The 2010/11 La Liga season is winding down, only four rounds remain, and after Barcelona finished off Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League, there's likely no team more looking forward to the season coming to a close. Technically, Los Blancos are still mathematically alive for the league title, but short of a collapse of absolutely epic proportions, Barcelona will wrap up the league title either this week or next.
Meanwhile the battle of Europa League spots continues to entertain. Atletico Madrid jumped back in to one of the qualification spots thanks to the combination of their victory over Deportivo La Coruña and Bilbao's loss to Espanyol. At the other end of the table, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad got huge results over Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and picked up key points that could keep them safe from relegation this season.
Getafe v Almeria
Saturday, 12pm ET
Almeria is relegated, but Getafe still has a fight on their hands to remain in the top flight of Spanish soccer. They sit in 18th, one point from safety with a traffic jam of teams ahead of them. At this point, Getafe needs to focus on just finding points and not worrying about what is happening above them in the table. For Almeria, it's all about playing the spoiler and trying to drag another club down to the second division with them.
Athletic Bilbao v Levante
Saturday, 12pm ET
Bilbao needs to bounce back from their loss to Espanyol on Monday that dropped them out of a Europa League spot. Levante is safe from relegation and probably to far out to challenge for Europe, but have been playing fantastic soccer since the calender turned over to the new year. Levante has never won at Bilbao, only earning points at the San Mamés twice...ever.
Hercules v Racing Santander
Saturday, 12pm ET
Things are not looking good for Hercules. Their loss last week to Mallorca further buried them in to the relegation zone and the only way out is to start winning, something they've only done twice since Miroslav Dukić took over as manager. Racing are in a bit better shape, but still sit only three points off the drop, a win would go a long way towards securing their spot in the top flight next season.
Atletico Madrid v Malaga
Saturday, 2pm ET
Atletico Madrid are back in a Europa League spot and will want to continue their winning ways to hold on to it. Malaga needs points to keep themselves above water in the relegation fight. A lot to play for at the Vicente Calderón.
Sevilla v Real Madrid
Saturday, 4pm ET
Real Madrid have nothing left to play for other than pride, while Sevilla are two points ahead of Bilbao, trying to hold on to a Europa League spot. Madrid's last trip to Sevilla ended in defeat and they've only won twice in ten matches at the Pizjuán (one of which was their Copa Del Rey victory over Barcelona). Great chance for Sevilla to secure key points in their chase for a European spot.
Mallorca v Villareal
Sunday, 6pm ET
Villareal were eliminated by FC Porto from the Europa League and have been struggling mightily down the stretch. Despite that, they still hold a firm grasp on the Champions League qualification spot and are only three points behind Valencia for the final automatic qualification position. Mallorca's play has been up and down recently but they look safe from relegation at this point.
Barcelona v Espanyol
Sunday, 1pm ET
Espanyol is coming off a huge victory over Athletic Bilbao that put them right in the mix for a Europa League spot. A lot has to break there way for that to happen, but it's possible. Unfortunately, a trip to the Camp Nou is always a tough ask...but this is a derby and anything can happen in a derby! Depending on the result from the Madrid/Sevilla match, Barcelona could be playing for the league title, which would only making Espanyol's task more difficult.
The rest of the matches: Sporting Gijon vs. Deportivo La Coruña, Valencia vs. Real Sociedad, Real Zaragoza vs. Osasuna.