While Real Madrid appear to be running away with the title, the La Liga top-four race is picking up pace going into the final ten rounds of the 2021/22 fixtures.
Let’s take a look at the ten La Liga matches and the major La Liga news surrounding the games this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe
Friday’s showdown between European-bidding Athletic Bilbao and bottom-half Getafe at San Mames will serve to get La Liga Matchday 29 underway.
Both sides would benefit from winning as Bilbao trail sixth-placed Real Sociedad by seven points while the Madrilean visitors sit only four points clear of the drop zone.
But since three of their last five top-flight H2Hs have ended level, including a goalless draw in the reverse fixture, this could be another evenly-contested affair.
Deportivo Alaves vs Granada
Saturday’s La Liga action kicks off with a relegation six-pointer between Deportivo Alaves and Granada at the Estadio Mendizorrotza.
The hosts currently languish three points adrift of safety, but a win over a 17th-placed Granada side they have defeated twice in their three previous league H2Hs at home would see them swap positions in the table.
Elche vs Valencia
Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero is the venue as Elche and Valencia go head-to-head in a mid-table league clash.
With two victories from their last four La Liga outings (L2), Los Franjiverdes have built a substantial eight-point lead on relegation-threatened Cadiz.
Another success against an improving Valencia side they outscored 2-1 in this exact fixture last season would see Elche make a huge step towards ensuring top-flight survival.
Osasuna vs Levante
Osasuna’s hopes of bouncing back from a thumping 4-0 defeat to Barcelona last time out face a tricky test as they take on Levante at El Sadar.
After losing just once in their last five La Liga matches (W2, D2), rock-bottom Los Granotes have whittled down the gap on safety to six points, breathing fresh life into their battle for survival.
Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid
Fresh from crashing Manchester United out of the Champions League, Atletico Madrid will look to maintain their impressive domestic form away at Rayo Vallecano.
Diego Simeone’s men have bolstered their top-four chances after winning their last four league games on the trot, moving two points clear of fifth-placed Betis.
Espanyol vs Mallorca
Espanyol will aim to get their stuttering La Liga campaign back on track after picking up just one triumph from their nine league games this calendar year (D4, L4).
Sunday’s encounter against out-of-sorts Osasuna, who have lost five consecutive top-flight games in the build to this trip, sounds like a prime opportunity for the Catalan outfit to get back to winning ways.
Cadiz vs Villarreal
Brimming with confidence following a stunning Champions League success against Juventus in midweek, Villarreal head to the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla to meet 18th-placed Cadiz.
Wednesday’s overwhelming 3-0 win in Turin fired the Yellow Submarine past the record-time Serie A champions, setting them up nicely for their visit to Cadiz, where they are winless in both La Liga match-ups (D2).
Celta Vigo vs Real Betis
La Liga surprise package Real Betis take a trip to Balaidos for a must-win league fixture against mid-table Celta Vigo.
A hard-earned 1-0 victory over Bilbao last time out brought Los Verdiblancos’ two-game losing La Liga streak to an end, keeping them two points below fourth-placed Atletico.
Given the defending champions’ current form, Manuel Pellegrini’s men cannot afford a slip-up if they are to keep their hopes of achieving a top-four finish alive.
Sevilla vs Real Sociedad
Back-to-back draws with sub-par opponents, Alaves and Vallecano, have curtailed Sevilla’s momentum, allowing top-placed Real Madrid to go ten points clear at the summit.
Los Rojiblancos’ faint hopes of reducing the gap in the remainder of the season are about to face another daunting task as they welcome Real Sociedad to Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Sunday’s La Liga action closes out with a blockbuster fixture as Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns at Santiago Bernabeu in the 183rd top-flight installment of the famous El Clasico.
Xavi’s men will have revenge on their minds following a brace of H2H defeats this season, including a heartbreaking 3-2 extra-time reverse in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals back in January.
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andym
Founder and chief editor of La Liga Blog, Andy fell in love with Spanish football after a university placement year in the Costa Del Sol. His favourite Tapas is Albondigas and on Saturday afternoons, Andy can regularly be found trying to emulate his hero Carles Puyol for his amateur football team.