With five rounds still to play in the current LaLiga Santander campaign, one team has already been mathematically relegated as 20th-placed Elche CF no longer has a chance of escaping the bottom three. However, all the other sides in the relegation battle still have everything to play for and there are several teams who are neither doomed nor safe.
Here comes a look at the situation of the teams at the heart of this year’s ever-so-tight relegation battle, from 14th-placed UD Almería down to 19th-placed RCD Espanyol.
UD Almería (14th, 36 points)
After winning LaLiga SmartBank last season, UD Almería is back in LaLiga Santander and looking to stay in Spanish football’s top flight. When they’ve been playing at their home ground, the Power Horse Stadium, they’ve been a very impressive outfit and have the eighth-best home record in the division, with 29 points from 17 games. On their travels, though, the Andalusian side has seven points from 16 fixtures and will need to improve on that over the final weeks, with three of their remaining five matches coming on the road.
Remaining fixtures: CA Osasuna (A), RCD Mallorca (H), Real Sociedad (A), Real Valladolid (H) y RCD Espanyol (A)
Cádiz CF (15th, 35 points)
Cádiz CF was inside the relegation zone from Matchday 2 to Matchday 20, but they’ve improved a lot over the second half of the season. A strong January transfer window has seen Los Amarillos switch to a more attacking approach and the goals of players like Sergi Guardiola, Chris Ramos, and Gonzalo Escalante have seen them climb up the standings. It’s still very tight, though, and Cádiz CF coach Sergio González knows there are many points still to be played for.
Remaining fixtures: RCD Mallorca (A), Real Valladolid (H), Villarreal CF (A), RC Celta (H) y Elche CF (A)
Real Valladolid (16th, 35 points)
The decision to bring in Uruguayan coach Paulo Pezzolano has seen Real Valladolid enjoy a strong April. They’ve won two, drawn one, and lost three of his six LaLiga Santander matches under his leadership, which is a better return on average than what they’d been achieving under Pacheta, but fans at the Estadio José Zorrilla know they’re too close for comfort to the relegation zone.
Remaining fixtures: Sevilla FC (H), Cádiz CF (A), FC Barcelona (H), UD Almería (A) y Getafe CF (H)
Valencia CF (17th, 34 points)
As one of the most successful and historic clubs in all of Spanish football, it is a big surprise for many to see Valencia CF at the heart of this relegation battle. But, this has been a difficult season for Los Che, one which started with Gennaro Gattuso at the helm before he was replaced by club legend Rubén Baraja. Under Baraja, Valencia CF have improved a lot at home, but they’re still struggling on the road. He and club captain José Gayà know this needs to change over the final few weeks of the campaign, otherwise, Valencia CF might end up playing at LaLiga SmartBank level for the first time since 1987.
Remaining fixtures: RC Celta (A), Real Madrid (H), RCD Mallorca (A), RCD Espanyol (H) y Real Betis (A)
Getafe CF (18th, 34 points)
Getafe CF are currently in the bottom three, sitting in 18th even though they’re level on points with Valencia CF. But, there is new-found optimism at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez after the return of former coach José Bordalás to the dugout. By winning 1-0 against RC Celta in the last matchday, Los Azulones have belief again. Considering they have Enes Ünal, the joint-third-top scorer of LaLiga Santander, leading their line, Geta know they can score goals to try to save themselves.
Remaining fixtures: Real Madrid (A), Elche CF (H), Real Betis (A), CA Osasuna (H) y Real Valladolid (A)
RCD Espanyol (19th, 31 points)
The other joint-third-top scorer of the division is Joselu and he is the man giving RCD Espanyol a similar reason to believe that they can escape the bottom three. The Catalan club’s problem has been at the other end of the pitch, as they’ve conceded a lot of goals and this is why they’re currently second-bottom. The fans at the RCDE Stadium will hope the situation soon improves, starting with the Barcelona Derby on the next matchday.
Remaining fixtures: FC Barcelona (H), Rayo Vallecano (A), Atlético de Madrid (H), Valencia CF (A) y UD Almería (H)
