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.



Ramos Fires Holders Portugal to Nations League Win in Norway

Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
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Ramos Fires Holders Portugal to Nations League Win in Norway

Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A4 - Norway v Portugal - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - September 27, 2026 Portugal's Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring their second goal. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via Reuters)

Goncalo Ramos started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the winner as Portugal made it back-to-back victories to start their UEFA Nations League title defense by beating Norway 2-1 in Oslo on Sunday.

Jorge Jesus's men have responded well to their tame World Cup last-16 loss to Spain, having also beaten Wales 1-0 in Group A4 on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the substitutes for the first time for Portugal since a Nations League game against Scotland in September 2024, and did not get onto the pitch as Jesus looks to manage his minutes across an expanded international break.

His replacement Ramos showed what he could do with his 12th international goal and an industrious performance.

"Every moment is important. The most important thing is to show what I can do whenever I'm called upon and to contribute to the team," Ramos told Sport TV.

"It was a demonstration of my work, of what I can offer the team -- not just goals, but everything I do on the pitch."

World Cup quarter-finalists Norway were left to rue some wasteful finishing in front of goal as they failed to build on their opening 3-2 win over Denmark.

The first big chance fell to Erling Haaland, but the Manchester City striker mishit his attempted volley after being picked out by Martin Odegaard, and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was able to make the save.

The away team quickly made Haaland pay as Joao Felix stroked a fine finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box in the 17th minute.

Haaland looked certain to equalize shortly afterwards when Costa spilled the ball into his path, but he was denied by a superb block from his City teammate Ruben Dias.

The Norway talisman was foiled by Costa again 10 minutes before half-time as the 'keeper made an excellent stop from his downward header.

Haaland finally converted six minutes into the second half, tapping in from Patrick Berg's header across goal.

But Norway gave back the lead immediately to their opponents, as goalkeeper Orjan Nyland passed the ball straight to Ramos, who coolly chipped it into the net.

Rafael Leao had a shot deflected onto the crossbar as Portugal pushed to make the game safe.

Nyland had his blushes spared when a VAR review ruled out another opportunistic Ramos effort for the tightest of offsides.

The 'keeper waited for a long pass over the top to reach him, then took a swipe at thin air as Ramos got to the ball before him and rolled it into an empty net.

Norway threw everyone forward, including Nyland, in the closing stages, but could not find another leveler.


Ireland Beat Israel but No Handshakes Due to War in Gaza

 27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
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Ireland Beat Israel but No Handshakes Due to War in Gaza

 27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)
27 September 2026, Hungary, Debrecen: Ireland's Troy Parrott celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League Group A4 soccer match between Israel and Republic of Ireland at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. (dpa)

Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a Nations League clash on Sunday amid an eerie and somber atmosphere that saw the Irish players wear black armbands over the war in Gaza.

Ireland's players also bowed their heads as the Israeli national anthem was played at the near-empty Debrecen stadium in Hungary.

The teams skipped the traditional pre-match handshakes and did not exchange pennants either.

Troy Parrott made a heart sign with his hands after opening the scoring on 14 minutes, while Jack Moylan kissed the Irish badge on his jersey and his black armband after netting the third goal 25 minutes in.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ireland of being "on the wrong side of history" over the players' actions.

In a lengthy post on X, Saar referenced the Irish team of 1939 giving the Nazi salute ahead of a match against Germany in Bremen.

He also referred to Irish neutrality during the Second World War and the condolences offered by then-prime minister Eaemon de Valera to the German representative in Dublin following Adolf Hitler's death.

"Almost 90 years have passed. Ireland's unique talent for finding itself on the wrong side of history remains intact," he added.

The game, in which Israel were the nominal hosts, had been in doubt earlier in the week until Ireland's players voted overwhelmingly to fulfill the fixture, despite pressure from back home to boycott the match.

