Spain La Liga Related Content
Osasuna, Deportivo, Getafe and Zaragoza struggle to avoid relegation in the final match of the Spanish League.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia and Villarreal have nothing to fight for in this last Liga's game, except for the personal goals of their players. The same applies for Hercules and Almeria, while the other fifteen Spanish squads chance their arms in this final game.
Athletic, Sevilla and Atletico have already secured a place in Europe next year, but the three of them are eager to avoid the seventh position and advance directly to the second stage of the Europea league.
Colchoneros' coach Quique Sanchez Flores plays his last game with Atletico, and this could be the end of the project los Rojiblancos have been building for the past few years. Aguero, De Gea and perhaps Forlan could be playing their last game for Atletico in Mallorca.
Real Sociedad vs Getafe and Levante vs Zaragoza take on each other with much more than three points at stake. The loser could face direct relegation, while a victory will be enough for any of them to secure the permanence.
Who will join Almeria and Hercules in the Liga Adelante next year?
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Can Juan Carlos Garrido's Villarreal recover the third position as Real Madrid visits the Madrigal this Sunday?

Barcelona rescued one point last week against Levante, enough to be crowned Liga champion with 92 points after 36 Liga games.
Seydou Keita opened the score at the Ciutat de Valencia with a marvelous header, but only minutes later Felipe Caicedo found the equalizer after Gerard Pique failed to clear a ball inside the box.
Zaragoza, Hercules and Almeria begin the 37th round on the drop zone. The flawless performance of both Malaga and Levante in the second half of the tournament has almost secured their permanence in the Primera Division.
Getafe and Deportivo, on the other hand, must secure every single point to avoid relegation.
Mauricio Pochettino's Espanyol visit Zaragoza, and a victory is mandatory for los Pericos to remain competitive in the European fight. Sevilla and Atletico share the 6th position, two points below Athletic.
Ten exciting games, featuring the best of the Spanish football. Follow all La Liga's action and much more with Livesoccertv.com
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If Real Madrid fails to defeat Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu, Barcelona could be crowned La Liga's champion.

There's still time for numerous surprises in the last four Liga games. Barcelona is comfortable leading the table standings with 91 points, eight points above Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola's Blaugranas lock horns with Levante, of flawless performance in the second half of the Spanish Primera Division.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, hosts Getafe on Tuesday's night. Jose Mourinho's Blancos have scored 14 goals in the last three Liga games, a truly fearsome record.
Espanyol and Valencia play one of the hottest games this Wednesday at Cornella-El-Prat. This clash could shake the very foundations of the European fight, and might give Villarreal an opportunity to shorten the gap from the third position.
Juan Carlos Garrido's Submarines visit Almeria, stuck at the bottom position with 26 points.
Real Sociedad vs Zaragoza and Malaga vs Sporting play two decisive six-pointers for the category. The thin line between relegation and salvation has not yet been drawn, who could secure their permanence in La Liga's 36th round?
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Can Barcelona put a ribbon on La Liga's title this Sunday at the Camp Nou?

Barcelona advanced to the grand finale of the Champions League upon sharing points with Real Madrid last Tuesday.
Barcelona's eight-point advantage could have already granted Pep Guardiola's Blaugranas the Spanish title, but Barcelona's boss does not want to celebrate before due time, and prepares for a vital game against Espanyol.
Villarreal was eliminated from the Europa League in midweek action, and Juan Carlos Garrido's boys will now focus on reaching the third position, which stands only three points above. Villarreal visits Mallorca on Sunday's early game.
Athletic and Levante lock horns, both squads dreaming with Europe. Hercules, Racing, Deportivo, Osasuna, Zaragoza and Sporting struggle to survive the Primera Division, and their clashes against each other will be decisive, with so little games yet to be played in La Liga.
Sevilla vs Real Madrid, Espanyol vs Barcelona and Valencia vs Real Sociedad, three of the most intense games of the week.
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Liga leader Barcelona wants to secure the title in Anoeta. Espanyol and Athletic take on each other for the last European places.

The future of the Spanish League will be decided in the next five matches. Barcelona's massive eight-point advantage could have already granted Guardiola's Blaugranas the title, but Jose Mourinho is not ready to give in without fighting.
Mourinho's Merengues host Javier Aguirre's Zaragoza. The visitors could be taken back to the drop zone upon an awkward result at the Santiago Bernabeu. Barcelona must return home victorious from San Sebastian to deliver the last blow to Real Madrid's Liga dreams.
Athletic stands at the 5th position with 51 points. Athletic's six-point advantage can be reduced to shreds as the Basque squad visits Cornella-El-Prat.
Valencia secured the third position, taking advantage of the last Villarreal's step. Unai Emery's Ches visit Osasuna on Sunday's late game while Villarreal hosts Getafe at the Madrigal.
Mourinho saved Cristiano Ronaldo for the next Champions League clash. Will Messi take advantage of this opportunity to climb even higher as La Liga's top scorer?
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Real Madrid returns to the Mestalla, eager to celebrate another historic victory, now at Valencia's expense.

