The 25th round of matches in La Liga in Spain promises to be decisive in the battle for the title and next year’s Champions League places. Four things could shape the proceedings this weekend.
Real Madrid have chance to move further clear
Real Madrid’s 4-0 win at home to Girona last weekend saw them move five points clear of their nearest rival in La Liga and have a chance to open that gap to eight points when they visit Rayo Vallecano on Sunday lunchtime.
Rayo sacked coach Francisco Rodriguez during the week after a run of just one win in 14 games and although his replacement Inigo Perez has experience at the club as assistant to Andoni Iraola, Sunday will be his coaching debut.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is without Jude Bellingham and could also miss Brahim Diaz due to a calf problem. But if Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo maintain their form, that should be enough to beat a side that plays good football, but always leaves rivals with a chance at the back.
Huge game for Girona and Athletic Bilbao
Girona travel to Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium on Monday needing to recover from last weekend’s defeat, when they looked like a shadow of the team that was so impressive last season.
Coach Michel Sanchez and players Yangel Herrera and Daley Blind will be back after suspension last weekend and that will certainly help, but San Mames is one of the toughest grounds in Spain.
Athletic’s only defeat at home this season was on the opening day of the campaign and they welcome Girona after six consecutive home wins.
Their efforts in the Copa del Rey have taken a physical toll on them but the players had a week to recover from their 0-0 draw in Almeria. Nico Williams could return after a groin strain, a major boost for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
Another test for Barca ahead of vital European game
Barcelona slipped back into bad habits last weekend when they were held to a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Granada. With only five points separating them from fifth-placed Athletic Club, they can’t afford many more errors if they want Champions League football.
Xavi Hernandez must find a way to tighten up defence and he needs players such as Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong to show their best form.
While points in La Liga are important, next week sees Barca in Champions League action away to Napoli, where a win is vital for the club’s economic future. The pressure is on both the team and Xavi and Saturday’s visit to play Celta is a massive test of personality for both coach and players.
Drama in Granada
There will be drama in Granada on Sunday afternoon when second-from-bottom Granada entertain bottom of the table Almeria in an Andalusia derby. Both sides look destined for relegation, with Almeria still searching for their first win of the season, despite improving considerably under Gaizka Garitano.
Granada also showed spirit in a 3-3 draw in Barcelona last weekend and a win could lift them to within four points of safety. Expect a game as tight and as tense as if a place in Europe or a title were at stake.
