La Liga final weekend: Europe race and relegation battle wide open
Synopsis
With one matchday left in La Liga, the European race and the relegation fight are both genuinely unsettled. Griezmann's farewell, a ten-man Valencia comeback, and Rayo Vallecano's Conference League surge made matchday 37 one of the most dramatic of the season — and the final round could be even more decisive.
Key Takeaways
Vinicius Jr scored in the 15th minute as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 1-0 on 18 May .
Antoine Griezmann played his last home match for Atletico Madrid before departing for the United States .
Valencia came back from 3-2 down with ten men to beat Real Sociedad 4-3 , keeping European hopes alive.
Rayo Vallecano are one point behind Getafe in the Conference League qualification race after a 2-0 win over Villarreal.
Girona , Mallorca , and Osasuna all face survival tests on the final day.
Robert Lewandowski played his last game at Camp Nou as Barcelona beat Real Betis 3-1 .
The race for European qualification and the fight to avoid relegation in La Liga remain unresolved heading into the final matchday, after a dramatic penultimate round of fixtures played on Sunday, 18 May. Multiple clubs are separated by just a handful of points at both ends of the table, setting up a decisive last weekend of the season.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid secure wins
Real Madrid claimed a narrow 1-0 victory away to Sevilla, with Vinicius Jr finding the net in the 15th minute. Sevilla, meanwhile, was spared relegation by favourable results elsewhere. Atletico Madrid also won 1-0 at home, with Ademola Lookman's penalty settling the contest against Girona. The occasion was made particularly poignant as Antoine Griezmann played his final home match for Atletico before departing for the United States — the French forward receiving an emotional tribute from supporters inside the Metropolitano Stadium.
European race goes to the wire
Celta Vigo remain in sixth place after a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao. Williot Swedberg gave Celta an early lead, before Inaki Williams equalised early in the second half for the hosts. Rayo Vallecano, already confirmed as a UEFA Conference League finalist, climbed to eighth after a 2-0 home win over Villarreal, courtesy of goals from Sergio Camello and Alemao. They now trail Getafe — currently occupying the final Conference League berth — by just one point, despite Getafe suffering a 1-0 defeat to Elche.
Valencia kept their slim European hopes alive with a stunning 4-3 comeback win at Real Sociedad, overturning a 3-2 deficit and playing the final stages with ten men after Eray Comert was sent off. Guido Rodriguez levelled in the 89th minute before Javi Guerra struck twice — including a stoppage-time winner — to complete the turnaround.
Relegation picture: Girona, Mallorca, and Osasuna in danger
Girona sit third from bottom following their defeat to Atletico, but Michel Sanchez's side will secure survival with a home win over Elche on the final day. Mallorca are second from bottom but remain in contention — they face already-relegated Real Oviedo at home in their last fixture. Levante climbed to 15th after a 2-0 home win over Mallorca, with Carlos Espi scoring in the 32nd minute and Kervin Arriaga sealing the result in the 87th minute. Elche, whose Victor Chust scored the winner against Getafe, now sit on 42 points — two clear of the bottom three. Osasuna need just a point on the final day after Espanyol beat them 2-1, with Carlos Romero and Kike Garcia on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Champions Barcelona bid farewell to Lewandowski at Camp Nou
With the title already secured, Barcelona beat Real Betis 3-1 in what was Robert Lewandowski's final appearance at the Camp Nou. Raphinha scored twice and Joao Cancelo added a third in a match that carried sentimental weight despite little competitive significance.
What the final day decides
The last round of La Liga fixtures will determine the final European qualification spots and potentially two or three relegation places. Girona, Mallorca, and Osasuna all face must-not-lose scenarios, while Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Getafe, and Valencia are locked in a tight battle for the remaining European berths. It is one of the most open La Liga finales in recent seasons.
Point of View
All going into the same final round. What is often a formality has become a genuine multi-club drama. Griezmann's farewell and Lewandowski's Camp Nou goodbye add a layer of storyline that obscures a structural truth: mid-table volatility in La Liga has grown, with the gap between 6th and 12th narrowing each season. The Conference League's rising prestige — Rayo are already finalists — is reshaping how clubs in the 7th-to-10th band approach the run-in, which only intensifies the logjam.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the teams still fighting for European qualification in La Liga?
Celta Vigo (6th), Getafe (7th), Rayo Vallecano (8th), and Valencia are all in contention for the remaining European spots heading into the final matchday. Rayo trail Getafe by just one point, while Valencia are also within reach.
Which clubs are at risk of relegation from La Liga?
Girona (third from bottom), Mallorca (second from bottom), and Osasuna are the sides most at risk going into the last round of fixtures. Elche sit two points above the bottom three with 42 points.
What happened in the Real Madrid vs Sevilla match?
Real Madrid won 1-0 away to Sevilla on 18 May, with Vinicius Jr scoring in the 15th minute. Sevilla were confirmed safe from relegation by results elsewhere on the same day.
Why was the Atletico Madrid match against Girona significant?
Beyond the result — a 1-0 Atletico win via Ademola Lookman's penalty — the match marked Antoine Griezmann's final home appearance for the club before he leaves for the United States. Fans at the Metropolitano Stadium gave him an emotional send-off.
What was notable about Valencia's win over Real Sociedad?
Valencia came from 3-2 down and played the closing stages with ten men after Eray Comert was sent off, yet still won 4-3. Guido Rodriguez equalised in the 89th minute and Javi Guerra scored a stoppage-time winner to complete a remarkable comeback.
