With Barcelona already crowned champions, the penultimate weekend of La Liga still holds plenty of intrigue—from golden boot races to European dreams and emotional farewells. Here’s what to watch for:
Villarreal Look to Exploit a Relaxed Barcelona
Villarreal travel to face Barcelona on Sunday with hopes of pulling off a statement win. With fifth place and Champions League qualification within reach, the Yellow Submarine are riding high. Ayoze Pérez continues to shine, netting 18 league goals this season—seven of them in his last nine matches.
Barcelona, with the title already secured, may take a more relaxed approach in front of their home fans. It could be their final match at the Olympic Stadium before returning to Camp Nou, and with nothing left to play for, they might just offer Villarreal the perfect opening.
Mbappé Eyes the Golden Boot in a Turbulent Season
While Real Madrid’s season has been disappointing, Kylian Mbappé remains on fire. His midweek strike against Mallorca was his 40th in all competitions and his 28th in La Liga—three more than Robert Lewandowski.
Madrid head to Sevilla, a side that has finally pulled clear of relegation. It’s another opportunity for Mbappé to pad his tally and secure the league’s golden boot in what has been a standout first season in Spain for the French star.
Leganés Hanging by a Thread
At the other end of the table, Leganés are fighting to avoid the drop. They sit 18th, four points from safety, and face Las Palmas on Sunday. Nothing less than a win will do, and even that might not be enough unless Alavés drop points against Valladolid.
Espanyol, although not mathematically safe, sit five points clear of the drop zone after their recent defeat to Barcelona and are likely to survive.
A Farewell to Remember at Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad’s final home match of the season will be an emotional one as fans prepare to say goodbye to head coach Imanol Alguacil. Having led the club to Copa del Rey success in 2020—their first major trophy since 1987—Alguacil leaves behind a significant legacy.
This may also be midfielder Martín Zubimendi’s last game at Anoeta. With strong links to Arsenal and Real Madrid, the talented Spaniard could be set for a summer departure.
Celta Vigo’s European Dream Alive
Celta Vigo are within touching distance of European football for the first time in eight years. A win against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday would secure seventh place and a Europa League spot. Their last European adventure in 2016–17 saw them reach the semi-finals, where they were narrowly knocked out by Manchester United.
A win this weekend would mark a triumphant return to the continental stage for Claudio Giráldez’s entertaining side.
Full Fixture List – Sunday (All 17:00 GMT):
- Las Palmas vs Leganés
- Valladolid vs Alavés
- Osasuna vs Espanyol
- Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano
- Barcelona vs Villarreal
- Real Sociedad vs Girona
- Sevilla vs Real Madrid
- Mallorca vs Getafe
- Valencia vs Athletic Bilbao
- Atlético Madrid vs Real Betis
From title celebrations to relegation battles and everything in between, La Liga’s penultimate round promises one final twist before the curtain closes.
