La Liga Roundup, Matchday 38
The 38th round of La Liga has concluded, featuring exciting matches, impressive player performances, and surprising outcomes. Here is a summary of the La Liga games from matchday 38.
Girona 7-0 Granada
Girona ended their impressive season with a dominant 7-0 victory over Granada, who were already relegated and playing with 10 men. It is uncertain if Michel will continue as Girona’s manager for their first Champions League campaign, as the summer’s managerial changes are about to start. Girona showcased their attacking style of play against Granada, solidifying their position as the top team behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in just their fourth season in La Liga.
Osasuna 1-1 Villarreal
Villarreal managed to equalize after falling behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar. Both teams, who are mid-table rivals in La Liga, extended their unbeaten streaks to four matches in their last game of the season. The result did not impact Villarreal’s eighth-place finish and exclusion from European competition. Osasuna, on the other hand, finished the season at 11th place with their four-match unbeaten run.
Real Sociedad 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Atlético Madrid achieved their first three consecutive away wins in La Liga since October 2022 with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena, wrapping up their league season with a fifth win in six matches. However, despite this success, the 2023/24 season may be viewed as disappointing or even a failure by Atlético manager Diego Simeone, given their significant point gap behind champions Real Madrid and their lowest league finish since 2019/20. On the other hand, Sociedad, who qualified for the UEFA Europa League, are still seeking their first La Liga victory over Atlético since September 2019.
Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Nico Williams scored in the second half to help Athletic Bilbao secure a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, extending their unbeaten streak at Estadio de Vallecas to five games. Despite a late rally by Pérez’s team, substitute Isi Palazón missed a chance to equalize with a shot that went wide. Rayo’s lack of attacking efficiency throughout the season was evident as they had the second lowest goal tally in La Liga. In contrast, Bilbao capitalized on one of their few opportunities to secure a win, earning them a spot in European competition for the first time since the 2017/18 season.
Almeria 6-1 Cadiz
Almería, who had already been relegated, secured their first home win of the La Liga season with a 6-1 victory over Cádiz. The match saw Almería come from behind to dominate their fellow demoted team, lifting them from the bottom of the table. This impressive win concludes a disappointing season for Almería, who will now focus on building upon this strong performance as they head back to the Segunda division. Meanwhile, Cádiz will need to reflect on their poor performance in the top-flight during the summer break.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Betis
Real Madrid concluded their La Liga season with a scoreless draw against Real Betis, securing their 36th league title at the Santiago Bernabéu where they remained undefeated throughout the season (winning 16 matches and drawing 3). Carlo Ancelotti took the opportunity to rest some key players in preparation for the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, with Kroos receiving a standing ovation as he was substituted. Betis finished the season in seventh place, one spot lower than the previous season, but qualifying for Europe serves as a consolation for Pellegrini’s team.
Getafe 1-2 Mallorca
Mallorca finished their La Liga season with a dramatic win over Getafe, securing a 2-1 victory with two late goals in stoppage time. This victory extended their unbeaten streak to four games (2 wins, 2 draws) and propelled them to 15th place in the league standings. Getafe ended the season poorly, losing their final five league games. However, they still achieved their best league finish, improving on three consecutive 15th place finishes, and currently sit in 12th place.
Las Palmas 1-1 Alaves
Las Palmas have not won a match since mid-February, ending their La Liga campaign with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Alavés at Estadio Gran Canaria. Despite this, Pimienta views the season as a success as Las Palmas will now compete in Spain’s top league for two consecutive seasons for the first time in five years. On the other hand, Alavés will be celebrating their top-half finish in La Liga, which is only the second time in 22 years.
Celta Vigo 2-2 Valencia
The La Liga match at Estadio de Balaídos ended in a 2-2 draw between Celta Vigo and Valencia, with both teams scoring twice. Celta Vigo finished in 13th place again this season, while Valencia secured ninth place, a significant improvement from last year. Celta Vigo’s coach, Claudio Giráldez, made several substitutions in a short period to try to secure a win after a six-game winless streak against Valencia. However, none of the substitutions were successful in breaking down Valencia’s defense.
Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona
In the final match of the La Liga 23/24 season, Barcelona defeated Sevilla 2-1 to conclude their season with four consecutive wins and bid farewell to club legend and coach Xavi in a stylish manner. Xavi’s tenure ends on a high note, but achieving second place in La Liga is not sufficient for a club with as many trophies as Barcelona, known as the Blaugrana. Now, it will be up to German Hansi Flick to write the next chapter in the club’s illustrious history.
