Key Palm Sunday for the Champions League

Of the four teams involved in the fight for third and fourth place that will give the option to play in the Champions League -Atlético de Madrid (51 points), Real Sociedad (48), Real Betis (45) and Villarreal (41)- The people from San Sebastián have the most difficult schedule, as they have to visit their three direct rivals and have another five games against teams from the top of the table, while the colchoneros players, Beticos and Castellón have only six games to play against one of the top ten.

The next day, after the break, can clarify many issues in the fight for the places of the Champions League, because the four teams involved are measured against each other, since Real Betis visit Atlético and Real Sociedad visit Villarreal in the two most fascinating games of the Palaspas Sunday.

Over the last ten years, the average number of points to reach fourth place is 70, although there are occasions when 77 is necessary (in 2015 and 2021) or 61 is sufficient (in 2019). This campaign, the projection of the points added by the teams involved suggests that around 70 will be needed to achieve fourth place.

To reach 70 points in the remaining twelve rounds, Betis must add 25. Their home rivals are Cádiz, Espanyol, Real Sociedad, Rayo, Getafe and Valencia (who have 10 points in the first round), and away At home – where he has five wins, three draws and only two losses in his last ten games – he has to visit Atlético, Osasuna, Barcelona, ​​​​Athletic, Sevilla and Girona (with whom he had 8 points in the first round).

So far, Béticos have beaten Villarreal on average, whom they beat at home (1-0) and with whom they tied (1-1). And they have already defeated Real (0-2) in the Liga at Anoeta, who will visit Villamarín on Fair Wednesday, April 26. At Atlético they lost the game played at Benito Villamarín (1-2).