MADRID, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The penultimate round of matches in La Liga will see a tense Sunday evening with the relegation issue and European places to be resolved.
Champion FC Barcelona hosts Real Betis in the only match with nothing at stake, given that Betis has also assured a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, but the weekend sees nine teams still in danger of joining Real Oviedo in being relegated to the second division next season.
Three consecutive wins have lifted Sevilla four points above the relegation zone and if it can beat Real Madrid at home, its survival will be assured.
Real Madrid seems to be slipping into chaos with divisions among players, an erratic press conference from club president Florentino Perez, looming elections and a clear falling out between Kylian Mbappe and coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
The match between Levante and Mallorca is vital in the relegation dogfight, with both sides on 39 points and currently 19th and 18th in the standings.
Levante has won three of its last five matches and its confidence is sky-high, while Mallorca underperformed in Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Getafe.
Elche is also on 39 points and desperate for three points when it hosts seventh-placed Getafe.
The 1-0 home win over Barcelona lifted Alaves out of the relegation zone, but with 40 points it still has work to do. Alaves visits Oviedo, who can be expected to put up a fight when it plays its last home game in the top flight for at least a year.
Girona, also on 40 points, has a difficult visit to face Atletico Madrid without injured striker Vladislav Vanat.
Osasuna and Espanyol, both with 42 points, play in Osasuna's El Sadar Stadium with both still in danger of the relegation if results elsewhere go against them.
Valencia has 43 points, and a point away to Real Sociedad would be enough to assure its survival for another year.
The other two games see Rayo Vallecano at home to Villarreal, as Ernesto Valverde will coach Athletic Bilbao for the last time in San Mames when his side hosts Celta Vigo.
Athletic still has a chance of finishing seventh, but Celta needs a win if it wants to return to the Europa League next season. ■