There's much more in the Spanish League than Barcelona and Real Madrid's endless rivalry. Valencia wants to demonstrate Real Madrid they cannot ignore the Spanish League without facing its consequences as Jose Mourinho' Blancos return to Mestalla.
Sevilla and Villarreal, on the other hand, lock horns in a decisive clash for the European fight. Newly promoted Levante wants to demonstrate they're ready to join the European contenders as they visit the Vicente Calderon to defy Atletico Madrid.
La Liga reaches a turning point, and every single point matters as the tournament comes to an end. Malaga and Hercules look forward to leave the basement before it's too late, facing two difficult rivals this week.
Finally, the Basque derby features Athletic and Real Sociedad, both in great need of a victory to better understand where are they standing in the Spanish fight.
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The first Clasico shadows the other nine games, in which the very foundations of the Spanish League might shake.

The possibility of Real Madrid and Barcelona facing each other four times in less than a month has finally become true, and Saturday's Clasico features a derby in which the Liga title itself is at stake.
But there's much more in the Spanish League than a dual fight at the top. Villarreal must secure a victory against Zaragoza to keep up with Valencia's pace, who've opened a six-point gap at the third position.
Newly promoted Levante and Hercules take on each other for a decisive relegation fight. Levante has been unstoppable during the second half of the tournament and they need to demonstrate their strength against a direct rival to reach the upper half of the positions table and even dream with the European qualification.
Espanyol and Atletico play another decisive game, in which the winner is likely to defy Sevilla as the owner of the fifth European place.
Follow all Spanish League action as well as extensive coverage for the next four Clasicos at LiveSoccertv.com
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Barcelona looks forward to maintain an eight-point lead as Real Madrid visits San Mames' Cathedral.

Barcelona and Real Madrid demonstrated their superiority last week in the Champions League, by soundly defeating Shakhtar and Tottenham respectively. Everything seems to indicate we'll witness four Clasico in less than 20 days.
Barcelona hosts Almeria, a rival they've overwhelmed this season both in the Liga and the Spanish Cup. Barcelona's main objective is keep a safe buffer zone before visiting the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend.
Athletic lock horns with Real Madrid in great need of a victory to remain competitive in the fight for the last European places. With 45 points, Joaquin Caparros' Lions could be left below the qualifying line if Sevilla and Atletico claim the full scoring in Mallorca and Alicante.
Valencia and Villarreal play one of the hottest matches of the week, a true six-pointer to see who's the fittest squad to become the third alternative to Barcelona and Real Madrid's supreme leadership.
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Jose Mourinho included Gonzalo Higuain as Real Madrid hosts Sporting to kick off La Liga's 30th round.

April will be an important month for the Spanish League, marked by the clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid two weeks from now in La Liga. Both Spanish powerhouses will also meet each other at the Spanish Cup grand finale, on April 20th.
But there's more, as Barcelona and Real Madrid might lock horns in the semi-finals of the Champions League if them both manage to edge their rivals, Shakhtar and Tottenham in the quarter-finals. The first-leg match will be held next week
Villarreal joined Valencia at the third position last week, and they need to capitalize their efforts as Liga leader Barcelona visits the Madrigal. Valencia, on the other hand, visits Madrid to take on Michel's Getafe.
Newly promoted Real Sociedad and Hercules play an early final in Anoeta. The hosts can reach the 9th position upon a victory, while Hercules cannot concede any more points if they're meant to abandon the basement.
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Barcelona and Real Madrid will lock horns at least twice in April.

"Barcelona is the football reference nowadays; it's what they've won and the kind of football they play what makes them be who they are" said Spanish international Santiago Cazorla earlier this week.
Juan Carlos Garrido's Submarines receive Liga leader Barcelona, knowing that a victory is vital to keep up with Valencia's pace in the fight for the third alternative to the Spanish League.
Pep Guardiola cannot ignore the fact that Barcelona visits the Santiago Bernabeu two weeks from now. A four-points advantage is mandatory to diminish the impact of the Clasico in La Liga fight.
Blaugrana's boss should walk a step at the time, considering after the Madrigal Barcelona lock horns with Shakhtar Donetsk for the Champions League.
If Barcelona advances to the final of the Champions, the Cule squad will play 15 games in the next 57 days. It would be wise for Pep Guardiola not to risk Lio Messi -who missed Argentina's international friendly earlier this week due to a leg injury- against Villarreal, but it's true Barcelona might need its top striker to bag the victory at the Madrigal.
The Brazilian winger is the second top assister in Barcelona, only behind Lio Messi.

