(Football news) On Sunday night, the 38th and final matchday of the 2022/23 LaLiga Santander season is set to unfold, with a multitude of crucial outcomes yet to be determined. Four teams remain in contention for the seventh spot, which grants qualification to the Conference League, and their standings are separated by a mere one point. Additionally, six teams find themselves in jeopardy of relegation, with a mere two-point difference between them, making the final 90 minutes of the season highly unpredictable.
The 10 games of Matchday 38 are divided into two kickoff times. The first set, consisting of five matches that impact the Conference League and the top half of the table, will commence at 18:30 CEST. The second set, comprising five fixtures that will decide the outcome of the relegation battle, is scheduled to start at 21:00 CEST.
The quest to secure a spot in the Conference League
As we approach the final day of LaLiga, CA Osasuna holds the seventh position with 50 points, and a win would secure their return to European competition after a gap of 16 years since 2007. However, it won’t be an easy task as they face Girona FC, currently in ninth place and trailing by just one point. Both teams are well-coached, setting the stage for an exciting showdown. Adding to the intensity, CA Osasuna will enjoy the home advantage of a lively El Sadar stadium, ensuring a packed atmosphere for the encounter.
Despite suffering two consecutive defeats, Athletic Club remains in contention for the seventh spot by the end of the season. Their upcoming challenge is an away match at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid. To secure their chances, Athletic Club must emerge victorious in this fixture and also rely on the outcome of the CA Osasuna vs Girona FC match, hoping for either a draw or an away win. It’s worth noting that the Basque team has not won at Real Madrid’s home ground since 2005, although on that day they were under the guidance of coach Ernesto Valverde, who currently leads Los Leones and instills confidence in the team ahead of their journey to the capital.
Rayo Vallecano, currently in the tenth position, are also just one point behind CA Osasuna and will aim to seize the opportunity if other outcomes work in their favor. In their final match of the season, they will face RCD Mallorca, marking the last game for departing coach Andoni Iraola at the club. Regardless of their European qualification prospects, players such as Isi Palazón, Álvaro García, Raúl de Tomás, and the rest of the team will be determined to secure three points from the match.
Another team in the running for a top-seven finish is Sevilla FC, and they will be facing Real Sociedad, who have already secured a spot in the Champions League. Sevilla FC recently clinched their seventh Europa League title, ensuring their participation in next year’s Champions League alongside La Real. However, they still have the opportunity to influence the race for the seventh position and potentially deny other contenders a European qualification spot.
Villarreal CF will face Atlético de Madrid in the early kick-off match. Both teams have already secured their places in European competitions for the upcoming season. However, Atleti is engaged in a battle with Real Madrid to secure the second position in the league standings, adding an extra layer of competition and significance to the match.
The closest relegation battle of LaLiga in recent years
In the 21:00 CEST time slot, the final team to be relegated to LaLiga SmartBank alongside Elche CF and RCD Espanyol will be determined. Real Valladolid currently holds the 18th position with 39 points and faces a crucial match against Getafe CF, who are in 14th place with 41 points. Both teams have the opportunity to control their destiny, as a victory for Real Valladolid would allow them to surpass Getafe CF in the standings.
In addition to the aforementioned teams, there are four other clubs in danger of relegation. RC Celta is currently positioned just above the drop zone and will face FC Barcelona, the champions of LaLiga Santander, at their home stadium, Abanca Balaídos. However, Celta has a decent track record against Barcelona at their home ground, having lost only one of their last seven league matches against the Catalan side in LaLiga.
Another club at risk is UD Almería, who will visit RCD Espanyol, a team that has already been relegated from LaLiga. However, Almería faces a challenging task as they have the poorest away record in LaLiga Santander, making the match far from easy.
Cádiz CF and Valencia CF find themselves in a relatively safer position, holding a two-point advantage over the LaLiga relegation zone. However, their safety is not guaranteed just yet. Cádiz CF will face Elche CF in their last match, while Valencia CF will travel to face Real Betis. Both teams have shown strong performances in recent weeks and will aim to secure their positions on the final day of the season. The outcome of these matches will ultimately determine the complete standings of this thrilling LaLiga Santander season.
INDIA TIMINGS
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Real Sociedad vs Valencia
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Real Madrid vs Athletic Club
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Osasuna vs Girona
4th June, Sunday, 10:00 p.m., Real Betis vs Valencia
5th June, Monday, 12:30 a.m., Celta Vigo vs Barcelona
5th June, Monday, 12:30 a.m., Espanyol vs Almeria
5th June, Monday, 12:30 a.m., Elche vs Cadiz
5th June, Monday, 12:30 a.m., Valladolid vs Getafe
Also Read : Mauricio Pochettino has already made some big decisions for the 2023/24 season