Only one player, goalkeeper Gavin Buzunu, pulled out, saying "it would be wrong to participate" in either this match or the return fixture in Serbia on October 4 due to the "killing of innocent people".

The Irish federation did not reserve any tickets for fans to attend the match and public broadcaster RTE was due to show it without commentary.

"Sports, soccer, basketball, everything is for the public, the people, and not for politics," 31-year-old software development teacher Mol Michael, draped in an Israeli scarf, told AFP.

"Once you decide, because of politics, to cancel the Irish audience, this is a really stupid move from Ireland, in my opinion."

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel over the Gaza conflict.

Israel strongly rejects allegations its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.


Greece Hand Klopp First Defeat as Germany Manager

Football - Nations League - Group A2 - Germany v Greece - WWK Arena, Augsburg, Germany - September 27, 2026 Germany coach Jurgen Klopp reacts at the end of the match. (Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A2 - Germany v Greece - WWK Arena, Augsburg, Germany - September 27, 2026 Germany coach Jurgen Klopp reacts at the end of the match. (Reuters)
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Greece Hand Klopp First Defeat as Germany Manager

Football - Nations League - Group A2 - Germany v Greece - WWK Arena, Augsburg, Germany - September 27, 2026 Germany coach Jurgen Klopp reacts at the end of the match. (Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Group A2 - Germany v Greece - WWK Arena, Augsburg, Germany - September 27, 2026 Germany coach Jurgen Klopp reacts at the end of the match. (Reuters)

Jurgen Klopp tasted defeat for the first time as Germany manager as his side lost 1-0 to Greece in Augsburg on Sunday, with Dimitrios Kourbelis scoring the only goal.

In his first game on home soil, Klopp's side offered little in attack and lacked the energy they had displayed on the former Liverpool coach's debut in a 1-1 away draw with the Netherlands on Thursday.

The Germans had struggled to find a way through the Greek defense for the opening hour before the visitors broke through on the counter, with Kourbelis scoring in the 74th minute.

It was Greece's first ever win against Germany.

"Personally, I'm completely unbothered by it. I've lost far more matches in my life than I would have liked," Klopp told ARD.

"But as long as you draw the right conclusions, a loss is ultimately just a piece of information -- no different from a win.

"We absolutely need these kinds of matches -- they are exactly the games we wanted to have."

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich added: "He's been very clear about what he wants -- as players, we need to implement it."

- 'Very hyped' -

Several regulars missed out with Klopp trying to get a better idea of the talent at his disposal, but the defeat illustrated the scale of his task in reviving the flagging giants.

The 59-year-old took over Germany in July after the four-time World Cup winners were eliminated at the last-32 stage of the global showpiece in North America, their third consecutive early exit from the tournament.

"I think the important thing is that we stand together and that won't change," said Germany center-back Jonathan Tah.

"Of course, with the enthusiasm surrounding the new coach, things can get very hyped up from the outside, but ultimately, it comes down to what we do on the pitch and how we perform."

Klopp had included 16 uncapped players in his 44-man squad as he warned that he would be using the competition to have a look at the players at his disposal.

Among the five alterations to his starting XI was Hoffenheim forward Bambase Conte, a shock call-up after playing just four top-flight matches.

Conte looked sharp and shot just wide with two minutes gone.

Barcelona forward Karim Adeyemi had the best chance of the opening half when he stormed past the Greek defense on the counter, but sprayed his shot just over the crossbar.

Conte was again dangerous after the break, forcing a low fingertip save from Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

With Germany dominating possession but offering little in attack, the visitors grew bolder and more incisive on the counter and should have taken the lead when Fotis Ioannidis blasted wide of the goal with just Alexander Nuebel to beat.

Greece broke through moments later, however, when Kourbelis's low shot took a wicked deflection off Joshua Kimmich and rolled into the bottom left corner.

Greece then held firm for a breakthrough win over Germany, after seven defeats and three draws dating back to 1960.