New Dates for Last Round of La Liga + Sevilla v Barza

[Vip]

Well ... FIFA accepted the change in dates. It was a delicate situation, as there are a few teams interlocked in the dispute for the CL spots.

Originally, Round 18 was going to be played this weekend ... and the Sevilla v Barza on the 20th, without their internationals (postponed from Round 34 due to heavy rain). But ... Sevilla was being favored by playing Barza in a "meaningless" match for the Catalans ... and knowing what result they needed to get into CL. This was all further complicated by the fact that both Barza and Sevilla are playing the finals of the European Cups, Sevilla tomorrow and Barcelona on the 17th.

The fixture was kind to save for the last round, games between the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. This games are:
Sevilla v Real Madrid
Osasuna v Valencia

Crucial games, as Real and Valencia are fighting for 2nd place and the direct qualifying to the CL ... only one point separates them. In the meantime, Sevilla is 3 points behind Osasuna with one game on hand against Barza.

The new fixtures, approved by FIFA are:
Sevilla v Barcelona Saturday May 13th (along with the other 7 games of Round 38)

Sevilla v Real Madrid Tuesday May 16th
Osasuna v Valencia Tuesday May 16th
** WITH ALL THEIR INTERNATIONALS

Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona Staurday May 20th
** WITHOUT THIER INTERNATIONALS

What have the clubs gained with this? That the defining games of Round 38 are played knowing were they stand.
A nightmare to solve due to the tight schedules, the success of 2 of the Spanish teams in Europe, and of course, FIFA.


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[Allkor]

Oh nooo :( I want Sevilla in the Champions League next year and this won't help them very much. Even if it should mean beating Barca (not my wish, understand it well), I really liked them there... On the other hand it will be more dramatic when the two crucial games are played on the same time.
Well... I just hope now that Valencia beats Osasuna and Sevilla beats Real... which would mean Valencia 2nd and Sevilla 4th :D I hope I won't be considered mad now :rolleyes:

Thanks for info, Vip :)

[west501]

I'm somewhat surprised to see they [la liga] thought this through as much as they did
my question is if messi can play a few minutes on saturday, what's to stop him from playing a few on wednesday?

[saurabh]

I hope somehow Valencia finish second. Vamos Pablito!!

[west501]

I hope pablito scores 3 goals to stick it to the (peker)man

[realGaurab]

Real drew the game they should have won easily against Villareal. Hope they will be full of fire for teh last game. All we need to do is win against Sevilla. Osasuna can do us a favour too, but I am not depending on that result. We need to beat Sevilla, period.

[barcalove]

seems a good solution for barca certainly.. they get to play the bilbao match after almost the entire first team will be gone after may 17th, because it is definitely of little consequence.

the sevilla game matters none to barca either really, but they will want to play a good match against them (due to the stakes for sevilla) even though i suspect many will be rested and key players that do play will get few minutes.

the single season record points tally that barca are trying to better (that of last season's) doesnt matter at all to me, and if rijkaard goes for that and gets some 1st team players injured for the CL final i would love dearly to slap him silly. also with the world cup coming up, important players should be getting rest as much as possible and working hard in training.

[shakamikaze]

Real drew the game they should have won easily against Villareal. Hope they will be full of fire for teh last game. All we need to do is win against Sevilla. Osasuna can do us a favour too, but I am not depending on that result. We need to beat Sevilla, period.


I think Osasuna will beat Valencia and Real will probably draw Sevila. Just my prediction.