La Liga is on a break this weekend, and I think that is because of the Copa del Rey Final taking place tonight.
What I do know is that it could potentially be of benefit to the clubs remaining in Europe – particularly the Champions League trio of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
Yet as we take a break from La Liga 2024 highlights for a few days, it’s a good time to reflect on the matters which remain up for grabs in the final eight league matches of the campaign.
With Real eight points clear of Barca at the top of the standings – don’t accept SBOTOP La Liga 2024 betting odds on any other club as title winners – and Girona proving a breath of fresh air and holding third place to be on course to qualify for Europe and the Champions League at that for the first time in the club’s history, the focus is further down the standings.
That begins in the race for fourth place and what is, presumably, the final Champions League spot up for grabs.
As it stands, Atletico Madrid have a two-point advantage over Athletic Bilbao.
Champions League football has been a virtual certainty since the arrival of Diego Simeone as boss more than a decade ago, and it would be a surprise if it was not achieved once more.
However, with Atletico still in this season’s European competition – they saw off Italian champions elect Inter Milan in the last 16 to set up a quarter-final tie with Borussia Dortmund – could their squad be stretched somewhat?
Bilbao have no European football to contend with and, should they defeat Mallorca in the Copa del Rey Final in Seville on Saturday night, confidence will be sky high among the Los Leones.
Indeed, their league meeting with Atletico in late April could prove pivotal.
Realistically, Real Sociedad should be safe in sixth spot with eight league games remaining.
They are seven points adrift of Bilbao and five clear of Valencia in seventh so have some wriggle room for the final guaranteed European spot next term.
There follows a clump of sides in midtable separated by a smattering of points.
If Mallorca upset the apple cart and win the Copa del Rey, those clubs have little left to play for realistically.
That could potentially bring Real Betis, Osasuna, Villarreal, Getafe, and even Las Palmas (promoted last term) into the equation.
It’s at the bottom where there is also interest.
With respect, Almeria (one league win all season) and Granada (two victories) are all but down, but Cadiz have a chance.
Sure, they are three points behind Celta Vigo and five off Rayo Vallecano (Mallorca and Sevilla are only a further point ahead), but that is not insurmountable.
Crucially, they are also showing signs of momentum.
After going 23 league matches without a victory, Cadiz have now made it two wins in their last three.
Having defeated Atletico at the Nuevo Mirandilla a month ago, they have since gone onto beat Granada 1-0 in the Andalusian derby.
Mention of Sevilla, last season’s Europa League winners should be safe from becoming embroiled in a relegation battle but are too far away to challenge for a return to Europe.
There is one other race which is worth keeping a close eye on. That is the battle for the Pichichi. Not since 2001/02 has there been a three-way tie at the top of the scoring charts this late into a La Liga campaign.
With eight matches remaining, the race to be crowned the leading goalscorer of the competition is wide open.
There is now a three-way tie at the top of the standings for the Pichichi Trophy as Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Girona’s Artem Dovbyk, and Osasuna’s Ante Budimir have netted 16 goals each.
Back in 2002, Barcelona’s Patrick Kluivert, Celta’s Catanha, and Real Madrid’s Fernando Morientes were also level on 16 goals apiece.
Ultimately, the honour went to Deportivo de La Coruna hitman Diego Tristan because he produced a late surge.
A similar situation could yet arise this term with the leading trio pursued by several other forwards. Getafe’s Borja Mayoral has 15 goals, but injury means he will not add to that tally.
Then comes Alvaro Morata at Atletico on 14 goals, closely followed by Bilbao’s Gorka Guruzeta, Villarreal’s Alexander Sorloth, and Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who won the trophy last term, all on 13 goals.
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