This weekend is set for a “super” day in La Liga, one that could be decisive in terms of qualification for next season's European competitions.
With two-thirds of the season now played, we've reached the business end of the season. The next day 27 spectacular, with several direct duels between teams near the top of the table, who want to qualify for Europe next season. This weekend, fans can enjoy Valencia vs Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis and Athletic Club vs Barcelona.
To clarify how the European qualification works, it currently has four Champions League tickets to give to the top four, with the fifth place for the Europa League and the sixth for the Conference League. This could change if the Copa del Rey champion is one of the teams already qualified for Europe, as their Europa League slot will go to the sixth-place team and the seventh position will then become a place of the Conference League. But, since there is still no cup winner and that could be a team that is not in this part of the table, this scenario is still only a hypothetical.
Valencia CF vs Real Madrid: Two clubs with two different missions
One of the blockbuster games of this super day will take place in Mestalla on Saturday, March 2 at 21:00 CEST. Ruben Baraja's Valencian side are currently looking to return to Europe, as the club has not been in continental competition since March 2020. This is their fourth consecutive season outside of Europe, but, with this squad full of youngsters at home and with the support of a fanbase pushing them, there is confidence that this drought could end soon. What they are in the mix, but close to Real Betis, Real Sociedade and Las Palmas, all of whom are chasing every possible point to sneak into Europe next year.
This weekend, however, they will clash against leaders Real Madrid, who will not want to give their pursuers a chance of catching them. Carlo Ancelotti's side will arrive in Valencia after winning a very difficult match against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend. He knows that every match day in which The whites do not slip up, his rivals for the title will grow discouraged.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis: Holding your tickets
Diego Simeone's team have stumbled on several occasions in recent games, but they still maintain fourth position, which entitles them to Champions League football next season. With the Athletic Club nearby, every match day is a test for The Colchoneros and every three points they take brings relief. His task until the end of the season will be to ensure that the Basques do not manage to catch.
Real Betis, meanwhile, arrive at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano for the match this Sunday, March 3, at 16:15 CEST, in addition. They have gone five games unbeaten, overtaken Real Sociedad in the standings and now hold a place for next year's Conference League. Despite the injury loss of Isco, their best player this season, Manuel Pellegrini's team did not give up and now have a double mission: keep their place in Europe and try to make the teams above them nervous, for any case. one of them slips.
Athletic Club vs FC Barcelona: A key match in the Champions League race
This match will take place on Sunday, March 3 at 21:00 CEST and will be a rematch of the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, in which The Whites and Reds defeated the side of Xavi Hernandez. Ernesto Valverde's team has played well this season, but they have left some points on the table in recent weeks and have therefore failed to take advantage of Atletico Madrid's slip-ups. This weekend, they want to repeat the result from the cup, as victory over Barcelona would move them five points clear. The Blaugrana and seriously increase their four main hopes.
It won't be easy, though. Xavi's team is the in-form team in the competition, with four wins and a draw from the last five games, and they still hope to catch Real Madrid or at least finish second. Their 4-0 defeat of Getafe boosted their morale ahead of this trip to San Mames to face a team that, three days earlier, will have the most important game of their season in the second leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey against Atlético. Taking advantage of the fatigue of his opponents will be one of the BoatThe current asset, as they look to widen the gap to fifth place and strengthen their grip on their own Champions League ticket.
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