Barca win title, but still so much to play for in LaLiga
Barcelona have been confirmed as LaLiga Santander 2018/19 champions, but the excitement continues.
There’s so much to play for with Getafe, Sevilla, and Valencia chasing the fourth Champions League spot, Athletic Bilbao and Alaves also fighting for European qualification, and no team in the bottom half yet mathematically safe from relegation.
Still chasing a treble of LaLiga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey, Barcelona captain Lionel Messi brings his team Saturday evening to Celta Vigo – with the Iago Aspas-led Galicians in excellent form but still just two points above the drop zone.
The weekend’s action begins with fifth-placed Sevilla hosting midtable Leganes at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan – where the Andalusians have won four of their last five LaLiga outings.
Saturday lunchtime brings a huge six-pointer in the race to avoid the drop, with a Levante side who battled well in losing just 0-1 at Barca last weekend hosting a Rayo Vallecano team still 19th but boosted by their first LaLiga victory in two decades over Real Madrid last weekend.
Atletico Madrid can ensure they finish in the second spot ahead of neighbours Real Madrid if they get at least a point on Saturday afternoon’s visit to Espanyol – whose excellent recent form has seen them pull clear of the drop zone.
More than local pride is at stake Saturday afternoon at Mendizorroza, where a victory would further boost Alaves’ Europa League qualification hopes, but Real Sociedad will draw level on points with their Basque neighbours if they repeat last season’s away victory.
Sunday’s early game at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez impacts both ends of the table as Getafe will be aiming for three points to strengthen their hold on the fourth spot, while visitors 17th-placed Girona must build on last weekend’s victory over Sevilla to remain above the drop zone.
There is likely to be less pressure when Eibar host Real Betis early on Sunday afternoon, although both teams will remember how the Basques won last season’s fixture 5-0.
Real Madrid’s players must react to last weekend’s shock defeat at Rayo when welcoming Villarreal on Sunday afternoon – with the Yellow Submarine having emerged from the drop zone recently and with an excellent recent record at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Valladolid’s unlucky defeat at Atletico last weekend dropped them back into the relegation places, so three points are a must when Athletic Bilbao visit on Sunday afternoon, with the Basques also needing a victory to stay on course for next year’s Europa League.
Bottom again now, Huesca have battled impressively through recent months, although results have not always gone their way, and they must lift themselves again on Sunday evening when top four-chasing Valencia visit El Alcoraz in Sunday’s late game.
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