The Spanish football championship is entering its decisive phase: after 33 rounds, Barcelona confidently leads, ahead of Real Madrid by 11 points. With only five matches left until the end of the season, not only the fate of the title is being decided, but also the distribution of places in European competitions, as well as the battle for survival in La Liga.
At the top of the table, the intrigue remains only between the two giants. Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid’s slip, as Madrid drew with Betis, and increased their lead thanks to a win over Getafe. Now the Catalans have 85 points from 33 games, while Madrid sits at 74 with the same number of matches. Key matchups are ahead, including a head-to-head clash in the 35th round.
Table standings
The current standings are as follows: Barcelona — 85 points, Real Madrid — 74, Villarreal — 62 (32 games), Atlético — 60, Betis — 50, Getafe and Celta — 44 each, Real Sociedad — 42, Athletic — 41. The mid-table remains tight, and several clubs are still fighting for European competition spots. The top four teams get direct tickets to the Champions League, fifth place goes to the Europa League, and sixth place qualifies for the Conference League. At the bottom of the table, six teams are fighting to stay up, including Oviedo, who sits last with 28 points after 32 games.
What is needed for the title
Barcelona is one step away from reclaiming the title. With an 11-point lead and 15 points left to play for, the team can clinch the championship as early as next week: they just need to beat Osasuna, provided Real Madrid fails to win against Espanyol. In case of a draw, the Catalans will have to wait until matchday 35, when El Clásico takes place. For Real Madrid, the task seems almost impossible: to overtake Barcelona, they must win all their remaining matches and hope their rival doesn’t pick up any more points. As Diario As notes, the biggest comeback in La Liga history was a 9-point deficit, recorded in 1999.
The schedule for the decisive rounds
Both teams face a tough fixture list ahead. Real Madrid will play away at Espanyol, then travel to Barcelona, host Oviedo, meet Sevilla, and finish the season at home against Athletic. Barcelona, meanwhile, will play Osasuna, host Real Madrid, visit Alavés, play at home against Betis, and close out the championship in Valencia. Competition for European spots and survival remains high: several teams could change their positions depending on the results of the upcoming rounds.
The battle for European spots and survival
The battle for European competition spots remains intense between Villarreal, Atlético, Betis, Getafe, and Celta. At the bottom of the table, the situation is still uncertain: Oviedo, Levante, Sevilla, Elche, Mallorca, and Alavés are at risk of relegation. Every matchday can shift the balance of power, and the final decisions will be made right up to the last matches.
Attention to the season’s finish is heightened by the fact that Spanish clubs continue to fight for European cups in parallel tournaments. As the recent match between Real Sociedad and Getafe showed—where not only points but also records were at stake—competition in La Liga remains fierce until the very end (more on the race for Europe and player records).
