Barcelona can seal qualification for next season’s Champions League by beating Genuine Betis on Saturday as 6 of La Liga’s leading 7 go head-to-head in what could be a pivotal weekend in the race for the prime four.
Barca, in second, are 8 factors very clear of Betis, in fifth, and if they can prolong that hole to 11 with 3 online games still left to play, their location in the Champions League will be safe.
It would depict a major achievement for the Catalans, irrespective of a disappointing dip in latest weeks which means the enthusiasm of a number of months back, when they thrashed Real Madrid 4-, has fizzled out.
Xavi Hernandez took about with Barcelona sitting ninth in La Liga, with the incredibly real danger of missing out on the leading 4 hanging above the club, who have money owed of a lot more than a billion euros and desperately require the funds from participating in in Europe’s most worthwhile club tournament.
“We have two targets,” explained Xavi previous weekend.
“Qualify for the Champions League and then also to finish next.
“But the main factor is to qualify for the Champions League.”
A victory for Xavi’s aspect at the Benito Villamarin would also appear as a raise to Atletico Madrid, who are only three details forward of Betis, with the area derby at home to Genuine Madrid to come on Sunday.
Atletico have by now claimed they will not give Real Madrid a guard of honour as champions, a issue that has dominated discussions in Spain in latest times but a gesture they look at to be “an attempt at mockery” that the club insisted has “the goal of humiliation”.
Atleti will hope Genuine Madrid’s sensational comeback against Manchester City on Wednesday in the Champions League, which demanded further time and a heap of emotional and physical energy, could choose its toll at the Wanda Metropolitano.
After by now wrapping up the league title last weekend with four online games to spare, the momentous victory about Town suggests Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rotate from Atletico, with the likes of Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior all owing a relaxation.
Rocky patch
Atletico must be primed to just take gain but Diego Simeone’s aspect are in the middle of one more rocky patch, obtaining received only a person of their past 6 games, which include a defeat by Athletic Bilbao past Saturday.
And Atletico can consider minor convenience from their run-in immediately after this weekend, which will see them complete at household to Sevilla and away at Authentic Sociedad right after a far more winnable recreation away at Elche.
“I’m involved as I’ve normally reported,” Simeone mentioned immediately after the loss to Athletic.
“You have to know how to handle hard times, which have been uncommon in these very last handful of several years.
“The obligation is mine and it is dependent on me no matter whether the gamers remain serene or not.”
If Betis experienced been additional consistent in the latest months they might now have Champions League qualification in their possess hands but two draws versus Genuine Sociedad and Getafe, possibly facet of a reduction at house to Elche, have allowed Atletico to hold their floor.
Manuel Pellegrini’s facet may perhaps have experienced their target diverted by the remaining of the Copa del Rey, which they won last thirty day period in opposition to Valencia, but the leading four is continue to within just achieve, irrespective of difficult remaining video games towards Barca, Valencia, Granada and then Serious Madrid.
Sevilla, in third, are however not house and dry but their six-level lead in excess of their city rivals should really be ample, even if they have a tough video game on Sunday away at Villarreal.
Unai Emery’s facet may possibly nonetheless be licking their wounds after their Champions League exit at the palms of Liverpool on Tuesday.
At the other conclude of the table, Mallorca host Granada on Saturday in what seems to be a important match in the battle to stay away from relegation, with Mallorca and Cadiz just one particular issue forward of Granada as all 3 teams struggle to escape the fall.
Fixtures (GMT)
Friday
Levante v Serious Sociedad (1900)
Saturday
Mallorca v Granada (1200), Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (1415), Celta Vigo v Alaves (1630), Cadiz v Elche (1630), Genuine Betis v Barcelona (1900)
Sunday
Getafe v Rayo Vallecano (1200), Villarreal v Sevilla (1415), Espanyol v Osasuna (1630), Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (1900)
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