Madrid (AFP)
In the event of a victory against Villarreal on Thursday (19:00 GMT), Real Madrid will be crowned champion of Spain for the 34th time in its history regardless of the result of FC Barcelona, which receives Osasuna at the same time for the 37th and penultimate day of Liga.
Real sacred from Thursday? If the men of Zinedine Zidane, leaders with four points ahead of Barça, hang an identical or better result than the Catalan rival this Thursday, they will dislodge Barcelona from his throne of champion of Spain, which he has occupied since 2018.
The Catalans hope for a misstep from the "White House" to pass back: against Villarreal, 5th with 57 points and candidate for the Europa League, the challenge will be higher for the players of the capital than for Lionel Messi's teammates against Osasuna, 11th, who has nothing left to play.
Only one match was advanced at 4.30 p.m. GMT on Thursday: the one between Eibar and Valladolid, the only match where neither of the two teams has anything to play yet. Apart from this advanced match, at least one team will play its fate every time this crucial multiplex from the 37th and penultimate day of La Liga is played.
Even if we already know the four qualified for the Champions League, we will have to watch the matches between Getafe and Atlético Madrid, between Real Sociedad and Sevilla FC, and between Athletic Bilbao and Leganés, which will be decisive in the race for the Europa League.
Ditto for the matches of Alavés, Celta Vigo, Leganés and Mallorca, all in the fight for maintenance, while Espanyol is already condemned.
Program for the 37th and penultimate day of the Spanish Championship (GMT hours):
Thursday
(4:30 p.m.) Eibar - Valladolid
(19:00) Athletic Bilbao - Leganés
FC Barcelona - Osasuna
Betis Seville - Alavés
Celta Vigo - Levante
Getafe - Atlético Madrid
Majorca - Granada
Real Madrid - Villarreal
Real Sociedad - Sevilla FC
Valencia CF - Espanyol Barcelona
© 2020 AFP