A midweek round packed with important fixtures: LaLiga Matchday 36 

Whether it’s the battle to avoid relegation or the race to qualify for Europe, every game is significant

The antepenultimate round of the 2022-23 LaLiga Santander season is a midweek one, and there is something at stake in every single one of the 10 Matchday 36 fixtures. Whether it’s the battle to avoid relegation or the race to qualify for Europe, every game taking place across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is a hugely significant one for at least one of the teams involved, and in most cases for both.

The midweek round commences on Tuesday when two fixtures take place simultaneously at 19:30 CEST: RC Celta vs Girona FC and Real Sociedad vs UD Almería. These are both duels between one team dreaming of European football and one team worried about the threat of relegation. RC Celta and UD Almería are the relegation-threatened sides as they’re currently on 39 points each, only four more than 18th-placed Real Valladolid. With Girona FC dreaming of a first ever European qualification and with Real Sociedad close to securing a top four finish, there really is a lot at stake across these two games.

Later on, Tuesday night, champions FC Barcelona will look to bounce back from their Saturday night home loss to Real Sociedad. Although Barça have already lifted the LaLiga Santander trophy, Xavi Hernández wants his team to finish the season strong and they’ll visit a Real Valladolid side who are currently inside the bottom three and staring into the abyss. The Pucela have lost five in a row, but anything can happen in LaLiga Santander.

There are five total fixtures on Wednesday and three of them take place at the same time at 19:30 CEST, with Villarreal CF vs Cádiz CF, Elche CF vs Sevilla FC and Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano. Considering each one of these three fixtures features a team chasing European qualification, the standings could shift around a lot over the space of those two hours. Cádiz CF will also be giving their all when they visit Villarreal CF for a battle of Los Amarillos, but for a very different reason given that the Andalusian side are desperate to pull even further away from the relegation zone.

There are two more games later on Wednesday night, one of which is Real Betis vs Getafe CF. Although new Geta coach José Bordalás has some bad memories of facing Los Verdiblancos, having lost last season’s Copa del Rey final to Manuel Pellegrini when at Valencia CF, it should be kept in mind that his record against Real Betis from his previous stint as Getafe CF boss was very impressive. Bordalás won four, drew two and lost two of the Real Betis vs Getafe CF duels he was involved in, and knows another point or three would be most welcome right now.

The other later kick-off on Wednesday night is RCD Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid. With the home side currently in 19th place, they need victories and will have to give their all against Diego Simeone’s charges. A Sergi Darder goal earned Los Pericos a 1-1 draw against Atleti in Spain’s capital earlier in the season, so there is reason for optimism for supporters of the Catalan club.

On Thursday, all eyes will be on RCD Mallorca vs Valencia CF when it kicks off. Los Che saw how their former player Kang-in Lee scored a late winner at Mestalla when RCD Mallorca won the previous meeting between these sides 2-1, so they’ll hope for a better result when they make the short trip across the Mediterranean Sea to face Los Bermellones. Even though RCD Mallorca are already mathematically safe, Valencia CF are not and will play with purpose from the first minute to the last.

The final fixture of Matchday 36 is especially intriguing, as CA Osasuna will host Athletic Club for a head-to-head duel with a Conference League ticket on the line. The team from Pamplona know that a victory would move them ahead of the Basques in the LaLiga Santander standings, while Athletic Club will want revenge for their Copa del Rey semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Los Rojillos. It’s always competitive and intense when these two clubs meet, and it should be as thrilling as ever given that European qualification is on the line.

INDIA TIMINGS:

Tuesday, 23rd May, 11:00 p.m., Real Sociedad vs Almeria

Tuesday, 23rd May, 11:00 p.m., Celta Vigo vs Girona

Wednesday, 24th May, 1:30 a.m., Valladolid vs Barcelona

Wednesday, 24th May, 11:00 p.m., Elche vs Sevilla

24th May, 11:00 p.m., Villarreal vs Cadiz

Wednesday, 24th May, 11:00 p.m., Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Thursday, 25th May, 1:30 a.m., Real Betis vs Getafe

25th May, 1:30 a.m., Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid

Thursday, 25th May, 11:00 p.m., Mallorca vs Valencia

Friday, 26th May, 1:00 a.m., Osasuna vs Athletic Club