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La Liga round-up: Espanyol secure survival despite draw at Las Palmas

Gerard Moreno of RCD Espanyol celebrates with his team-mate Pablo Piatt after scoring a disallowed goal v Levante, La Liga, October 2017
Image: Gerard Moreno (left) celebrates his equaliser for Espanyol

Espanyol secured their La Liga status on Saturday despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by relegated Las Palmas.

Las Palmas broke the deadlock at the RCDE Stadium with a Jonathan Calleri penalty in the 29th minute, after Espanyol defender David Lopez was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Espanyol were denied an equaliser in the 57th minute when Gerard Moreno's header from close range hit the crossbar, but Moreno finally equalised 14 minutes from time when he fired home to spare his side's blushes.

The result moved the Barcelona side on to 40 points, ensuring they cannot be caught by third-bottom Deportivo La Coruna courtesy of a superior head-to-head record.

Elsewhere, Mikel San Jose scored two own goals as Real Sociedad continued their strong finish to the season with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby in San Sebastian.

San Jose inadvertently opened the scoring for the hosts in the 15th minute before a second goal from Mikel Oyarzabal nine minutes before the break left Sociedad well in control.

Worse was to come for San Jose, who put his second own goal past Bilbao 'keeper Kepa in the 54th minute, before Raul Garcia reduced the deficit from the penalty spot five minutes later.

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Sociedad finished the game with 10 men after Ruben Pardo was red-carded five minutes from full-time, just six minutes after replacing Sergio Canales.

Carlos Bacca scored a first-half hat-trick as Villarreal consolidated sixth place with an emphatic 4-1 home win over Celta Vigo.

Building on their midweek victory over Leganes which snapped a three-game winless streak, Bacca put his side in front with 13 minutes on the clock.

Pione Sisto equalised just past the half-hour mark but Bacca responded immediately with two more goals in three minutes before Samu Castillejo wrapped up victory in injury time.

Elsewhere, Gareth Bale sent a timely reminder to Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane by firing home the opening goal as his side overcame Leganes 2-1 at the Bernabeu.

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