Almeria, Eibar, Granada and Deportivo La Coruna head into the final day of the La Liga season knowing that they need a result to avoid relegation back to the Segunda Division. Two of those teams will be going down, with just two points separating them and head-to-head records making matters even more interesting.
Deportivo face the toughest task and will be reliant on the other teams below them not picking up results. They have to travel away to the Nou Camp to face a Barcelona side ready to pick up the title. However, with Depor requiring a result and Barca players wary of picking up injuries ahead of the Copa and Champions League Finals, there is a slight chance Depor can upset the balance.
Eibar have the easiest assignment with a home tie against already-relegated Cordoba. The visitors have failed to win in 19 consecutive La Liga games and it should be routine for last season’s Segunda champions. Almeria host Valencia in a tricky tie whilst Granada take on Atletico Madrid.
Almeria
Position: 19th
Points: 32
Goal Difference: -28
To stay up: Beat Valencia and hope Eibar, Deportivo and Granada don’t win. Only a win will suffice.
Head-to-Head: Better than Granada and Deportivo but worse than Eibar. In the unlikely event that all four teams end up with 35 points then Almeria and Deportivo would stay up.
Chances: Minimal. Beating Valencia, who need a win to seal Champions League football next season, is a massive ask. Banking on everyone else to lose? Even slimmer. Should be playing Segunda football next season.
Eibar
Position: 18th
Points: 32
Goal Difference: -24
To stay up: Beat Cordoba and hope other results go their way. A win coupled with defeats for Granada and Depor would seal a surprise escape, though draws for the aforementioned two could make it interesting.
Head-to-Head: Better than Almeria, so if Eibar match their result they would stay above them. However, Eibar’s record is worse than Deportivo’s after two earlier league defeats. Their record versus Granada is level so goal difference would come into the equation, with Eibar’s currently much stronger. Only a four-way tie on points would relegate Eibar on the head-to-head record. Confused? We are!
Chances: Decent. As long as they record a win over Cordoba they ‘should’ survive due to the level of difficulty for the other teams around them. They should win and they need to win, but how often has the pressure been too much for sides down the bottom?
Deportivo La Coruna
Position: 17th
Points: 34
Goal Difference: -25
To stay up: Hope Eibar and Almeria lose or draw. If one of those two win, Deportivo will need a result against Barcelona. Three points seals survival – a draw takes it to head-to-head.
Head-to-Head: Worse than Granada and Almeria but better than Eibar.
Chances: Against Barcelona, nil. Deportivo fans may as well switch the channel and watch Eibar-Cordoba because the result of this match will surely determine what division they will find themselves in next year. The likelihood of Eibar winning depends on how much they feel the pressure and manage the match.
Granada
Position: 16th
Points: 34
Goal Difference: -35
To stay up: Beat Atletico Madrid and hope Almeria and Eibar don’t win. However, even if one of Eibar or Almeria win, if Deportivo lose then Granada would stay up.
Head-to-Head: Better than Depor, level with Eibar and worse than Almeria.
Chances: Very good. Should stay above Deportivo even if they lose, and Almeria face a tough battle against Valencia. Hard to see them going down on Sunday.
