Will the 2024-25 La Liga Title Be Decided in This Clasico?

Madrid (Spain), May 8 (NationPress) This weekend, the highly anticipated title-deciding 'Clasico' featuring FC Barcelona and Real Madrid shines as the premier match in the La Liga 2024-25 season. However, there are also crucial encounters involving the fight for European qualification and the battle against relegation.

Real Madrid is set to visit Barcelona for the fourth clash of the season, trailing Barca by four points in the title chase with just four matches remaining. A victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad would reignite their title aspirations, while a loss would extinguish their hopes, as reported by Xinhua.

Barcelona has triumphed in all three previous encounters this season, achieving a stunning 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, followed by a commanding 5-2 victory in the Spanish Super Cup and a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Copa del Rey final. This suggests that Hansi Flick’s team is favored to win, potentially securing the title.

Despite their previous successes, Barcelona enters this match following a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan after extra time on Tuesday. While Barcelona has endured two grueling midweek fixtures, Real Madrid has had the advantage of rest.

Barcelona will have to contend with fatigue, while Real Madrid faces injury woes, missing key defenders including Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba, as well as holding midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. This situation gives Barcelona hope for offensive success, raising the question of whether stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr can deliver at the other end in what promises to be a thrilling match.

The battle for a spot in next season’s Champions League intertwines with the relegation fight, as fifth-placed Villarreal prepares to face Girona on Saturday.

A recent win against Mallorca has provided Girona with some much-needed relief, but Michel Sanchez’s side still requires points against a rival eager to secure fourth place.

Athletic Bilbao will contest the second leg of their Europa League semifinal against Manchester United on Thursday, hoping to have Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams available for their home clash with Alaves. However, Inaki Williams is injured, and Andoni Gorosabel and Alex Berenguer are suspended. Alaves currently sits at 17th in the standings, just three points above a Las Palmas side that faces a crucial home match against Rayo Vallecano on Friday.

Real Betis is also vying for a top-five finish, welcoming Osasuna after their Conference League semifinal against Fiorentina on Thursday.

In a critical matchup, Leganes sits second from the bottom and will host Espanyol, with the visitors aware that a victory would guarantee their top-flight survival. Meanwhile, Sevilla travels to Celta Vigo, who are precariously close to the relegation zone, while Celta is well-positioned for Europa League qualification.

Valencia also hopes to enter the European race with a win against Getafe, while Mallorca aims to secure three points against the already relegated Valladolid, and Atletico Madrid hosts a Real Sociedad team that has claimed only two points in their last four outings.