There is always something special about a midweek round of LALIGA EA SPORTS, and even more so when it comes so late in the season. This Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we'll be able to enjoy Matchday 36, which could be decisive across the table.
Several teams enter this matchday aware that they can mathematically confirm their objectives for the campaign, and RCD Mallorca are one of these clubs. The islanders are currently six points clear of the relegation zone, so their visit to CA Osasuna on Tuesday is a big one. A win there for coach Javier Aguirre, who is visiting one of his former clubs, would be huge.
There are two other matches scheduled for Tuesday, and the Bernabéu hosts one of them as Real Madrid take on Deportivo Alavés. Carlo Ancelotti's side are two home games away from completing an unbeaten season at home, something Los Blancos haven't achieved since 1996/97.
The other Tuesday game is Girona FC vs Villarreal CF, and this is a direct duel between the two players currently leading the way in the race to win the Pichichi Trophy, the prize for the season's top goalscorer. Artem Dovbyk is currently in first place on 20 goals, but Alexander Sørloth is now on to 19 goals following his brace in Villarreal CF's win in Matchday 35. It'll be fun to watch both those strikers seek the goals that could earn them this prestigious honour.
Four more fixtures follow on Wednesday and the first two take place simultaneously at 19:30 CEST. One of them is between Rayo Vallecano and already-relegated Granada CF, as the Madrid club look to confirm their safety. At the same time, Cádiz CF make the short trip to visit Sevilla FC in a hugely important Andalusian derby. Los Amarillos enter this matchday five points from safety, so need a victory to keep their survival hopes alive.
The team Cádiz CF are trying to chase down is RC Celta, and they play at 10pm CEST on Wednesday when they welcome Athletic Club to Balaídos. These two teams played out a thrilling game earlier in the season, which the Basques edged 4-3 in the 98th minute, so more entertainment should be expected here.
Meanwhile, Getafe CF and Atlético de Madrid face off in a Madrid derby late on Wednesday night, with Diego Simeone looking to keep up his record of having never lost to Getafe CF in 24 meetings as a coach and with the Argentinian hoping his club can confirm Champions League qualification this midweek.
Three more games follow on Thursday, with UD Las Palmas vs Real Betis first up. The islanders have lost each of their past eight, so will be desperate to end that disappointing run and to experience some more joy before the end of what has, on the whole, been a positive season back in Spain's top flight.
UD Almería vs FC Barcelona follows, as the bottom-placed club look to enjoy their final three games in the top tier before returning to LALIGA HYPERMOTION. For Xavi, every fixture is an opportunity to experiment and begin preparing for next season, when Barça will hope to win back the LALIGA EA SPORTS trophy.
Real Sociedad vs Valencia CF rounds out the matchday, and this is a meeting between two clubs hoping to qualify for Europe next season. Valencia CF, as the team currently in eighth and in poor form, know they need a minor miracle to make it back to the continent, but they'll give their best shot when they visit the Reale Arena to close out this midweek matchday.
