Five Things to Look Out for in La Liga This Weekend

Football - La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - May 9, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - May 9, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Five Things to Look Out for in La Liga This Weekend

Football - La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - May 9, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - May 9, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

With Barcelona crowned champions for a second consecutive season, attention in La Liga turns to other matters in the penultimate round of fixtures, including a gripping relegation battle.

AFP Sport picks out five things to look out for this weekend in the Spanish top flight.

Griezmann's farewell

French forward Antoine Griezmann could not end his time at Atletico brandishing a trophy as he would have loved, but will still receive a warm goodbye from the club's supporters this weekend.

Diego Simeone's side host Girona in their final match at the Metropolitano stadium before Griezmann heads to the United States to play for MLS side Orlando City.

"We have had a genius with us for many years, and hopefully, we can give him a great send-off," said Simeone this week.

Griezmann is Atletico's all-time top goalscorer over two spells at the club totaling a decade in red and white.

Relegation tightrope

La Liga's bottom half is bunched together extremely tightly, meaning several teams are looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

Salvation is not guaranteed for teams between 10th and 19th place, with only Real Oviedo so far guaranteed to go down.

Several sides have been in the bottom three in recent weeks and keep changing places.

Record seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla have recently surged towards safety with three straight wins, but face Real Madrid this weekend.

Espanyol failed to win for 18 straight games before beating Athletic Bilbao this week, while Alaves moved out of the drop zone with a win against champions Barca.

Mallorca and Levante start the weekend placed 18th and 19th respectively, but it's anybody's guess who will be in there by Sunday night.

Barca perfect at home

Hansi Flick's newly crowned champions lost at Alaves in midweek to scupper their target of matching the La Liga record of 100 points, but can still finish at home on a high against Real Betis.

The Catalan giants have won every single home match in the top flight this season and would complete the set by beating Manuel Pellegrini's team, who have already sealed qualification for the Champions League.

After playing the first months of the season at Montjuic's Olympic stadium and even hosting a couple of games at the tiny Johan Cruyff training ground stadium, Barca finally returned to their partially rebuilt Camp Nou home in November last year.

This might also be striker Robert Lewandowski's final home match for Barcelona, with the Polish veteran out of contract in the summer.

Getafe Euro charge

Jose Bordalas's Getafe are a team often derided for their direct style of play and physical approach, but despite the limitations of their squad they are on the brink of reaching European competition.

They last competed in the Europa League in the 2019-20 season.

"I have no words to describe the outrageous thing this team is doing," said the proud coach after beating Mallorca on Wednesday.

Getafe are seventh, which would take them into next season's Conference League, but trail sixth-placed Celta Vigo, in a Europa League spot, by just two points with two games to go.

Golden boot battle

Because of injury issues in the second half of the season and Real Madrid's inconsistent form, Kylian Mbappe's lead in the top scorer standings has been whittled down.

The French forward has 24 goals, leading Mallorca target man Vedat Muriqi by just two, with two games remaining.

The islanders are still fighting for survival and Kosovan striker Muriqi is their main weapon in a key battle against Levante.



Watkins Joins Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from Villa

27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
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Watkins Joins Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from Villa

27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)

England forward Ollie Watkins has left Aston Villa to join Al Hilal, his new Saudi club announced on Sunday.

The deal follows Villa's signing of Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.

Al Hilal said the 30-year-old Watkins had signed a three-year deal and will be in line to play in their league match against Al Ahli on Tuesday.

He joins a squad including Crysencio Summerville, who signed from West Ham earlier in the transfer window.

Watkins has scored seven goals in 24 appearances for England.

Villa coach Unai Emery had criticized Watkins for refusing to play in last weekend's 4-0 defeat to Brighton to open their Premier League campaign as he sought to force through his move to Al Hilal.

But Emery said on Friday that there were no hard feelings.

"Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now (it's) clear, he is a fantastic player, fantastic guy and one mistake is not closing all the good things he did here," Emery said ahead of Arsenal's visit to Villa Park on Monday.

Watkins began his career at Exeter City in League Two before he moved to Brentford in the Championship.

He then joined Villa, where he spent six fruitful seasons, culminating in a Europa League victory last season.


Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
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Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated teenage star Lamine Yamal is finding his way back to his "top level" ahead of Monday's LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano.

The 19-year-old struggled in Barca's first match of the season at Elche but improved against Athletic Bilbao in the second, albeit without finding the net.

Flick said the Spanish World Cup winner is returning to his best, which Yamal has not hit since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

The winger returned at the World Cup but, despite Spain's success, had limited individual impact at the tournament.

"I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how is he doing. And of course, look at his situation, he played a World Cup after a huge injury," Flick told reporters Sunday.

"Now he's coming back after three weeks' holiday... and also the first game maybe was not his best game.

"But I said this, I was very happy that he starts the game and he worked for the team."

Yamal disappointed in the first half against Athletic on Thursday, but stepped up a gear after the break.

"He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to (have) 90 minutes on the pitch," continued Flick.

"We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training (session) today, but I saw it and it was excellent.

"Everyone loves Lamine and he's in a good way. And we have to support him and we do that."

Yamal seemed in a bad mood after the game against Elche, but happier in training ahead of the Rayo clash.

"Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same day," added Flick.

"I'm also not smiling every day -- it's like that."

Barca won both of their opening fixtures with Raphinha playing as a makeshift number nine, with the champions unable to land top target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

"Of course I'm happy with my team, (sporting director) Deco is working on that to strengthen the team. We don't have pressure," said Flick, reiterating he is content with the players available to him if Barca don't sign a new striker.


Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
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Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

Tottenham Hotspur's initially improved ‌performance against Newcastle United gave way once again to familiar failings in Saturday's limp 2-0 loss, leaving coach Roberto De Zerbi's attempt to establish a connection with their fans in tatters.

After a dreadful display at Brentford last weekend, in which the scoreline of 3-0 arguably flattered the visitors, Spurs looked sharper for much of the first hour against Newcastle before any optimism was dashed by two cheap goals.

Spurs showed glimpses of the crisp attacking play De Zerbi was hired to bring. Then the fragility that led to the Italian becoming their third ‌coach of ‌last season came to the fore as they ‌unraveled ⁠in the second ⁠half.

De Zerbi wrote in his program notes that he wanted the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to become "a fortress". Instead, there were thousands of empty seats by the end of Spurs' 21st defeat in their last 39 home league games.

A summer splurge of more than £300 million ($406 million) was an attempt to overhaul a squad which had finished 17th in consecutive ⁠seasons. But, as De Zerbi frankly admitted, "you can't buy ‌mentality in the transfer market".

DE ZERBI ‌INSISTS SPURS IMPROVING

"I'm sorry for the fans, for the environment, because after two ‌defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same history, the same ‌as the last two seasons," De Zerbi told reporters.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I can't change my opinion for two defeats. I have big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Though even as ‌De Zerbi talked up the "great project" of rebuilding Spurs, he hinted at a future without him, saying ⁠the squad ⁠would show its quality "with me or with another coach".

Newcastle, meanwhile, are almost a mirror image of Spurs, with an unbeaten start dispelling doubts which had grown over the summer after key players Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes left the club, as did coach Eddie Howe.

Wissa, who suffered from injuries after he joined last summer, has already matched his haul of league goals last season and said Newcastle's remaining players "have to step up" after a summer of significant departures.

Newcastle's new recruits have started well, with midfielder Nico Gonzalez particularly impressive on his debut, though Wissa reserved special praise for new coach Matthias Jaissle: "I think he's the best signing of Newcastle so far."