La Liga Roundup, Matchday 38
The 38th matchday of the 2024/25 La Liga season has wrapped up, showcasing thrilling games, standout player displays, and unexpected results. Here is the La Liga roundup for this round of games.
Betis 1-1 Valencia
Real Betis was unable to secure a victory in a home match where they took the lead for the seventh time this season in La Liga, as Valencia managed to equalize for a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. Consequently, Betis ended the season in 6th place, while Valencia finished in 12th.
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Sociedad
Carlo Ancelotti secured a victory in his final game as manager of Real Madrid, guiding the La Liga runners-up to a 2-0 win against Real Sociedad on a poignant last day of the season, setting the stage for Xabi Alonso’s takeover. The final whistle brought forth a wave of emotions as Ancelotti and Lucas Vázquez said their goodbyes to the club. Furthermore, Imanol Alguacil wrapped up his nearly seven-year tenure as Sociedad’s coach, while Mario Melero López retired after a decade of refereeing in La Liga.
Leganes 3-0 Valladolid
Leganés was relegated from La Liga, narrowly missing out on survival despite a convincing 3-0 victory over last-place Real Valladolid on the final matchday. Leganés will drop to the second division alongside their defeated rivals, both of whom were promoted together last year. Valladolid’s season was marked by a league-high 90 goals conceded, finishing with just one point from their last 19 matches.
Espanyol 2-0 Las Palmas
Javi Puado became the standout player of the match by scoring his 12th league goal of the season and providing an assist, leading Espanyol to a 2-0 victory over Las Palmas at the RCDE Stadium. This win not only ensured Espanyol’s safety in La Liga for another season but also marked their seventh victory in the last eight home league encounters against Las Palmas. For the visiting team, this loss adds to a troubling 2025 season, during which they have managed to keep only one clean sheet.
Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Mallorca
Rayo Vallecano achieved European qualification for the first time in 25 years after drawing 0-0 with Mallorca, which ensured they finished in the top eight of La Liga and earned a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League. Despite some missed opportunities, the hosts were able to secure their European spot, even with Osasuna equalizing in another match. They concluded the season with an impressive five-match unbeaten streak. Meanwhile, Mallorca has only managed one win during this period.
Getafe 1-2 Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo achieved European qualification for the first time since the 2016/17 season by overcoming a goal deficit to win 2-1 at the Estadio Coliseum, a place where Getafe has managed only one victory since the beginning of the year. This marks Celta’s fifth away win of the league season, and it is arguably their most crucial one, as it guarantees their spot in the UEFA Europa League for the upcoming season.
Alaves 1-1 Osasuna
Osasuna came close to qualifying for European football but ended up with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Alavés. They missed out because of a weaker head-to-head record against Rayo Vallecano. Frustration set in for Osasuna at the final whistle as Alavés managed to maintain the draw through seven minutes of added time.
Girona 0-4 Atletico Madrid
Alexander Sørloth made an impact off the bench by netting a hat-trick, leading Atlético Madrid to a convincing 4-0 victory against Girona in La Liga. Although the visitors had already secured third place, they will be pleased to have avoided a fourth consecutive away league match without scoring, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2011. They are optimistic about starting the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup on a strong note, while Girona ends the season in 16th place.
Villarreal 4-2 Girona
Champions League qualifiers Villarreal achieved their second-highest points total in La Liga history with a 4-2 victory over Sevilla on the final matchday. Sevilla, who finished in 17th place, suffered losses both home and away to El Submarino Amarillo, marking the first time they experienced this in a top-flight season. This season also marked Sevilla’s third consecutive finish in the bottom half of the table, following 19 seasons in the top 10, and they ended the season just one point above CD Leganés, who occupied the last relegation spot.
Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Barcelona
La Liga champions Barcelona concluded their season with a solid 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, securing a four-point advantage over Real Madrid after achieving seven victories in their last eight league games. Hansi Flick’s team has suffered only one loss in La Liga over 19 matches since the beginning of the year, while Athletic has not won any of their last 11 league encounters against Barcelona.
