MADRID, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Spain goes into the international break at the end of a round of matches in La Liga which could have been decisive both at the top and the bottom of the table and which saw another coach lose their job.
Here are four things we learned in matchday 29.
1. Not much to be decided in the last nine games
Barcelona's win at home to Athletic Club Bilbao coupled with Atletico Madrid's defeat away to Villarreal gives Bar?a an 11 point lead at the top of the table; surely too many points to drop for Bar?a to risk losing the title.
Likewise Real Madrid and Valencia's wins coupled with Sevilla's defeat means the top four are now 12 points clear of fifth place Villarreal and there is little doubt as to who will take the four Champions League places. 2. Betis' faith in youth and attacking football getting its rewards
It has taken a while for Quique Setien to get the players at Betis to understand the style of football that he wants them to play and as a result his side have shipped 53 goals this season.
On the plus side their attacking style has seen them hit their rivals' net 49 times, meaning that if they are able to tighten up at the back, draws will turn into wins and the signs are there that this is what is happening.
In their win away to Alaves on Monday and in Saturday's 3-0 win at home to Espanyol, Betis dominated the ball and stopped their rivals creating chances. Not only that but young players such has Loren Moron, Francis, Fabian Ruiz and Junior Firpo are getting their chance to show that Setien and his side have a bright future.
3. Mutual destruction in Riazor
Deportivo la Coruna and Las Palmas kicked off their match on Saturday lunchtime knowing that Levante's 2-1 win at home to Eibar on Friday left them eight and seven points from safety respectively and that anything other than a win would leave them staring relegation in the face.
The game ended 1-1 and although Deportivo deserved to win after creating more and better chances, it was not to be. After the international break Deportivo play away to Atletico Madrid, while Las Palmas face Real Madrid. It is starting to look as if the relegation issue is virtually decided.
4. Eusebio pays the price
Eusebio Sacristan became the 12th coach to lose their job in La Liga this season when he was sacked by Real Sociedad in the wake of a 2-1 home defeat to Getafe. Eusebio did a fine job last season in leading the Basque club to a sixth place finish, but playing in Europe placed a bigger strain on a squad which was arguably weaker this season.
