La Liga 2025-2026: Getafe-Osasuna, the likely lineups.
La Liga is drawing to a close, but the tension remains sky-high because tonight, with no fewer than nine out of 10 matches that will set the fields ablaze simultaneously at 9 p.m., a spectacular final act is being staged. Making it all the more electrifying is an incredibly short league table that keeps all kinds of scenarios open: suffice it to say that between the seventh place occupied by Getafe and seventeenth-place Elche there is only a 6-point gap, meaning that a single goal can turn the lives of half the league’s sides upside down. With Hansi Flick’s Barcelona already proclaimed champions and Real Madrid firmly in second place, the real tussle is on in this handkerchief of teams, where tonight’s ninety minutes will decide European fates and relegations, before tomorrow’s grand finale at the Estadio de la Cerámica between Villarreal and Atlético Madrid.
To understand tonight’s mad plot, one only has to look at the three direct clashes that unite the teams fighting for the last European pass (7th place) and those facing the abyss. A tense Getafe-Osasuna is being played on Catalan soil: José Bordalás’ men are defending seventh place by their fingernails, but Alessio Lisci’s Osasuna need golden points to secure mathematical salvation. Identical scenario at the Estadio de Balaídos for Celta Vigo-Sevilla, with Claudio Giráldez’s Celta dreaming of latching on to Europe and the Andalusians forced to get a result to avoid being sucked to the bottom. Finally, the same dynamic on Basque soil between Deportivo Alavés-Rayo Vallecano, where Iñigo Pérez’s Rayo is chasing a European passport while Quique Sánchez Flores needs to secure Alavés’s stay.
Then there are the challenges where the big boys referee or seek domestic glory. Such is the case at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid want to greet their fans with a win, but will face a wounded Athletic Bilbao hungry for cup points. At the Mestalla, on the other hand, Valencia will be looking for the feat of a lifetime for Europe against champions Barcelona, who might indulge in some turnover. On the opposite front, Real Sociedad travels to the RCDE Stadium to take on a water-logged Espanyol: the Basques are looking for the outside shot for Europe, while Manolo González is playing all-out to save the Catalans.
Complementing this Crazy Risk are the cross fates of the backline. A dramatic Girona-Elche is staged at the Montilivi: Míchel is obliged to win to leave the third-last position, while Eder Sarabia will try to defend Elche’s minimal lead. At the Estadio de La Cartuja, Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis aims to secure 5th place against a Levante side desperate for salvation points. Closing out the program is the match between Martín Demichelis’ Mallorca, clinging to the last hope of remaining in La Liga, and Real Oviedo, by now already relegated but intent on honoring the championship until the last second.
Probably Formations
Getafe (5-3-2): Soria; Nyom, Davinchi, Duarte, Romero, Iglesias; Milla, Caceres, Arambarri; Satriano, Vazquez. All. Bordalas.
Osasuna (4-2-3-1): Herrera; Rosier, Catena, Boyomo, Beretones; Torro, Moncayola; Garcia, Oroz, Munoz; Budimir. All. Lisci.