Daniel Alves has become a vital part of Pep Guardiola's scheme. It is not that the Cule boss does not have alternatives on the wings (Adriano has showed strong credentials to be part of the starting eleven during the last few weeks, and let's not forget Maxwell).
"I don't feel Barcelona have been doing their best to renew my contract" said Alves a few weeks ago. Chelsea, Manchester City and many other teams have been following the negotiation process closely, but both parts seems to have finally agreed on the future of the Brazilian international
"We've looked around in the market, and there is no one like Alves" said Rosell a few days ago. "No other player on his position steps on the opposite area as often, he's one of a kind" added Guardiola.
Alves' renovation comes at a moment of great need for Barcelona, with team's captain Carles Puyol struggling with injuries and Eric Abidal sidelined for the rest of the season.
Barcelona looks forward to open an eight-point lead over Real Madrid, who visits the Vicente Calderon for a decisive derby.

Barcelona failed to return home victorious from the Sanchez Pizjuan, and now Real Madrid is given a final chance to defy Blaugrana's leadership.
Jose Mourincho's Blancos qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals last week in Lyon, and showed to be in excellent form to take a test of fire at the Vicente Calderon in this week's hottest derby.
Juan Carlos Garrido's Villarreal visit San Mames' Cathedral in great need of a victory to keep up with Valencia's pace in the fight for the third position.
Unai Emery's Ches, on the other hand, receive Sevilla at the Mestalla. Gregorio Manzano's Palanganas should take advantage of the positive result against Barcelona to claim their place in the top-five.
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Barcelona wants to secure the top in Andalusia as they visit Sevilla, while Real Madrid hosts Hercules earlier this Saturday.

La Liga's 28th rounds kicks off as Atletico visits Almeria. The visitors need to return to victory and prepare for Real Madrid next week, while Almeria wants to leave the drop zone, given that Hercules and Zaragoza have also important rivals to face.
Schalke 04 eliminated Valencia from the Champions League with a sound victory, and now Unai Emery's Ches have to focus on the Liga fight. With 54 points they occupy the third position, four points above Villarreal, who receives Sporting the following day.
Sevilla wants to recover its place among the European best as they receive Barcelona on Sunday's night. It should be the most exciting game of the week, who'll claim the three points?
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Barcelona receives Zaragoza only three days before Arsenal visits the Camp Nou for the Champions League.

Barcelona managed to rescue the full scoring from its visit to the Mestalla last Wednesday, and must now return to the Camp Nou to host Javier Aguirre's Zaragoza.
The visitors are going through an excellent moment, and have managed to open a two-points buffer zone from the relegation line, but all the effort can prove to be worthless if they're sent back home empty-handed by the Cule squad this week.
Atletico and Villarreal play one of the most exciting games of the week, as Juan Carlos Garrido's Submarines wants to claim the third position of the standings as they visit the Vicente Calderon on Saturday's night.
Sevilla visits San Mames' Cathedral to take on Athletic. Joined at the sixth position with 38 points, the winner will claim six decisive points for the European fight.
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Barcelona visits the Mestalla to confirm its leadership for another week.

Three games in one week will probably decide the future of many squads in the Spanish Primera Division. Liga leader Barcelona visits a direct rival for the top, Valencia in Andalusian ground.
Mauricio Pochettino's Espanyol needs to shorten the seven-points advantage that Villarreal and Valencia have opened for the Champions League fight.
Mallorca faces a turning point, as a victory over Espanyol can take them back to the top fight while a defeat might sank them way too close from the relegation line.
Unai Emery's Ches have become the third alternative to Real Madrid and Barcelona as leaders in the league, and they need to prove they deserve this position on Wednesday's late game. Newly promoted Levante and Real Sociedad lock horns with each other, both relatively safe from the relegation line but eager to join the upper half of the positions table.
Sporting wants to take advantage of Sevilla's misfortune as they visit the Sanchez Pizjuan, while Hercules wants to surprise everybody by claiming the full scoring against Villarreal at the Madrigal.
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The European fight could reach a turning point as Sevilla visits the Vicente Calderon while Valencia takes on Athletic in San Mames.

Osasuna's flawless performance at the Reyno de Navarra helped José Luis Mendilibar's boys claim the 14th position upon soundly defeating Espanyol 4-0. Los Rojillos want to celebrate their first victory away as they visit newly promoted Levante, a direct rival for the category.
Liga leader Barcelona visits Mallorca without Dani Alves and Xavi (the first received his fifth yellow card last week while the Spanish midfielder is ruled out due to injuries. Having obtained only four points in the last six games, Michael Laudrup's Bermellones will have to say goodbye to the European fight without a positive result as they visit the Camp Nou.
Atletico and Sevilla play one of the most interesting games of the week, as they're both going through a difficult moment and cannot concede three vital points to a direct rival for the top fight.The memories of the last Spanish Cup final are still vivid in the mind of Quique Sanchez Flores' Rojiblancos, but it can be a whole different story at the Vicente Calderon
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Saturday February 19 2011,
As Barcelona prepares for a vital game against Athletic, Real Madrid preserves its top players for Tuesday's visit to Gerland for the Champions League first-leg match against Olympique.

