The second consecutive qualification to Europe and third in four years is a matter of time. La Real did not need to leave Gipuzkoa to put the seventeenth continental ticket in its history on track: the victory in Eibar was an impetus with no return. Only one bizarre pájara in the last five days would nullify the merits of the season. The feat can be mathematical this weekend.
A victory against Huesca on Saturday (El Alcoraz, 6.30 pm) would greatly pave the guarantee of being one of the top seven classified in the League. The three points would de facto leave three involved in the persecution of the European zone out of fire: Celta, Athletic and Osasuna would be left without being able to reach Real in the event of a victory against Huesca. Granada, which is eighth, would be obliged to beat Barcelona tomorrow or Cádiz. With 11 points of advantage over the Nasrids and one more game played, in any case, if the Real is unable to seal its ticket to Europe or the Conference League, it would only postpone obtaining it. The probability that the Real will be European next year is estimated at an overwhelming 99.7%.
Even a draw in Huesca can lead to qualification in the top seven. The hypothetical point in El Alcoraz would have to be accompanied by two consecutive defeats of Granada against Barcelona and Cádiz and also that the rest of the birds of prey that stalk the land did not win at the end of matchday 34. A defeat of Real against the people of Huesca would extend the definitive stamp of the passport.
All balances favor Real against direct rivals. Granada, Celta and Athletic have lost their particular goalaverage with the Txuri Urdin. Osasuna waits at El Sadar on the final day. By then, at most, it will remain to know which tournament the Real will play: the Europa League or the Conference. Today is fifth, with three points of advantage over the sixth (Betis) and four with the seventh (Villarreal).
The final of the Barcelona-Athletic Cup on April 17 postponed the game that Granada plays tomorrow at the Camp Nou. A kind of extra life for the Andalusians, whose distance from Real reaches 11 points. A Granada victory at Can Barça or on Sunday against Cádiz at home would delay Real's European qualification for a few hours. Especially in case of winning Huesca.
If Celta lose on Friday at home against Levante, they will run out of options to catch Real. Whatever happens in Huesca the next day. In the same way that, if those of Imanol defeated the Aragonese on Saturday, they would descend on those of Vigo in their defense of the European zone. There are 12 points of insulting difference between Realists and Celtiñas with 15 to be disputed.
Athletic receives Valladolid this afternoon in the pending duel of Matchday 33. A victory would propel Marcelino's men to eighth place with 44 points, nine behind Real. Winning Huesca would leave the neighbors hanging by a thread. If they fail to win today or against Sevilla next Monday, beating Huesca would allow Real to eliminate them from the equation.
13 points of difference with 15 pending sounds like the Real would have to perpetrate a major nonsense to put Osasuna in the garlic of Europe. In case the Navarrese lose on Saturday night in the Real Madrid field, they would be left without being able to neutralize the Real, regardless of what happens in Huesca. A formalism.