La Liga title race - An epitome of a Spanish soap-opera

The La Liga title race is without doubt the most exciting in Europe. With the title still up for grabs, rivals from the Spanish capital, Atletico and Real, head into the La Liga final round on Saturday.

Barcelona’s recent disappointing results have seen their title hopes evaporate, leaving the Madrid two left in the race.

Diego Simeone’s squad had a significant 10-point lead back in January. However, few slip-ups from Los Colchoneros and the results by the trailing crew of teams has seen that advantage deteriorate to two with only one game left.

Two managers gave their views of the title race and the season overall.

“It’s a final against Valladolid, with two sides fighting for their own different, but important, objectives and we will both give absolutely everything they’ve got to achieve it.

We know that anything can happen in a game of football. Their needs are different to ours, but nevertheless important for what they want to achieve.' said Cholo Simeone.

“It’s been a long season, with all sides going through their own problems. Right now we’re two sides fighting it out for the title, three for two relegation spots. You need to give your all in every game in this league and hope that at the end you’ve got what you set out to do.” the Argentine explained.

Rumours are that the French legend and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is leaving the club after the season ends. But the great Zizou accents the last match of the campaign and is solely focused on retaining the title at Santiago Bernabeu.

"It's not important if I am here or someone else is, the important thing is the team and what we want to achieve. For us the only thing on our minds is the game. We play tomorrow and now isn't the time to talk about it (his future). All my energy is focused on tomorrow.' Zidane stated.

"It's been a tough campaign but we are excited by the chance of being able to win La Liga."

It couldn't be more straight-forward - Atleti know that they will be champions if they beat Valladolid. Atletico travel to face the relegation-threatened side and they need to match or surpass whatever Real Madrid do against Europa League finalist Villarreal.

If Atletico draw their game and Los Blancos win theirs, points will be leveled. In such scenario, the title will stay with Real Madrid for one more year due to their superior head-to-head record since goal difference is not decisive.

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Ronaldo, 'Il Fenomeno', former Real Madrid footballer and now the majority owner of Valladolid has promised 150 000 euros each (19.6 million KSH) to his players if they win against Atletico in the closing fixture of the season. In such way, Valladolid will help Real Madrid and their own survival. What a piece of motivational skill from one of the greatest footballers ever. However both outcomes depend on results of other teams.

With top four already set, fifth, sixth and seventh are also sorted: Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Villarreal. Next season, these seven Spanish teams will play European competitions, but there is just a matter of working out the order, who will play in the Europa League (5th and 6th) and the Conference League (7th).

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Seventh-placed Villarreal would play in the inaugural season of the Conference League if things stay as they are. However, Villarreal play Manchester United in the Europa League final on May 26th and if they win, they would play in next season's Champions League. If this is the outcome, and Villarreal finished in seventh, there would be no Spanish representative in newly created Conference League. If Villarreal finished in fifth or sixth, just one La Liga team would go into the Europa League and the seventh-placed team would head into the Conference League.

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The relegation battle is just as exciting as the race for the trophy - ahead of matchday 37 just five points separated 15th from 20th. Three teams fight for survival - Real Valladolid, SD Huesca and Elche CF - and only one can stay up.

Elche (33 points) and Valladolid (31) find themselves in the drop zone; they will need to win and hope for Huesca (33) to slip up in order not to move to Segunda Division.

LA LIGA - ROUND 38

Friday

Levante - Cadiz 2-2 (1-2)

/Roger 8', Melero 58' - Negredo 14', Akapo 32'/

Saturday

Celta Vigo - Betis

Eibar - Barcelona

Elche - Athletic Bilbao

Huesca - Valencia

Osasuna - Real Sociedad

Real Madrid - Villareal

Valladolid - Atletico Madrid

All matches kick-off at 19.00

Sunday

19.30 Granada - Getafe

22.00 Sevilla - Alaves