A last-minute goal from Javi Múñoz, with VAR in the middle of the match, unleashed ecstasies at the Estadio de Gran Canaria and gave the Yellows victory over the third-placed team in the competition.
1 of 7. Diego Martínez's team more than fulfilled one of the seven (now six) finals they had ahead of them to secure their survival, and they did so against none other than Atlético de Madrid; probably the toughest opponent they had in this final stretch of the league, who arrived in Gran Canaria looking for a victory to stay in the fight for the league title.
As if it were the Bernabéu on one of those magical European nights, epic festivities took over the Gran Canaria Stadium with a last-minute goal that was not without drama and tension.
In the 94th minute, when everything pointed to a goalless draw, Javi Muñoz unleashed delirium in the stands with a goal that ended up stumbling into Oblak's net after a tussle between Giménez and Jaime Mata, which the Madrid midfielder finally took advantage of with just enough touch to redirect the ball.
However, the joy was short-lived, as the assistant referee raised his flag indicating an offside, which, according to Javi Muñoz himself in the post-match interview, he "always knew wasn't." With the usual tension of VAR interventions (especially for Villarreal, one of the teams most affected by this system ), García Verdura ultimately allowed a goal that sparked jubilation and provided a new image of unity between the team and the fans, with the entire squad celebrating the goal alongside the spectators in one of the stands.
Atlético Madrid arrived on the island with their usual blend of brute force and tactical cynicism, while Villarreal had no choice but to rely on courage, patience, and the emotional speech Miguel Ángel Ramírez gave the squad in Getafe, which proved so effective. Dinko Horkaš, the unexpected star of this season's finale following Jasper Cillessen's injury in Vigo, became the hero of the night (with all due respect to Javi Muñoz) with several saves that will haunt Julián Álvarez and his teammates.
With this victory, Las Palmas not only provisionally leaves the relegation zone (depending on Deportivo Alavés' performance in their match against Sevilla tomorrow), but also receives another morale boost and confirms the start of a good run that could end up securing a survival that seemed almost impossible a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid dropped half the title in Gran Canaria and suffered its second consecutive defeat at the Estadio de Gran Canaria after losing last year when García Pimienta was in charge of the Yellows.
