LaLiga preview: What’s on the line on the final day of the season?

THE 38th and final matchday of the 2022/23 LaLiga Santander season is taking place on Sunday night and there is still so much to be decided.

Four teams maintain hope of securing seventh to take final European qualification spot, that of the Conference League, and this quartet is separated by just one point.

Then, there are six teams still at risk of relegation and they’re separated by just two points, so anything could happen over the course of the final 90 minutes of the season.

The 10 fixtures of Matchday 38 are split across two kick-off times, as the five matches that have implications for the Conference League and top half of the table are taking place first, while the five fixtures that will determine the outcome of the relegation battle are starting later in the evening.

The race towards the Conference League

Going into the final day, Osasuna currently boast 50 points and occupy seventh place, knowing that a victory will guarantee a return to European competition for the first time since 2007.

That’s easier said than done, however, because Los Rojillos will be taking on a direct rival, ninth-placed Girona, who are just one point behind in the standings. These are two excellently-coached teams and they should produce a thrilling spectacle, one that Osasuna will have home advantage for at a packed-out El Sadar.

Athletic Bilbao may have lost their last two matches, but they still have a chance of sneaking into seventh by the full-time whistle of the season. They travel to the Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid and need to win that fixture and also hope that Osasuna vs Girona is either a draw or an away win.

The Basques haven’t won away at Real Madrid since 2005, but they were coached by Ernesto Valverde that day and, as the current coach, he’ll lead Los Leones to the capital feeling confident.

Rayo Vallecano, in 10th spot, are also just one point behind Osasuna, so will look to capitalise if other results go their way.

The capital-city side travel to Mallorca on the final day for what will be departing coach Andoni Iraola’s final match at the club. Whether they secure European football or not, Isi Palazón, Álvaro García, Raúl de Tomás and co. will want to take the three points.

The other team that could still finish in the top seven is Sevilla, who’ll visit a Real Sociedad side that have already secured Champions League football. Given that Sevilla won their seventh Europa League title on Wednesday, they’ll be joining La Real in next year’s Champions League but could yet shake up the race for seventh and deny the other contenders a European ticket.

Also in the early kick-off time is Villarreal vs Atlético Madrid. While these teams are already certain of their European status for next season, Atletico are jostling for position with Real Madrid for second place.

The tightest relegation battle in years

At the later time slot, we’ll find out who’ll join already-relegated Elche and Espanyol in going down to LaLiga SmartBank.

Real Valladolid currently occupy the dreaded 18th position on 39 points, but they face a direct rival as they host Getafe, who are 14th with 41 points. Therefore, both teams have their fate in their own hands, as a Real Valladolid win would see them leapfrog Los Azulones.

Besides those two, there are four other clubs at risk. Celta Vigo are currently just above the drop zone and will have to face LaLiga Santander champions Barcelona at home. But, the Galician side have a good record against Barça at the Abanca Balaídos, as they’ve lost just one of their past seven home league games against the Catalan outfit.

Almería are another of the at-risk clubs and they’ll visit already-relegated Espanyol on the final day. However, the Andalusians have the worst away record in LaLiga Santander, so that won’t be an easy game.

As for Cádiz and Valencia, they’re both two points clear of the drop zone and within touching distance of safety, but nothing is secured yet.

Los Amarillos will visit Elche on the final day and Los Che will go away to Real Betis. Both Cádiz and Valencia have been playing well in recent weeks, so will look to finish the job on Sunday night, when the final standings of this dramatic LaLiga Santander season will be fully confirmed.

Watch LaLiga Santander live this weekend on your local broadcasters.