La Liga run-in roundup: Fierce battle to reignite for European places

With every team gearing up for their final ten games of the campaign in La Liga we take a look at the competition’s climax as far as the battle for the key spots in the table are concerned.

TITLE RACE

Following Atletico Madrid’s shock defeat at Athletic Club before the international break, Barcelona are now all but sure to retain their crown as Spanish champions with a ten-point lead at the top. Real Madrid are a further two points behind their capital city rivals with the front three having once more - albeit belatedly - broken away from the chasing pack. As a result, all three are basically assured of a Champions League finish, with the only real talking point being which Madrid club will finish higher.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

There is one final Champions League spot up for grabs, and as things stand Getafe are on course to qualify for the first time in their history. They could be the third Madrid based club to reach the tournament as a result, having never previously ended a top-flight campaign higher than sixth.

That said, Jose Bordalas’ side are just two points clear of a perhaps an even bigger surprise package in the form of Deportivo Alaves, with Sevilla a further point back. Valencia won’t consider themselves out of the running either and are hard to beat having lost just four games all season, but Getafe face fewer of the current top seven than their rivals and may just cling onto a historic finish.

Prediction: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Getafe

EUROPA LEAGUE

The same teams vying for the final Champions League spot are by no means assured a Europa League finish either, while Real Betis and, potentially, Athletic Club could also come into the top six picture.

Sevilla, Alaves and Valencia all have relatively comparable run-ins, though Betis will still feel that it’s in their hands to some degree, with Sevilla and Valencia still to play and an otherwise favourable fixture list prior to a final game of the campaign at the Bernabeu. Athletic still have to go to Getafe, Real Madrid and Sevilla and have won just twice on the road all season so will probably fall short, while Alaves could also struggle.

They’ve upset the odds for much of the season but trips to Sevilla and Valencia, along with home games against Barcelona and Real Madrid may prove a step too far. That said, this particular battle is almost certain to go to the final day.

Prediction: Sevilla and Valencia

RELEGATION

Unlike the remaining major leagues on the continent there isn’t a side in La Liga that appears to be resigned to defeat. Huesca foot the table and have a huge task to overturn a seven-point deficit to safety but have found some fight of late - picking up 14 points since the turn of the year.

Celta Vigo are the team on the most worrying slide, with ten defeats in their last 12 in the absence of talisman Iago Aspas. The striker should be back in the coming weeks and it’s fair to say his return may well be the decisive factor in the relegation battle. Celta have a more straightforward run-in on paper than many of those around them, with a huge match against Villarreal first up.

The latter could give themselves breathing space with a win in what has been a terrible domestic campaign. Javier Calleja’s side have stopped the rot at a crucial time and should have done enough to save themselves from a humiliating relegation.

Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, have lost seven on the spin and look in real trouble, while Real Valladolid - currently 16th - have to play five of the top seven and may well get drawn back into the mire.

Prediction: Rayo Vallecano, Huesca and Real Valladolid