La Liga: more than half teams in play

La Liga heads into its final weekend with the title already decided but much of the table still unsettled. Barcelona have secured first place, yet the official standings after 37 matches show races still open for the Europa League and Conference League places, as well as the final relegation spot. La Liga’s schedule splits the last round across Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, with most of the decisive matches grouped on Saturday. Yahoo Sports reported on May 22 that more than half the league remained directly involved in those battles. ### Which parts of the table are still unresolved? The La Liga standings published Friday showed Barcelona on 94 points and Real Madrid on 83, with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid both on 69, leaving the title and Champions League places settled. Real Betis sat fifth on 57 points and Celta sixth on 51, while Getafe were seventh on 48 and Rayo Vallecano eighth on 47. Osasuna, in 16th on 42 points, were still close enough to be pulled into both the lower-table fight and the chase just above them, depending on results elsewhere. (sports.yahoo.com) Yahoo Sports said five teams still had a chance of qualifying for the Europa League or Conference League places entering the last round. That left the European race centered on Celta, Getafe, Rayo Vallecano and nearby challengers, with final placings to be decided simultaneously. ### Why are Celta, Getafe, Mallorca and Osasuna under pressure? (laliga.com) Celta entered the last round in sixth place, which would be enough for Europe, but they had not yet clinched it before hosting Sevilla on Saturday. Getafe started the weekend seventh, one point ahead of Rayo Vallecano and three ahead of Osasuna, so their home match against Osasuna directly affects both the European race and the lower reaches of the table. (sports.yahoo.com) Mallorca were 19th on 39 points and began the final round inside the relegation zone, making their home game against already-doomed Real Oviedo decisive. Osasuna, on 42 points, had a three-point cushion over Girona and a direct meeting elsewhere could still reshape the bottom three depending on goal difference and other results. Yahoo Sports and other previews identified those clubs as among the teams facing the sharpest pressure on the last day. (laliga.com) ### Which relegation matches matter most on Saturday? Girona’s home match against Elche is one of the clearest survival games on the board. Girona started 18th on 40 points, while Elche were 17th on 42, meaning the fixture places two of the threatened sides directly against each other on the final afternoon. Levante, in 15th on 42 points, travel to Real Betis, and Mallorca host Real Oviedo. (laliga.com) Real Oviedo were already last on 29 points, but Mallorca still needed points because Girona, Elche, Osasuna and Levante all remained within range around the cutoff line. Yahoo Sports reported earlier in the week that only three teams were safe from that wider relegation fight. ### How is the final round scheduled? (laliga.com) La Liga said Matchday 38 would be played between Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24. The official calendar lists nine matches on Saturday at 12 p.m. local-site listing time, including Alaves-Rayo Vallecano, Betis-Levante, Celta-Sevilla, Espanyol-Real Sociedad, Getafe-Osasuna, Mallorca-Real Oviedo, Real Madrid-Athletic Club, Valencia-Barcelona and Girona-Elche. Villarreal-Atletico Madrid is scheduled for Sunday, May 24. (laliga.com) La Liga said in its matchday schedule that kickoff times in the final round can be adjusted depending on what remains at stake. That is standard for a last weekend in which European qualification and relegation outcomes are still tied together across multiple grounds. ### What should readers watch first? Saturday’s first wave contains nearly all of the clubs still fighting over Europe or survival. (laliga.com) Celta-Sevilla, Getafe-Osasuna, Mallorca-Oviedo, Betis-Levante and Girona-Elche will shape the final European positions below the Champions League places and determine which club joins the relegated teams. Sunday’s Villarreal-Atletico Madrid match is the only game left outside that main Saturday block. (laliga.com) By then, the league will know the final relegation picture and the clubs filling the Europa League and Conference League spots from the crowded middle of the table. (laliga.com)