Real set to seal Granada’s fate
ATTENTION TURNS TO THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
New Spanish champions Real Madrid visit suffering Granada today with La Liga’s key affairs on the verge of being settled, despite four rounds of fixtures remaining.
After Los Blancos wrapped up the title last weekend and Girona secured Champions League qualification, attention turns to the other end of the table.
Granada could already be down before kick-off at their Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium if Real Mallorca, 17th, defeat Las Palmas in an earlier game.
The Andalucians are above only relegated Almeria and languish 11 points from safety with just 12 to play for. They were promoted last season but are poised to return swiftly to Spain’s second-tier.
Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich on Wednesday to reach the Champions League final and after putting off their title celebrations last week to focus on that game, will be in party mode.
At least Granada’s supporters will be spared the anguish of watching Madrid’s trophy presentation potentially on the day they are relegated.
Although the Spanish football federation initially planned to give Los Blancos the league trophy today, they changed their plans and will instead hand it to Madrid tomorrow morning.
“We will play against Real Madrid to dedicate a victory to our fans, which is what they deserve,” said Granada coach Jose Ramon Sandoval, acknowledging an honourable exit is the most Granada can hope for now.
Cadiz, 18th, trail Mallorca by six points and have a slightly greater chance of survival, although the odds are against them.
They host Getafe tomorrow and a victory would help them at least take their survival battle to the wire.
“It’s difficult to do calculations – we need to always focus on the next match,” said coach Mauricio Pellegrino.
“Our chances will increase if we win the next one.
“We need to improve, rise back up, and compete in front of our fans.”
Higher up the table there are a few minor threads still to fully unravel.
Atletico Madrid are firm favourites to hold on to fourth position to reach next season’s Champions League, sitting six points clear of Athletic Bilbao in fifth.
Diego Simeone’s side welcome lowly Celta Vigo tomorrow after Athletic host out-of-form Osasuna today.
Real Betis are trying to fend off eighth-placed Valencia to finish in the top seven and secure European football next season and have a five-point advantage.
Second-place Girona would dearly love to finish above illustrious neighbours Barcelona, who host Real Sociedad. –