One week ago, it looked like Barcelona undisputed leader of the Spanish League, having obtained 48 points in the last 16 games, enjoying a strong momentum that spread also to the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
But two consecutive awkward result (against Sporting and Arsenal) have brought Barcelona back to reality, and now a victory is mandatory to dispel all the judging clouds cast upon Pep Guardiola's head.
Atletico Madrid must take advantage of this visit to La Romareda to return to the upper half of the positions table and fight back on the chase for the last European places. Espanyol and Athletic have settled as the two Europa League favorites at the moment, while Valencia finally leapfrogged Villarreal and claimed the third position with 47 points.
Real Madrid focus its forces for next week's visit to France, as Los Blancos are determined to continue their three-way chase for at least one title and they know they cannot take Olympique Lyon for granted. A victory let Real Madrid shorten the gap from the top to two points, though this minimum disadvantage will most likely last less than a day.
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Barcelona made it into history last week by connecting a 16th consecutive Liga victory. Pep Guardiola's Blaugranas visit Gijon to open a 10-points gap from Real Madrid on Saturday's night.

Joaquin Caparros' Athletic and RCD Espanyol struggle to secure their qualification for next year's Europa League. With 38 and 37 points respectively, they've opened a six-points gap both from the top of the table and from Sevilla, Atletico and Getafe, who won't give in the European chase without a fight.
The bottom of the positions table, on the other hand, is a horse of a different color. Levante, Almeria and Malaga are drawning below the relegation line, with 21, 20 and 18 points respectively. But Deportivo, Racing, Hercules, Sporting and Osasuna stand only one point above the risk zone and any of them can join the basement boys upon an awkward result on this week's Liga games.
Valencia's recent awakening has taken Unai Emery's boys to shorten the gap from Villarreal to the minimum difference, defying Yellow Submarine's role as the third candidate for the title. Emery's Ches visit Madrid to take on Atletico.
A victory is mandatory for Jose Mourinho's Galacticos, but it won't be easy to leave the Cornella-El-Prat with the full scoring. Manolo Preciado's Rojiblancos must grab Barcelona's bull by its horns and do what it takes not to be left empty-handed at their own home. Will they have what it takes to avoid the risk zone for another week?
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Barcelona receives Atletico's visit on Saturday, eager to open a 10-point lead. The visitors have lost the last two consecutive games.

With only 16 Liga matches ahead, Barcelona's legendary winning streak (15 consecutive victories) have beared fruit, and Jose Mourinho's misstep last week let Pep Guardiola's Blaugranas take a comfortable 7-points lead.
At least Real Madrid could counter the misery of their defeat at the Reyno de Navarra with an important victory over reigning Spanish Cup champion Sevilla, and advance to the final where they'll play against their eternal Blaugrana rival.
Barcelona receives Quique Sanchez Flores' Atletico visit. Los Colchoneros are going through a difficult time: they occupy the 7th position, five points below Athletic. In addition, they've lost the last two games and have yet to face Valencia in the next week.
Villarreal waits for an opportunity to leapfrog Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho's Merengues are now only six points above their heads. Levante visits the Madrigal in a desperate attempt to abandon the 18th position and join Racing and Osasuna one step higher in the relegation fight.
February can be a decisive month for the Spanish League. Is there anything to do to defy Barcelona's leadership?
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FC Barcelona visits Esteban Vigo's Hercules, the only blot on Barcelona's record this season.

There might be some major modifications to La Liga's standings upon this week's games. While Barcelona visits Hercules and Real Madrid hosts Osasuna, four top European contenders take on each other, as Athletic travels to Madrid to challenge Atletico and Villarreal visits Espanyol.
Valencia and Sevilla, on the other hand, take on relatively weak rivals and they should take full advantage of this situation to climb as high as possible in the title's chase. Sevilla's controversial defeat against Real Madrid for Copa del Rey left a bitter aftertaste on Gregorio Manzano's boys mouth, and there's no better medicine than success, which they'll be looking for on Saturday's late game against Deportivo.
Only two squads have defeated FC Barcelona this season; Real Betis and Hercules. Paraguayan international Nelson Haedo Valdez was Blaugrana's executioner in the second round of this tournament, but the striker has been experiencing some major physical pain and might not be fully fit to perform this Saturday, just like Royston Drenthe.
Malaga and Zaragoza play a decisive six-pointer for the bottom fight, while Valencia visits Santander on Monday to end La Liga's 21st round.
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