La Liga Fixtures 2016: Schedule, Live Stream and Week 36 Predictions
The battle for La Liga continues this weekend as Barcelona look to hold off the oncoming juggernauts of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The title looked done and dusted only a matter of weeks ago, but the capital-city clubs have kept up the chase, as Barca lost form and fortune.
The league leaders are separated by just one point from Atleti and Real, and the title destination cannot be predicted even at this late stage.
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Barca must travel to a Real Betis side who are comfortable in mid-table with little to play for in the final weeks, while the Rojiblancos host Rayo Vallecano, and Los Merengues travel to Real Sociedad.
Here is a look at the upcoming league schedule, including predictions for each game, and streaming information:
| Friday, April 29 | 7.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET | Sporting Gijon | 1-2 | Eibar |
| Saturday, April 30 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Real Sociedad | 1-4 | Real Madrid |
| Saturday, April 30 | 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m. | Atletico Madrid | 2-1 | Rayo Vallecano |
| Saturday, April 30 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Real Betis | 1-5 | Barcelona |
| Saturday, April 30 | 9:05 p.m. / 4:05 p.m. | Granada | 1-1 | Las Palmas |
| Sunday, May 1 | 11 a.m. / 6 a.m. | Athletic Bilbao | 1-1 | Celta Vigo |
| Sunday, May 1 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Espanyol | 2-2 | Sevilla |
| Sunday, May 1 | 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m. | Deportivo La Coruna | 2-1 | Getafe |
| Sunday, May 1 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Valencia | 3-1 | Villarreal |
| Monday, May 2 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Malaga | 1-0 | Levante |
La Liga matches can be streamed live via Sky Go (UK) and FuboTV (US) or beIN Sports Connect (US).
Who Has The Stamina To Win La Liga?
Luis Enrique is now in an impossible position, after it looked previously like his side would hit cruise control and repeat the treble triumph achieved last term.
Instead, the Blaugrana have capitulated and are no longer guaranteed the title once more. The season is likely to be remembered for the wrong reasons, and even a Liga triumph will see many question the manager's tenure.
Barca's collapse has been both perplexing and unexpected, but they might still get out of jail as they travel to Betis to further stake their claim.
Three defeats in all competitions were trumped by an 8-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna and a 6-0 victory at home to Sporting Gijon, and the playing field appeared to be balanced again as the club looked to put their European disappointment behind them.
As Real and Atletico continue their chase of the UEFA Champions League, Barca can concentrate on domestic matters, but the gap at the top will act as an encouragement to the Madrid teams.
Atleti have already proved they can close out a league campaign, after they won La Liga in 2014, but it will be the Galacticos who will be truly motivated to steal the division.
Manager Zinedine Zidane wasn't expected to break Barca's claim on the Spanish title this term, after Los Blancos suffered an ambivalent start to the season, leading to the dismissal of Rafael Benitez.
However, the Frenchman has proved if you have world-class players at your disposal—and use them correctly—Barca will not dance a procession to the championship without a challenge.
Zidane's men face a tricky trip to Sociedad, who recently beat Enrique's table-toppers at home. The match will be no walk in the park for the Galacticos, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to miss the game through injury, according to AS (h/t Sport).
The jokers in the pack are Atletico, and their recent form of late has been stunning as they carve out results at home and abroad.
However, coach Diego Simeone's tactics are not always widely appreciated, as highlighted by BT Sport's James Horncastle:
Simeone has relit the fire which burned when they won the title and made it to the Champions League final in 2013-14, and the Argentinian's team look capable of repeating a shock that looked wholly unlikely at Christmas.
Zidane won many plaudits as a player in a Real shirt, but if he can steal the title this term, it would be his biggest achievement in the game, ranked alongside his exploits with France.
It seemed an impossible dream to catch Barca this season, and even if Real fail at the final hurdle at the end of the campaign, there will be renewed optimism for president Florentino Perez heading into next year, safe in the knowledge he has the right man in charge of the team.
