The fight for survival is hotting up

Matchday 36 of Liga BBVA saw battles being carried out across the division. Atlético Madrid and Villarreal CF are mathematically into next year's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, respectively.  FC Barcelona, meanwhile, have taken a huge step forwards in the fight for the title, while at the bottom UD Almería, SD Eibar, Granada CF and RC Deportivo have two games to save themselves.

Barcelona are looking strong

With two games to go, Barcelona have a four point advantage over Real Madrid in the fight for the Liga BBVA title. The Catalan outfit earned a hard fought 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad thanks to strikes from Neymar and Pedro Rodríguez. They now have racked up 90 points.

On the other hand, Real Madrid were unable to take the three points at the Santiago Bernabeu against Valencia CF. The chés went 0-2 up thanks to strikes from Paco Alcácer and Javi Fuego, but the Whites fought back despite the fact Diego Alves kept out a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo. Pepe and Francisco Alarcón 'Isco' drew the home side level, however winning the league now looks difficult for Carlo Ancelotti's men. 

Valencia and Sevilla will fight it out for the fourth and final Champions League spot 

Atlético are back in the Champions League

 Atlético Madrid are now mathematically qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season following their 2-2 draw with Levante UD at the Ciutat de València. Goals from Guilherme Siqueira y Fernando Torres gave the Rojiblancos the point they needed, and they will fight it out for third place with Valencia.

Atlético confirmed their place in the Champions League after Sevilla FC’s draw against RC Celta in Balaídos. Sevilla played the game in Vigo without the presence of their manager, Unai Emery, who was attending the funeral of his father, who recently passed away, went ahead through Kevin Gameiro. Santi Mina, got an equaliser through a penalty and now the Andalusian side will be fighting with Valencia for the last place in the Champions League.

End to a poor run to reach Europe

Villarreal CF returned to winning ways after ten games since, and sealed their ticket through to the next UEFA Europa League. The side from Castellón won 1-0 against Elche CF thanks to a single goal by Joel Campbell, the first goal that the Costa Rica player has scored in this year’s Liga BBVA.

Behind, the fight for seventh place is more alive than ever. Málaga CF are in that position on 50 points following their 1-2 win against UD Almería. Athletic Club, who drew 1-1 against RC Deportivo, and RCD Espanyol, who won 0-2 against SD Eibar, are a single point behind. RC Celta also have a chance to finish seventh, they are on 47 points, just three behind Málaga.

Four sides are separated by a single point

Extremely close fight for survival

Four sides are engaged in a neck and neck battle to make it into next season’s Liga BBVA. There is just one point between UD Almería, RC Deportivo, SD Eibar and Granada CF which means maximum excitement. The only side that managed to win in this series of games was Granada, who won 2-0 against Córdoba CF. As such, they are on 31 points but did not manage to move out of the relegation zone.

Deportivo got an important point, putting them on 31, at the San Mamés against Athletic Club thanks to a goal from Alberto Lopo in extra time that left the score at 1-1. On the other hand, SD Eibar, were defeated 0-2 at home against RCD Espanyol, and move into the relegation zone for the first time this season, also on 31 points. UD Almería, who also lost, 1-2 against Málaga CF, continue to fight for survival, a target that is in their hands as they are on 32 points.