La Liga Down to the Wire: Barça One Win From Glory, Champions League Race Tightens, Two Relegated, Four Key Questions Remain

With only a handful of matches left in the 2024–25 La Liga season, the Spanish top flight is entering its final, furious stretch. As of May 15, the league has seen dramatic shifts in standings, heartbreaks, and clutch performances that have defined a campaign full of grit and narrative. FC Barcelona is now one victory away from reclaiming the domestic crown, while Real Madrid’s last-gasp winner delayed their rivals’ coronation. Meanwhile, three teams have locked in Champions League berths, two sides have been relegated, and the drama isn’t over yet—four major questions remain unanswered.

Barça on the Brink: Just One More Step to the Throne

Barcelona’s title charge has been relentless, methodical, and emotionally charged. After Real Madrid’s injury-ravaged squad pulled off a 2-1 comeback win against Mallorca—thanks to a crucial equalizer from Kylian Mbappé and a 95th-minute stunner from academy gem Ramón—the Catalan giants were denied a chance to clinch the title without lifting a boot.

But that window closes quickly.

If Barça defeats Espanyol in the Catalan derby on May 16, they will hit 85 points after 36 rounds, putting them seven points clear of Real Madrid with just two matchdays remaining. That would crown them La Liga champions for the 28th time in club history.

This isn’t just a win-and-in scenario—it’s also a chance for poetic justice, as the potential title-clinching game takes place at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium, the same venue where Barça sealed the league in 2023. That night ended in chaos, with Espanyol fans storming the pitch during the Blaugrana’s celebrations. This time, Barça won’t tempt fate: the post-match party, if it happens, will be kept short on the turf and saved for safer venues.

Real Madrid’s Grit and the Rise of Ramón

Despite being ravaged by injuries—missing starters like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Brahim Díaz, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger—Los Blancos refused to bow out meekly. The team showed remarkable character, and it was a perfect storm of old and new: Mbappé with his usual class, and 18-year-old Ramón delivering the ultimate dagger in stoppage time.

While the result didn’t derail Barcelona’s championship path, it delayed their celebrations and sent a clear message: Madrid may lose the title, but not their pride.

Champions League Race: One Spot Left

Three teams have already punched their tickets to the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League: Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid. Athletic Club, currently sitting on 64 points after 35 matches, are expected to join them, though technically not yet mathematically secure.

That leaves one more spot up for grabs—and the fight is intensifying.

Villarreal made a massive statement with a commanding 3-0 win over Leganés. Now sitting on 64 points from 36 matches, the Yellow Submarine holds the edge over Real Betis, who trail with 58 points and a game in hand. Both sides are tied on head-to-head results, but Villarreal boasts a superior goal difference (17 vs. 10). With one more win—or if Betis slips—Villarreal will lock up La Liga’s final UCL ticket.

The stakes are sky-high. For a club like Villarreal, European football isn’t just ambition—it’s economics, relevance, and identity.

The Relegation Zone: Las Palmas Joins Valladolid in the Drop

La Liga is unforgiving, and that reality struck UD Las Palmas this week.

Despite not playing, Las Palmas became the second team to be officially relegated, following Valladolid. Alavés’ 1-0 victory over Valencia sealed the Canary Islands club’s fate. With 38 points, Alavés sit at 17th, six points above Las Palmas and owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. There’s no mathematical path left for Las Palmas to escape.

The drop back to Segunda División is heartbreaking for a club that showed flashes of potential this season, but their inability to finish chances and a leaky defense ultimately doomed them. Now, they prepare for life away from Spain’s top tier once again.

Four Questions Remain

With only two rounds left (three for some teams), four massive storylines still hang in the balance:

1. Will Barcelona Seal the Title in the Derby?

The countdown has begun. Barça holds the cards and only needs to beat city rivals Espanyol to secure the crown. Can Xavi's men maintain their composure and finish the job in hostile territory? A victory would not just be a title—it would be a statement.

2. Can Betis Pull Off a Late Champions League Heist?

They’re trailing Villarreal by six points but have a game in hand. If Betis wins out and Villarreal slips once, Manuel Pellegrini’s side could leapfrog into fourth. It's a long shot, but as long as the math allows it, the dream stays alive.

3. Who Will Snag the Europa and Conference League Spots?

Spots 6 through 8 are still highly volatile. Real Sociedad, Getafe, and Celta Vigo currently sit in those positions, but Mallorca (9th) and Osasuna (10th) are still in striking distance. Given the intensity of Spanish football, even a single misstep could turn Europa League dreams into mid-table anonymity.

4. Who Claims the Final Relegation Spot?

Two teams are down. One more will join them. Leganés, currently in 18th, sits four points below safety. They’ll need to win out and hope for help from other results. It's a classic “great escape” scenario—but time is not on their side.

Commentary: This Is Why La Liga Still Rules

While debates over the “best league in the world” continue to rage across social media and barroom banter, it’s weeks like this that remind us why La Liga remains pure theater.

Here, storylines don’t just happen—they’re written with the flair of a Goya painting and the drama of a Cervantes novel. You’ve got the mighty Barcelona, trying to crown a transitional era with silverware. You've got Madrid refusing to go quietly, even with their best players watching from the physio's table. You've got Villarreal—Spain’s ultimate underdog—turning the Champions League race into a thriller. And you've got heartbreak at the bottom, where relegation isn’t just a sporting punishment, but an existential gut punch.

Football, at its best, balances triumph and tragedy on the same stage. And in Spain, La Liga is delivering a masterpiece once again.