Most sports betting eyes may be on the Madrid derby but, of all the football games in La Liga this weekend, perhaps the most important of all will be played on the Mediterranean coast.
Las Palmas know victory over Levante is a must if they are to harbour any hopes of playing in the Spanish top flight next season.
And then there is the chance for some football betting history when unbeaten Barcelona welcome Leganes to Catalonia.
WEEK 31 SATURDAY:
Deportivo La Coruna vs Malaga
It is quite clear that a draw will probably lead to the relegation of both bottom clubs.
Even a victory for basement club Malaga will probably lead to the relegation of both.
Can Clarence Seedorf finally guide Deportivo to a victory, two months after his arrival?
Alaves vs Getafe
Alaves have shown that a run of good form can lift any club, whether title chasing, Euro hopefuls or, as was in their case, survival battlers.
One more win and they should be home and hosed.
Getafe will hope for more luck than they had in their Easter defeat at home to Real Betis.
Celta Vigo vs Sevilla
This time last year, Celta Vigo were preparing for a Europa League quarter-final of their own.
Twelve months on and it’s Sevilla who are in between last eight ties in the Champions League.
After failing to beat Barcelona, when they should have done, in La Liga and surrendering an advantage against Bayern Munich in Europe in their first European Cup quarter-final for 60 years, will Sevilla have much left in the tank?
On saying that, having been pushed out of the top six, this is an important game for Vincenzo Montella’s men.
WEEK 31 SUNDAY:
Real Betis vs Eibar
After their last-gasp win at Getafe, Betis have the bit between their teeth and, perhaps most crucially of all, luck on their side.
They are up to sixth and are on pace to seal the final Europa League berth for next term.
A home victory against the over-achieving Eibar would maintain Andalusian dreams.
Barcelona vs Leganes
With full respect to Leganes, does anyone really expect them to spoil the party?
For champions-elect Barcelona are within one game of equalling Real Sociedad’s 38-match unbeaten run in the top flight.
That was achieved from 1978-1980 and Barcelona are now on course to do that. They have 23 victories and seven draws so far this season, and a further seven matches unbeaten under Luis Enrique at the end of the previous campaign.
Ernesto Valverde is on the verge of history.
Levante vs Las Palmas
It’s what journalists in Britain call the ‘proverbial six-pointer’.
Las Palmas, the Canary Islanders who so many fans have a soft spot for, haven’t won since January 20, which goes a long way to explaining their current predicament.
However, they have turned on the style when required, such as defeating Valencia and holding Barcelona.
Now, they need a victory more than ever or they will be going down. Levante, meanwhile, can hail their own bid to beat the drop a success.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
There was a moment in Real Madrid’s midweek triumph at Juventus that was so sensational it drew applause from all four corners of the ground.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not the world’s top player for nothing and his second goal in Turin, an overhead kick, needs no further superlatives from me.
When Real are on form, they are Europe’s top team; and Atletico—twice beaten by their much wealthier city rivals in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016—will know that.
Yet, this run-in represents a real opportunity for Diego Simeone’s team to secure second place and finish ahead of their neighbours, who they currently hold a four-point advantage over.
That would be quite a statement.
WEEK 31 MONDAY:
Real Sociedad vs Girona
It’s hard to think Girona were in the fifth tier of Spanish football as recently as 1999. Now, they are on the cusp of qualifying for Europe.
A trip to Sociedad—Champions League qualifiers themselves less than five years ago—won’t be easy, but Girona have overcome tougher tests to date in their amazing debut in the top flight.
Valencia vs RCD Espanyol
With the two Madrid clubs in combat, Valencia may hope that contest ends as a draw.
That result, coupled with a home victory, would lift them back into third above Real.
Either way, this has been a fine season for Los Che for whom a top-four place looks almost certain.
Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao
With the top four seemingly out of sight, the Yellow Submarine lead a chasing pack for the Europa League places.
Their advantage over Real Betis and Sevilla is a narrow one while Girona are also hot on their heels.
In recent seasons, this clash would have been a battle between the perennial Europa League hopefuls. Bilbao may be out of the running this time but the Basque club remain tricky opponents.
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