Girona look to maintain momentum in Spanish League clash vs Alaves
MADRID: Although Real Madrid were crowned as La Liga champions, there are still several issues to be resolved at both ends of the points table and the 35th round of matches this weekend could answer some important questions.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night with second-placed Girona travelling to play Alaves in the wake of their spectacular 4-2 win at home to FC Barcelona.
That win assured Girona’s spot in next season’s Champions League and lifted them above Barca to second place, which would also see them qualify for next season’s Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Friday’s game against a rival that last season sealed their place in the top-flight and have little to play for, will show Girona’s motivation to finish second,orwhethertheyseetheirhistoricchampions League qualification as ‘job done’, reports Xinhua.
Villarreal’s defeat to Celta last weekend virtually ended their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season and they face a Sevilla side that is safe from the drop and with nothing other than pride at stake. Mallorca’s home game against Las Palmas is a very differentaffair,withmallorcafourthfromthebottom of the table, six points ahead of Cadiz in the last relegation spot. Javier Aguirre’s side needs a win to keep Cadiz at arm’s length and they have to see a rival that has lost their last seven matches as the perfect opportunity to all but assure their survival.
Real Madrid have already assured the title and Carlo Ancelotti is likely to again rotate his side after Wednesday’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich, for a game that isn’t important for his side, but vital for Granada. Anything other than a win for Granada will confirm a return to the second division and Granada’s relegation could be sealed before kickoff if Mallorca beat Las Palmas. Saturday’s last game sees fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao entertain Osasuna.