The fight for the title and the European places is hotting up

Liga BBVA is approaching its business end, and nothing is decided yet. Not the league winners, with FC Barcelona currently sitting top, nor the European spots, despite the fact there’s only 10 games to go. To mark the occasion, LFP.es analyses the top of the table in this 2014/15 campaign.

Fight for the title

Four clubs are involved in the race to win Liga BBVA 2014/15. With their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in el Clásico, Barcelona are in the driving seat, sitting on 68 points, four more than their nearest rivals; Los Blancos.

In addition to the Catalan and Madrid outfits are Valencia CF and Atlético Madrid, although their chances of winning the league are less. Nuno’s side are on 60 points, while the reigning champions are hot on their heels with 59; nine behind Barcelona.

Valencia, common denominator in the calendar

If you look at the 10 games that are left for all those in the title mix, it can be seen that the points difference is nothing definitive. Barcelona, for example, have to visit the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán to face Sevilla FC, with Unai Emery’s men in top form, and the very next game they take on Valencia. Also there is the small matter of the derby against Espanyol, and their trip to Atlético still to come.

Real Madrid also have things far from their own way if they want to win the league. They must face RC Celta at Balaídos, where they lost last season, and will also visit Sevilla, Espanyol and host Valencia at home, a side who they did not defeat there last year.
Valencia, meanwhile, in addition to taking on Madrid and Barcelona visit Athletic club in matchday 30 of Liga BBVA, and then face Levante in the derby. Finally, Atlético have to go to El Madrigal and host Athletic before hosting Barcelona.

The fight for Europe

Tickets to compete in Europe are also in demand, and with 10 games to go, anything can happen. The top four spots, which provide Champions League qualification look to be sewn up by the title contenders, however Sevilla are in form and will fight all the way to the end. Meanwhile, the challenge of getting into the Europa League is hotting up.

Right now, Sevilla on 55 and Villarreal on 49 points are the sides who would qualify. However, Málaga, Athletic, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano are also in the mix at this stage.

The Andalusian outfit have a chance to return to Europe, however they will need to improve their away form, having won only one of their last five on the road. The side from Bilbao also have the chance of making it into Europe by winning the Copa del Rey, in which they face a final against FC Barcelona. If this were the case, then Liga BBVA would have three representatives in the next edition of the tournament.
Finally, the txuri-urdín and Madrid outfit would need results to go their way if they were to reach the Europa League, however if they continue the form they have shown in the last few games, they could make it via their league finishes.