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LaLiga Matchday 35 Preview: Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Cadiz all face crunch tests

There are just four rounds of LALIGA EA SPORTS remaining and, even if Real Madrid have already been crowned champions, there are many other plots still to solve.

Atlético de Madrid, who are trying to stay in the Champions League spots, Valencia CF, who are pushing for Europe, and Cádiz CF, who are sweating to escape the bottom three, are just some of the teams entering this matchday knowing there's a lot at stake.


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Girona FC are involved in the first game of the round, when they visit Deportivo Alavés on Friday night, and the Catalan team do still have something to fight for, even after securing a maiden Champions League qualification last weekend. Míchel's men are currently in second and, if they can stay there, they'd qualify for their first ever Spanish Super Cup too.

Saturday begins with a battle of the islanders, as RCD Mallorca take on UD Las Palmas. Los Amarillos are in a really poor moment of form, with seven defeats in a row, so Javier Aguirre's side will try to take advantage as they aim to confirm their place in LALIGA EA SPORTS for next season.

Villarreal CF vs Sevilla FC is next up and this is a must-win match for the home side if they're to keep alive their slim hopes of European qualification. El Submarino Amarillo haven't won any of their past five against the Andalusians, but will hope to change that this weekend.

At 6.30pm CEST, champions Real Madrid return to action away at Granada CF. For the Andalusian outfit, this is a significant day as they know that anything other than a victory against Jude Bellingham, Vini Jr and co. would confirm their relegation to LALIGA HYPERMOTION, while other results could condemn them too.

Athletic Club vs CA Osasuna is the Saturday night game and that could be a tricky test for Los Leones, who have only won one of their past five matches against their neighbours from Navarre. With Athletic Club entering this matchday with a lengthy list of injuries and suspensions, they'll need some of the lesser-used players to step up.

On Sunday morning, Cádiz CF have one of their most important matches in years, when they take on Getafe CF at home. The Andalusian outfit enter this matchday six points behind in the relegation battle and could be even further adrift by the time this game kicks off. If they're to stay in LALIGA EA SPORTS for a fifth consecutive season, they need the three points here.


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Atlético de Madrid are in action next, when they host RC Celta in Spain's capital. Los Colchoneros currently occupy fourth position, the final Champions League qualification spot, yet they need another win or two to ensure they'll remain there at the end of the campaign.

The action then moves to Mestalla, where Valencia CF hope to get back to winning ways. Los Che have lost three games in a row and now host Rayo Vallecano knowing that they need a victory if they're to maintain their hopes of catching those above them and finishing the season in seventh, the final European spot.

The team Valencia CF are chasing are seventh-placed Real Betis, who enter this matchday with a five-point cushion. No matter the result at Mestalla, Manuel Pellegrini's charges will expect to earn victory when they play an Andalusian derby against already-relegated UD Almería in the Sunday night game.

The final match of the round takes place in Catalonia, where FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad will face off on Monday night. By this stage in the matchday, La Real may have fallen out of the Europa League spots and down to the Conference League position, so the Basque outfit will hope to achieve an away win at Barça for the second year in a row, following their 2-1 triumph last season.

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Carlos Volcano
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