Alavés, Espanyol, Valencia and Sevilla will remain in the EA Sports La Liga
All four teams secured their survival on the penultimate matchday of the season by winning their matches, with the exception of the Andalusian side, who lost but were helped by the other results.
Alavés, having beaten the champions, Barcelona, midweek, travelled to Oviedo to face bottom-of-the-table and already-relegated Real Oviedo. Quique Sánchez Flores’s side picked up three points that secured their survival. Espanyol and Valencia did the same away to Osasuna and Real Sociedad, respectively. These victories mean they will remain in the top flight of Spanish football for another year.
Sevilla were the ones to lose, but defeats for Girona and Mallorca confirmed their survival. The key fixture was the clash between Levante and Mallorca at the Ciutat de València, and the home side won to move within a point of safety. Mallorca, for their part, will need a miracle on the final matchday to avoid the drop.
Elche, meanwhile, beat Getafe and will travel to Girona knowing that a draw will be enough and that a defeat is very likely to send them down to the Liga Hypermotion. The last team fighting for survival is Osasuna, who have made life difficult for themselves with their last four defeats and go into the final matchday needing to pick up a point if they are not to be left at the mercy of results elsewhere.
EA Sports La Liga table on matchday 37
- Barcelona 94 points
- Real Madrid 83 points
- Villarreal 69 points
- Atlético de Madrid 69 points
- Betis 57 points
- Celta 51 points
- Getafe 48 points
- Rayo Vallecano 47 points
- Valencia 46 points
- Real Sociedad 45 points
- Espanyol 45 points
- Athletic 45 points
- Sevilla 43 points
- Alavés 43 points
- Levante 42 points
- Osasuna 42 points
- Elche 42 points
- Girona 40 points
- Mallorca 39 points
- Oviedo 29 points
Celta, very close to the Europa League
Meanwhile, with the Champions League places decided, the only question remaining is who will join Real Sociedad in the Europa League and who will take the Conference League spot. Celta are in the strongest position to qualify for the second-tier continental competition following their draw at San Mamés. The Galicians have secured a place in the Conference League and need just one point on the final matchday to secure their place.
Getafe are the ones chasing a place in the third-tier European competition. Bordalás’s side host Osasuna at home, and a win will see them qualify for Europe. Furthermore, if they win and Celta lose, they will play in the Europa League. If they fail to win, their fate regarding the Conference League will depend on the results of Rayo Vallecano and Valencia in their respective matches.
A thrilling final matchday is expected in La Liga, with all fixtures kicking off at 8.00 pm on Saturday 23 May, except for the clash between Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, which will bring the season to a close on Sunday at the same time. Two relegation places, one Europa League spot and one Conference League spot are up for grabs on matchday 38 of the Spanish league.
Matchday 38 fixtures in the EA Sports La Liga
- Alavés v Rayo Vallecano
- Celta v Sevilla
- Espanyol v Real Sociedad
- Getafe v Osasuna
- Girona v Elche
- Mallorca v Oviedo
- Betis v Levante
- Real Madrid v Athletic
- Valencia v Barcelona
- Villarreal v Atlético Madrid
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