MADRID, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Girona moved above FC Barcelona to second place in LaLiga with a 2-0 win away to Las Palmas on Saturday lunchtime.
Michel Sanchez's side took another huge step towards assuring a place in next season's Champions League with a comfortable win away to a rival that appears to have completely run out of steam in the second half of the season.
David Lopez opened the scoring in the 26th minute as he followed up to net a rebound after Artem Dovbyk's penalty was initially saved.
Las Palmas had previously wasted a penalty after Girona goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga saved Sandro's effort and there was a third penalty in the game after Yan Couto was fouled and Dovbyk this time made no mistake.
Atletico Madrid took a huge step towards assuring a top-four finish with a 3-1 win at home to Athletic Club Bilbao, which puts it six points clear of the Basque side in fourth place.
Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring for Atletico with a deflected shot after 15 minutes, but Nico Williams leveled for Athletic just before halftime.
Angel Correa put Atletico back ahead after beating the offside trap after 52 minutes, and Samuel Lino got lucky 10 minutes from time with a shot that hit the post, only to bounce into the net off the back of visiting keeper, Unai Simon.
Mason Greenwood scored twice as Getafe won 3-1 away to bottom of the table, Almeria, whose relegation to the second division was confirmed by the defeat.
Greenwood scored the opening goal in the 26th minute and although Anthony Lozano equalized in the 41st minute, Greenwood's second early in the second half, restored Getafe's lead and Jaime Mata assured the points (and Almeria's relegation) just after the hour.
Celta Vigo is still in danger of relegation after losing 3-0 away to Deportivo Alaves, who assured its top-flight survival with second-half goals from Giuliano Simeone, Jon Guridi and Carlos Benavidez.
Alaves was the best side in the first half, but it was only after the break it made its control count against a rival that remains six points above the relegation zone.
Real Madrid moved closer to the title on Friday night when a much-changed side won 1-0 away to Real Sociedad thanks to a solitary goal from Arda Guler in a game where the home team had two goals ruled out by the VAR.
FC Barcelona has the chance to move back to second when it plays Valencia on Monday night. ■
