La Liga Preview

The big match on the last day of the season will be Mallorca at home to Real Betis. With just one relegation place still undecided, Mallorca know that if they win they are safe and Levante go down. Their destiny is in their own hands. Levante meanwhile basically have to win away to third placed Villareal, and then hope that Mallorca fail to win. That is their only hope, and boy is it a tall order. Villareal have been awesome at home and have only lost once at their seat of power. To compound things, they are facing a team who need to get a point to ensure a Champions League Qualifying place. To put it in plain English?..Levante are up the Swanee without a paddle and if they do survive it will be some feat. Stan James have Mallorca priced up at 11/8, Betis are 6/4 and the Draw is 12/5. In the other game, Villareal are 4/9, Levante are 11/2 and the Draw is 11/4.Levante could just pull it off, if they go all out for the win and get the breaks. They are 11/2 to win which is a little tempting I must admit. A draw is no good to them, because although it will draw them level with Mallorca they have an inferior goal difference and will go down. It's all or nothing for the Valencia based side. The one thing on their side is the fact that Mallorca will not have it all their own way. Real Betis, currently sitting in the other Champions League Qualifying spot, need to get something out of the game to preserve that fourth spot. With fifth placed Sevilla?.their arch rivals?..only a point behind them and having an easy home game against Malaga there is a lot to play for. In Spain, those clubs in fifth and sixth places go into the UEFA Cup. Sevilla are currently in fifth and they are guaranteed a Uefa Cup spot at the very least. They could grab a Champions League Qualifying place if other results go their way. They are priced at 1/3 to beat Malaga at home. Espanyol are in sixth and need to fend off a challenge by Valencia in seventh. They only need a point at home to Bilbao to be assured of a UEFA Cup spot. If they were to lose and Valencia (1/2) won at home to Osasuna then Valencia would creep in through the back door.The two giants of Spanish football will sign off away from home. Barcelona (11/10) are at Real Sociedad (2/1), whereas Real Madrid (5/4) travel to Real Zaragoza (7/4). Both clubs will be automatically in the Champions League