Madrid, April 29: Real Madrid could be confirmed as La Liga champions for the 2021-22 season this weekend with four games to play.
The 34th day in Spain has several other key games in the fight for European places and also to avoid relegation, but the greatest attention will be at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where a point for Real Madrid against Espanyol will seal the title of this season.
Madrid come into the match with their sights set on next week’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City, having survived a thrashing from the Premier League leaders to emerge with just a 4-loss defeat. -3 in the first leg on Tuesday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti can be expected to rest key players ahead of Wednesday’s second leg, but he should still have more than enough to secure the title against an opponent who have lost their last two matches and have little. so play, reports Xinhua. . The round of matches kicks off on Friday night with a big game for both ends of the table as third-placed Sevilla host fourth-placed Cadiz, who are just one point above the relegation zone.
Sevilla are tied on points with FC Barcelona and have two more than fourth-placed Atlético Madrid in the race to qualify for the next Champions League.
Europe and relegation are at stake in Saturday’s opening game, in which seventh-placed Villarreal travel to bottom side Alavés, who are currently six points behind Cádiz.
Alaves need striker Joselu to keep scoring to keep their slim hopes of survival intact, while Villarreal manager Unai Emery will also rest key players as he looks ahead to the Champions League semi-final second leg. of his team on Tuesday, where they must reverse a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
However, Villarreal cannot afford to take their eyes off the ball entirely in La Liga, as they hold a four-point lead over eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who take on Atletico Madrid on Saturday night.
Atlético travels without central defender Stefan Savic, so Athletic’s preparations are not helped by speculation about the club’s upcoming presidential elections.
Saturday will also see a derby between the Copa del Rey finalists defeated last weekend, Valencia and Levante, who come into the match six points from safety.
Back-to-back wins have given Elche a cushion of eight points over the bottom three and Francisco Rodríguez’s side are likely one win away from securing their La Liga status for another year, and they’ll be hoping to pick up those points against half-time Osasuna. from the table on Sunday.
Granada are under pressure after falling into the bottom three, but manager Aitor Karanka can take advantage of the point his side won from Atletico Madrid 10 days ago when they take on Celta Vigo.
Rayo Vallecano’s Vallecas stadium should be a party after back-to-back wins, including a 1-0 win against FC Barcelona, ensured their survival. Sixth-placed Real Sociedad are the visitors on Sunday, with the Basque side trying to secure their hopes of a top six finish and keep the pressure on the top four.
FC Barcelona need to end a three-game losing streak at home in all competitions when they host Mallorca on Sunday night.
Depending on results elsewhere, Mallorca could have slipped back into the bottom three by the time things start at the Camp Nou, but with Barca failing in recent games against Rayo, Cadiz and Eintracht Frankfurt, the pressure it is on the hosts to react. and there is a possibility that Ansu Fati could play some role in the game.
The last match is on Monday with Getafe at home against Real Betis, champion of the Copa del Rey.