LaLiga Matchday 38 and Season Roundup

A new LaLiga season ends, leaving Real Madrid as champions, reaching 36 league titles and an almost perfect campaign after losing only one game. 

The Casa Blanca had moments where it disputed the title with Barcelona and the surprising Girona, but it was a machine and always returned to sit at the top with a wide advantage. 

Real Madrid, the champion from start to finish

95 points after 29 wins, eight draws, and only one loss against Atlético Madrid in September. Those were the numbers of the champion, which was also the team with the most goals scored (87) and the fewest conceded (26). 

From start to finish, it was the best, being 29 matchdays in first place, eight in second, and one in third. That is to say, they spend the whole championship in the top 3. They were crowned champions four games early and slowed down in the last matches, tying with Villarreal and Betis. 

In addition, the Merengues are in the Champions League final, which they will play next June 1 against Borussia Dortmund looking to close a great season. 

Undoubtedly, the White team had many high points, but the biggest one was Jude Bellingham. The Englishman arrived this season after three years at Dortmund and, although his talent was known, his level was not expected to be so high. 

With 19 goals and six assists, the 20-year-old midfielder was the team’s top scorer and Real Madrid’s most decisive player in the campaign, taking on a driving role that no one thought. 

In addition to Bellingham, Andriy Lunin should also be highlighted. The Ukrainian was Thibaut Courtois’ substitute, but once the Belgian was seriously injured, the club brought Kepa Arrizabalaga to be the starter. The Spaniard didn’t measure up and was also injured, so the responsibility fell on Lunin, who emerged as a surprise starter. 

We cannot overlook Vinicius, who is playing better and better but is always in the eye of the storm for his attitudes on the pitch and provocations to rival fans, leading to reprehensible acts of racism. 

Another pleasant surprise was Joselu, who, after playing a couple of games in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, returned to Real Madrid and was a great substitute and important scorer, appearing when he was most needed. 

This Madrid will be remembered for being a team that battled injuries and improvised many times with players in other positions and thus managed to have the great season it did. 

Finally, it’s notable that Toni Kroos, one of the best midfielders in recent years, will retire in a few weeks when the European Championship is over. The German arrived in 2014 at Real Madrid and leaves 10 years later with 22 titles, among which there are four leagues and with the possibility of achieving six Champions Leagues. 

Surprises and Disappointments

The big surprise of the season was undoubtedly Girona. The Catalan team finished third and achieved a historic qualification to the Champions League. In the first matchday, they were 10th; in the second, they were 4th, and then they did not get out of the top 3. Aleix García, Sávio, Viktor Tsygankov, Yan Couto, Yangel Herrera, Cristhian Stuani, and Paulo Gazzaniga played a remarkable role, but Artem Dovbyk deserves a separate chapter. 

The Ukrainian striker scored 24 goals and was the top scorer of the tournament, beating Norway’s Alexander Sorloth (23), Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (19) and Bellingham (19). But he also provided eight assists, proving that he not only inflated the net but also got his teammates to play.

On the other hand, we have Sevilla, who always fought to play in international tournaments, but this time, they fought to avoid relegation. It was always in the lower positions despite having top players like Sergio Ramos, Lucas Ocampos, or Youssef En-Nesyri. 

European competitions and relegations

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Girona, and Atlético Madrid will play in the next Champions League. However, the Gironins could be left out due to a shareholder issue, as the team is part of the City Group, which also owns Manchester City, and UEFA does not allow two teams from the same business group to play in the competition. 

The Basque Country will be represented in the Europa League, as Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad will be there. Meanwhile, Real Betis will go to the Conference League. 

On the relegation places, Granada and Almeria packed their bags long ago for the second division, while Cadiz joined them in the last few weeks of this LaLiga season. 

LaLiga Matchday 38: Girona 7-0 Granada

When and where? 

Friday, May 24, 3:00 pm ET at Montilivi 

Moneyline odds: 

Girona 1.253 

Granada 11.9 

Draw Offs: 

7.5 

Where can I watch it? 

DSports and Movistar Deportes

Girona closed their best season ever with the best result they have ever achieved. It was a crushing 7-0 victory over Granada with a hat-trick by Artem Dovbyk, which made him the Pichichi of Spanish soccer. 

Eric García with a header, Tsygankov with a shot inside the penalty area, and Dovbyk with a penalty scored the goals in the first half. In the second part, Tsygankov repeated the formula, Stuani was present, and Dovbyk appeared again with a cross and a penalty. 

Granada closed the season as the worst team with 21 points and 79 goals conceded. 

LaLiga Matchday 38: Real Sociedad 0-2 Atlético Madrid

When and where? 

Saturday, May 25, 10:15 am ET at Anoeta 

Moneyline odds: 

Real Sociedad 2.466 

Atlético Madrid 3 

Draw Offs: 

3.615 

Where can I watch it? 

DSports and Movistar Deportes

Atlético Madrid closed the season with an away win against Real Sociedad, comfortably establishing in fourth place and the next edition of the Champions League. 

The score was opened by Brazilian Samuel Lino in the 9th minute after a cross from the right by Marcos Llorente, while Reinaldo Mandava sealed the game in the last minute with an assist from Álvaro Morata in a similar play.

Aleti reached 76 points, while Real Sociedad remained on 60,and with a spot in the Europa League. 

LaLiga Matchday 38: Real Madrid 0-0 Real Betis

When and where? 

Saturday, May 25, 3:00 pm ET at the Santiago Bernabeu 

Moneyline odds: 

Real Madrid 1.385 

Real Betis 8.1 

Draw Offs: 

5.87 

Where can I watch it? 

DSports and Movistar Deportes

In a match with few emotions and nothing at stake, Real Madrid and Real Betis played to a goalless draw at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The highlight of the game was the retirement of Toni Kross, who said goodbye to his home in the last ten years by playing his penultimate game with the white jersey, as in a few days, he will be in the Champions League final.

On the Andalusian side, they already have three consecutive draws against this rival, and close the campaign with 57 points and the qualification to the Conference League. 

LaLiga Matchday 38: Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona

When and where? 

Sunday, May 26, 3:00 pm ET at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan 

Moneyline odds: 

Sevilla 4.16 

Barcelona 1.85 

Draw Offs: 

4.265 

Where can I watch it? 

DSports and Movistar Deportes

After several comings and goings, Xavi leaves Barcelona, and he leaves with a 1-2 victory over Sevilla. 

It was the last game of the season, and the winner was the Catalan team that, despite achieving the runner-up position, never achieved the expected level of performance and that is why their coach is leaving.

Robert Lewandowski made it 0-1 with an acrobatic finish after a cross from Joao Cancelo, but Youssef En-Nesyri put the transitional equalizer with a shot between Ter Stegen’s legs. 

In the second half, young Fermín López, one of the team’s revelations along with Yamal and Cubarsi, gave the Culés the victory with a shot from outside the area. 

It was the end of a bad chapter for both teams.