Spain – Barcelona and Real Madrid, separated by four points, play a classic match that could be decisive for the resolution of a championship that, also in this matchday 35, has the attraction of the Basque derby between Athletic Club de Bilbao and Alavés, the fight for the places that give access to Europe and the tough battle for salvation between Leganés and Las Palmas.
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Barcelona, leader with 79 points, receives Real Madrid, which has 75. Four points difference with twelve left to play, so this match seems key for the future of the title in LaLiga EA Sports (Primera División).
A victory or a draw will leave Barcelona in a very favorable situation to win the title, but if Real Madrid were able to win at the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys, in Barcelona, the remaining three matchdays will be of maximum excitement.
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The third place seems assured for Atlético de Madrid of the ‘Cholo’ Simeone, who this matchday receives Real Sociedad, obliged to win or at least score points so as not to be stopped in their race to return to Europe, something that numerous teams also pursue.
Athletic Club de Bilbao, fourth-placed with a three-point margin over fifth-placed Villarreal, receives Alavés at San Mamés in a Basque derby of high voltage due to the need to win for both teams. For the Bilbao team to remain in fourth place and for the Vitoria team to escape a relegation that sees them only three points away.
Villarreal, for its part, has a difficult match with its trip to Girona, where a Catalan team awaits it, which, with a victory, could certify mathematical permanence if other results accompany it.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis, who have only lost one match in the last eleven, wants to continue its climb to try to enter the Champions League, if Villarreal stumbles. This matchday they receive Osasuna, who is excited about Europe and is awaiting this week’s failures of Celta de Vigo or Rayo Vallecano.
The Vigo team receives a Sevilla side in freefall at Balaídos, which sees relegation six points away after stringing together two draws and five defeats in the last seven matchdays.
The last European spot is held by Rayo Vallecano, who, after winning the derby against Getafe, will play at the Gran Canaria Stadium against UD Las Palmas, who are in the relegation zone and three points away from safety, making this match key to their interests.
Clinging to that European dream, seeing eighth place two points away, is what Valencia wants, who have gone nine games without losing and want to string together another victory, this time against a Getafe who, in no man’s land, hopes to definitively seal their survival.
Leganés has a more difficult time staying in the league, as they need to start adding three points urgently to stay with options. Their rival this matchday is Espanyol, who, with a victory or even a draw, could secure their survival.
Real Valladolid, relegated for several weeks, with no other incentive than to improve its ranking with some dignity, visits Mallorca, in the middle of the race for Europe. EFE
