Valencia out to seal Champs League spot in La Liga finale
MADRID: A win for Valencia at Real Valladolid will book them a passage to next season’s Champions League, while Getafe and Sevilla are desperately hoping Los Che slip up.
Valencia travel to Real Valladolid in the final game of the La Liga season tomorrow knowing victory will earn them a place in next season’s Champions League.
Marcelino’s side are in pole position to secure qualification for Europe’s premier club competition, although Getafe and Sevilla are snapping at their heels, praying for a slip-up.
Valencia, fourth on 58 points and ahead of Getafe on head-to-head results, face a Valladolid side which secured safety from relegation last weekend.
Getafe, meanwhile, host Villarreal, while Sevilla, sixth, are two points behind their rivals and need to beat Athletic Bilbao while the other two challengers lose to qualify.
Should both Valencia and Getafe draw, while Sevilla win, Valencia will finish fourth on a threeway head-to-head comparison.
Los Che started the season in disappointing form and coach Marcelino came close to the sack, but eventually he turned the club’s form around, taking them to the the Spanish Cup final and the verge of Champions League qualification.
“We’re having a great second half of the season,” said Valencia striker Kevin Gameiro.
“If you don’t finish fourth, things change. But if we finish fourth and we win the Cup final, the fans will forget about our start to the season.
“Everyone thinks it will be easy (to beat Valladolid) but in football, nothing is easy. We have to concentrate and go out with motivation.”
At the other end of the table, Girona need a miracle to survive relegation.
The Catalan side, 18th and three points behind 17th place Celta Vigo, need the Galicians to lose at home against relegated Rayo Vallecano, while winning at Alaves themselves – and making up a goal difference swing of six.
“We have received a huge blow, an important life lesson,” said midfielder Pere Pons. “If we’re in the second division it’s because of all our errors. I accept the criticism, it makes me stronger, a better player and person.”
On Sunday Spain’s two giants see out their league campaigns in the doldrums.
Liga winners Barcelona travel to Eibar with the dark cloud of their Champions League elimination by Liverpool still hanging over their heads.
The Catalans were dreaming of the treble but their collapse at Anfield means they can only win the double, should they beat Valencia in the May 25 Cup final.
Real Madrid host Real Betis, looking forward to dropping the curtain on a miserable season that saw coaches Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari sacked and Zinedine Zidane return to take the wheel, less than a year after leaving.
Real, third, are ready for a summer rebuild, with the clash against Betis, 10th, their final obligation before the real work begins in earnest. — AFP