La Liga Weekend Preview : Advantage Real Madrid In Title Race


The 2016/17 Spanish La Liga season wraps up with 10 fixtures spread across the weekend.
The main focus will be on the title race, with Barcelona and Real Madrid’s matches scheduled for 20h00 CAT on Sunday evening. It’s very much advantage to Los Blancos, who crushed Celta Vigo 4-1 on Wednesday night to put one hand on the trophy. Zinedine Zidane’s side hold a three-point advantage at the head of the table over their arch rivals. Barcelona’s only hope of snatching the title is for them to beat Eibar in their home clash and hope that Malaga can defeat Real at Estadio La Rosaleda.This would see Luis Enrique’s side draw level on points and claim first place on head-to-head results (La Liga uses head-to-head rather than goal difference as a tie-breaker). Only this combination of results will deny Real Madrid their 33rd league title and first since 2012. Atletico Madrid will finish third regardless of their result against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon, while it’s the same story for Sevilla and fourth place ahead of their Saturday evening game at home to relegated Osasuna.There is some interest in the battle for the two Europa League spots in fifth and sixth place: Villarreal (64 points) and Athletic (63) currently occupy the respective positions, but Real Sociedad (63) are also in with a shout of securing continental competition. The trio’s matches will all kick-off at 16h45 on Sunday.Down at the bottom of the log, Granada, Osasuna and Sporting Gijon will all be relegated with Deportivo La Coruna safe from the drop due to their head-to-head superiority over Gijon.
La Liga Round 38 fixtures - All times CAT
Friday 19 May
Granada v Espanyol - 20h45
Saturday 20 May
Sporting Gijon v Real Madrid - 17h00
Leganes v Deportivo Alaves - 19h00
Deportivo La Coruna v Las Palmas - 19h00
Sevilla v Osasuna - 21h00
Sunday 21 May
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao - 16h45
Valencia v Villarreal - 16h45
Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad - 16h45
Barcelona v Eibar - 20h00
Malaga v Real Madrid - 20h00

Published: 05/18/2017