The end of the 2024/25 LaLiga campaign is this weekend, with Saturday having all of the important games. It was a successful year for Spanish football as they will have eight teams in Europe next term. As such, it provides us more to pay attention to going into Saturday’s play.
Barcelona already clinched the title, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club, and Villarreal all securing Champions League places. Real Betis, who will partake in the UEFA Conference League final next week, will enjoy Europa League football. As for Las Palmas and Real Valladolid, they are both relegated.
What is left to be decided are the country’s other two European spots, plus the final team to go down. Here is The Deck’s preview as to who is involved in what, and the permutations for Saturday’s play.
LaLiga Final Round Permutations
Race for Europe: Celta Vigo (52 points), Rayo Vallecano (51), Osasuna (51)
There are two places in next season’s UEFA club competitions still available for Spanish teams. Between Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, and Osasuna, two of the three will claim those spots.
Celta, who made the 2016/17 Europa League semifinals in their last appearance, faces Getafe away. As for Rayo, looking for just their second European campaign, they welcome a Mallorca team who just missed out on European football. Osasuna, who participated in the 2023/24 Conference League, takes on Alaves away.
The scenario is simple here: a Celta win will see them join Betis in the UEL. Rayo will also secure at least the UECL with a win, though that will become a UEL spot should Celta fail to collect three points. Osasuna’s only way to pick up the Europa League spot is if they win and the other two sides do not do so. They will qualify for Europe if they win more points than Rayo.
All three potential two-way ties can occur. As such, note the following head-to-head tiebreakers among the three:
- Rayo Vallecano wins the H2H over Osasuna (1-1-0) and Celta Vigo (2-0-0)
- The H2H between Osasuna and Celta Vigo offsets, as both sides beat the other by one goal. Overall goal difference currently reads -4 for the former, and +1 for the latter.
In the event of a three-way tie, which is possible should both Rayo and Osasuna draw, while Celta loses, then the following will be the final standings: Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna, Celta Vigo. This means that Vallecano will qualify for Europe if they finish level on points with either side, or both of them.
This will be quite the spectacle, as all three clubs have a rare opportunity at European football in the fall. There is no room for error from either of the three clubs, as Europa League and Conference League spots are on the line.
Relegation: Espanyol (39), Leganés (37)
This is one of the more interesting relegation battles we have seen in LaLiga over recent times. That is not all because of the position both Espanyol and Leganés find themselves in. It also has something to do with the fact that the pair will take on the sides already relegated.
Espanyol just needs a win versus Las Palmas and/or a Leganés draw or loss against Real Valladolid to avoid the drop. The only way out for Leganés is a win coupled with a draw or defeat from their rivals. Los pepineros already own the head-to-head, meaning should they finish level on points, they have the tiebreaker.
Saturday should be in for a fun day of football in LaLiga. The matches for Europe will occur at 21:00 CET, after the relegation games at 18:30 CET. There is no room for error from any of the sides still competing for something.