Ultimate Guide to La Liga Weekend: 3 League Leaders, a Single Day in Spain
In the normal course of events, Spain's big three would win their matches this weekend.
Real Madrid are away but to an out-of-form, relegation-threatened side who have the worst defensive record in La Liga. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are both at home, the Catalan side to a team in the bottom three and Atleti against Malaga—mid-table, without a win in four and with their season effectively already over.
All three should, and probably will, win their games—but there will be no accusations this time of that making La Liga boring and predictable because it will directly contribute to one of the most topsy-turvy title fights of all time.
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Real are third in the table but first up to play on Saturday. If they beat Rayo, they go top of the table, an incredible scenario given the unrest five months ago and the lead Barcelona had. After Real's game, Atletico Madrid play immediately, and they can go top with a win, a point ahead of Real once more. That in turn would leave Barcelona, clear by a huge margin a month ago, down in third place, unbelievably.
But not for long.
Barcelona play straight after Atleti's game finishes and can naturally return themselves to top spot by beating Sporting Gijon, giving La Liga three different league leaders in the space of three hours on a weekend when only three games would remain.
Boring? Predictable?
It's going to go to the wire, and as much as quality of play, mental resilience is going to tell much about which club can avoid slipping up in the final weeks. If Barcelona, back on track after their midweek destruction of Deportivo La Coruna, remain in their groove, nobody can do anything about it. They'll win out their fixtures and take the title on head-to-head even if Atleti follow suit and finish perfectly.
A month ago, Barcelona winning the title seemed mundane enough to not even be called a prediction. Now, they're going to have to be nothing short of faultless to do it, and the excitement can last right up until the final whistle every weekend, every final whistle, one after another.
Jornada 35
Friday
Las Palmas vs. Espanyol
Saturday
Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid vs. Malaga
Barcelona vs. Sporting Gijon
Eibar vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Sunday
Levante vs. Athletic Club
Sevilla vs. Real Betis
Getafe vs. Valencia
Villarreal vs. Real Sociedad
Monday
Celta Vigo vs. Granada
(kick-off times via Soccerway)
What to Watch Out for this Weekend
Part 1: Relegation battle enters critical phase
Since last we met, before Jornada 33, all of Spain's bottom five teams have won a match, with none of the four immediately above them having followed suit. It means a concertina effect has occurred, and though the teams who have reached 40 points are probably safe, six points now separate 18th to 14th.
Depor's slide down the table continues to concern, and both they and Espanyol need another win from somewhere to be completely sure of survival, but Rayo in particular are now left extremely concerned despite taking four points in the last two games. Their next two games are against Real and Atletico Madrid, and they are only three points above the drop zone, with Granada below them in decent form after only one loss in six.
Getafe's win at Anoeta leaves the door ajar for them, but they have to win their big relegation battles against Depor and Sporting, which come after this week's game.
Levante, despite a comeback of sorts in March and April, look doomed once again after a resounding 5-1 loss to Granada in midweek.
Part 2: La Liga Stat Watch
- Real Madrid have the best current win streak, with eight successive victories
- Villarreal and Real Sociedad have two straight defeats to their name, nobody else has more than one
- Atletico Madrid have 21 clean sheets from 34 games
- The next best is Villarreal, with 15 clean sheets, but Barcelona now have the second-best defensive record in terms of goals conceded
- Only four clubs have breached the 50-goal barrier in La Liga this season, and only Real Madrid have broken the 100-goal barrier
- Cristiano Ronaldo has as many Liga goals this season as Levante and Getafe, the two bottom clubs
- Depor are on a run of 17 games without a clean sheet
- Atleti have scored in their last nine games, the best current run in the league
Certain stats via Statto.com
Part 3: Player to Watch: Luis Suarez, FCB
In case you opted to go and live on another planet for a midweek jaunt, Barca returned to form with a crushing 8(EIGHT)-0 win over Depor, with Luis Suarez returning from a one-game absence to wreak havoc.
The Uruguayan netted four himself and claimed three more assists as he ran riot and ensured Barcelona's faltering title charge took a steadying step, putting in the type of performance that entirely justifies those who label him world football's best No. 9.
Suarez tends to go on belting runs where he simply can't stop scoring with everything he hits toward goal, and while four in 90 minutes probably counts as a "run" for many strikers, don't be surprised to see him playing at full tilt again this weekend with the firm belief he's going to repeat the trick. He is one goal behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the top-scorer race.
Sporting 'keeper Ivan Cuellar better get himself plenty of rest on Friday night.
Game of the Weekend: Sevilla vs. Betis
There might not be quite as much riding on this Andalucian derby as might have been expected at the start of the season, but it'll be no less ferociously fought.
Sevilla should have been in or fighting for the top four but aren't, while Betis might have had to scrap against relegation fears but aren't. Only three places and eight points separate these sides in the middle of the table; Sevilla seventh, Betis in 10th.
It's always a hugely vociferous occasion with plenty of action on the pitch to justify its billing as one of Spain's most impressive derby atmospheres, though that can come with thunderous challenges and scraps for possession rather than fantastic moves, tactical brilliance and chances on goal.
The reverse fixture finished 0-0 in December and an impressive 12 yellow cards were dished out, with just three shots on target in the whole game.
It's still one to watch, and the best part is that with nothing to really play for at this stage, both clubs can go at it full throttle and look to end their season on a high with a win over their big rivals.
Predictions and Tips
- Home wins for Las Palmas, Atletico, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal
- Away wins for Real Madrid, Athletic, Valencia
- Over 2.5 goals in RAY-RMA, FCB-SPO and CEL-GRA.
