MADRID, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The final round of matches in La Liga arrives this weekend with most issues resolved, but with two big questions - who will claim the last place in Europe and who will be relegated along with Alaves and Levante, still to be resolved.
La Liga on Monday decided to alter the kick-off times it had published over a week earlier with none of the 10 matches starting at 18:30 on Sunday as scheduled, showing just how hard it is for football fans actually to make any plans in Spain.
The weekend now kicks off on Friday night with league champions Real Madrid at home to fifth place Betis as La Liga seeks to give Madrid as much time as possible to prepare for the Champions League final against Liverpool.
The game will see Carlo Ancelotti continue his policy of giving 'active rest' to his players and it could also see the last league appearances of Marcelo, Isco and Gareth Bale for the club.
Friday also sees Rayo Vallecano complete their successful first season back in the top-flight at home to Levante, who will spend next season in the second division.
There is only one match on Saturday as Valencia end a disappointing campaign at home to Celta Vigo in what looks like it will be the last game for the club for local favorites, Carlos Soler and Jose Luis Gaya, both of whom will probably be sold to help Valencia's financial situation.
In La Liga's wisdom, the remaining matches are all on Sunday when Cadiz, Mallorca and Granada will discover who are relegated along with Levante and Alaves.
Granada go into the last weekend with a one-point lead over Cadiz and Mallorca and what looks like a relatively comfortable home match against Espanyol, who have nothing to play for after sacking coach Victor Moreno just over a week ago.
Mallorca's last-minute win against Rayo last weekend lifted them above Cadiz on head-to-head goal difference, but they are away to Osasuna, who may have nothing to play for, but who are unlikely to give anything away, even though Mallorca coach Javier Aguirre also had a successful spell at the Pamplona-based club.
The pressure is on Cadiz after last weekend's draw at home to Real Madrid dropped them into the bottom three. Sergio Gonzalez's side travel to play Alaves, who are already down but will no doubt want to end their seven years in the top-flight on a high.
The final issue to be resolved sees Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao duel it out to see who finishes seventh. Villarreal lead Athletic by one point going into the last match and if they match the result of the Basque side, that is how it will stay.
However, Athletic have a better head-to-head goal difference than Villarreal and would finish seventh if they end up level on points.
Villarreal have to travel to Camp Nou to play Barca and they travel in the knowledge they have only ever won once in that ground, while coach Unai Emery has never won a league game away to Barcelona.
Athletic end the season in the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium away to Sevilla, who could finish third if they win. The two sides met in similar circumstances two years ago with Sevilla running out 2-0 winners.
Sunday's other game sees Real Sociedad at home to Atletico Madrid, with Atletico able to assure third place if they win. ■
