

Scoring the only goal in the 1-0 victory, Julian Alvarez notched his fourth goal in three games, putting the Argentine on twenty-one goals in all competitions this season. It was a brilliant match that could’ve gone either way, with plenty of chances for both sides, Athletic hit the woodwork twice after super-sub Alvarez’s goal.

However, it was the reaction of Diego Simeone to Conor Gallagher’s high press, including two excellent challenges that caught the attention of social media. The Argentine celebrated as if the Englishman had scored from thirty yards as he tirelessly ran right until the final whistle.

Diego Simeone and his assistant Nelson Vivas going crazy after Conor Gallagher’s two tackles in a row in the final moments of the game! 😭❤️🤍pic.twitter.com/k9j6ZkUDTh

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 2, 2025

Incredible Last-minute Bicycle Kick

In a derby between sides to the south of Madrid, Leganés overcame Getafe at the Butarque with a magnificent bicycle kick to secure a much-needed win in the bottom half of La Liga. Prior to the game, Getafe boasted a perfect away record in 2025.

☁️ Imagine a homegrown player scoring the winning goal in the minute 91' of a #DerbiHistórico in the First Division and above all, in Butarque, and all because.... #EnLeganésLosSueñosSeCumplen #LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/nu4atNkhSC

— C.D. Leganés 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@CDLeganes_en) March 4, 2025

Local boy, Diego Garcia teed himself up for the spectacular in the 92nd minute, to propel Leganés three points above the drop zone after six without a win. In a matchup where Getafe and José Borderlas were remarkably beaten by their own turgid defensive style, the acrobatic effort was the first shot on target of the game from either side!

Barcelona Take The Ascendency

Barcelona made their devastating 2025 form count, becoming the sole leaders at the top of La Liga for the first time since November. They are one point clear of 2nd place Atleti, and three clear of Real Madrid, who have won just one of their last four games in La Liga.

GOALS GALORE IN BARCELONA. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZhrtVZyNF5

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 2, 2025

The Catalans have scored a sensational 71 goals thus far this season, 16 more than Real Madrid who have the second most. Their 4-0 demolition of Real Sociedad featured goals from Gerard Martín, Marc Casadó, Ronald Araujo, and Robert Lewandowski rounded off the rout with his 34th goal of the season.

It’s certainly hard to look past Barcelona as to who will go on to win not just La Liga, but the Champions League and Copa del Rey as well.