MADRID - The 2024-25 La Liga season draws to a close this weekend with two key questions still to be answered - and several notable farewells, two of which stand out above the rest.
The unresolved issues are: who will be relegated alongside Valladolid and Las Palmas, and which team will take the final Europa League spot versus the Conference League berth.
Leganes and Espanyol are battling to avoid the final relegation spot. Leganes must beat Valladolid at home and hope Espanyol fails to win against Las Palmas. Leganes has won two of its last three matches, while both Espanyol and Las Palmas enter the final round on five-game losing streaks. Espanyol, however, controls its own destiny.
Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna are all in contention for European qualification. Celta will clinch the final Europa League place with a win away to Getafe, which has nothing left to play for.
If Celta fails to win, Rayo Vallecano can move into seventh with a home victory over Mallorca, whose European hopes ended last weekend with a loss to Getafe.
Osasuna also remains in the mix, and coach Vicente Moreno could depart on a high note if his side earns a better result than Rayo in their match away to Alaves. Alaves is already in celebration mode after securing top-flight survival with last week's win at Valladolid.
Two major goodbyes headline the weekend.
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In the match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of his final game before leaving to manage Brazil. He is expected to receive a warm send-off in a match with nothing on the line.
Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil also bids farewell after six seasons in charge.
Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona close out the season with an emotional night at San Mames, as Oscar de Marcos plays his final game for Athletic. The 36-year-old, who made 572 first-team appearances over 16 seasons, retires as a club legend.
Both sides have reason to celebrate. Athletic secured a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification, while Barcelona won a league and club double. Coach Hansi Flick has agreed to a contract extension through 2027.
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The remaining fixtures - Betis vs Valencia, Girona vs Atletico Madrid and Villarreal vs Sevilla - have nothing at stake, though Betis is expected to rest players ahead of next week's Conference League final.
