Barcelona can qualify for next season’s Champions League by beating Real Betis on Saturday when six of the seven La Liga leaders go head to head in what could be a crucial weekend in the race for the top four. Barca, in second, are eight points ahead of Betis, in fifth, and if they can widen that gap to 11 with three games remaining, their Champions League spot will be guaranteed. That would be a significant achievement for the Catalan side, although the disappointing drop in recent weeks has meant the enthusiasm of a few weeks ago, when they beat Real Madrid 4-0. , has melted into smoke.
Xavi Hernandez has taken over Barcelona with ninth place in La Liga, with the very real threat of missing out on the top four dodging the club, who are more than a billion euros in debt and desperately need money to play in the league. Europe’s most lucrative club competition.
“We have two goals,” Xavi said late last week.
“Qualified for the Champions League and then also finished second.
“But the main thing is to qualify for the Champions League.”
A win for Xavi’s side at Benito Villamarin would also be a boost for Atletico Madrid, who are just three points above Betis, with a local derby at home against Real Madrid on Sunday.
Atletico have said they will not give Real Madrid the honorary defense as champions, a topic that has dominated discussions in Spain in recent days but a gesture they consider was “an attempt to mock” which the club claimed had “insulting purposes”.
Atletico will be hoping Real Madrid’s terrifying comeback against Manchester City on Wednesday in the Champions League, a game that requires extra time and a load of mental and physical energy, can take its toll at Wanda Metropolitano.
After having finished the championship last weekend with four games to spare, the crucial win over Man City means Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rotate the tie against Atletico, with the likes of Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior all due to a rest.
Rocks
Atletico should be ready to take advantage but Diego Simeone’s side are in the midst of another rocky period, having won just one of their last six games, including a defeat to Athletic Bilbao last Saturday.
And Atletico could have some comfort after this weekend’s game, which will see them finish at home to Sevilla and away to Real Sociedad after a more unfavorable away match at Elche.
“I’m nervous like I’ve always said,” Simeone said after the Athletic defeat.
“You have to know how to handle difficult moments, which is rare in the last few years.
“The responsibility is mine and it’s up to me. The players keep their composure or not.”
Had Betis been more consistent in recent weeks, they might have had a Champions League spot in their possession but draws against Real Sociedad and Getafe, both losing to Elche at home, have allowed Atletico to hold their ground. mine.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side may have been diverted from their focus on the Copa del Rey final, which they won last month against Valencia, but the top four are still within reach, despite the games remaining. difficult with Barca, Valencia, Granada and then Real Madrid.
Sevilla, in third place, are still far from home and dry but a six-point lead over their city rivals should suffice, even if they have a tough game on Sunday away from Villarreal.
Unai Emery’s side may still be healing after they were knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool on Tuesday.
At the other end of the table, Mallorca host Granada on Saturday in a crucial match in the battle to avoid relegation, with Mallorca and Cadiz just one point ahead of Granada as all three teams battle to escape the drop point.
Fixtures (GMT)
Friday
Levante v Real Sociedad (1900)
Saturday
Mallorca v Granada (1200), Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (1415), Celta Vigo v Alaves (1630), Cadiz v Elche (1630), Real Betis v Barcelona (1900)
Promote
Sunday
Getafe and Rayo Vallecano (1200), Villarreal vs Sevilla (1415), Espanyol vs Osasuna (1630), Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid (1900)
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