La Liga Jornada 38 - The End!

So after a loooooooong season, we finally arrive at the final matchday. Nothing is decided, except for Nastic being relegated in last place. But the timings for the fixtures have been decided - the relegation battles will be at 17.00 Spanish time (16.00 GMT), and matches deciding the title/UEFA spots will be at 21.00 Spanish time (20.00 GMT).

So, can Mallorca pull off the miracle for Barcelona and get a draw/win in the Bernabeu?

Assuming of course, that Barcelona actually win against Nastic. Easiest match in the world on paper, but this is Barcelona 2006-2007. Nothing is a given.

Will Atletico be able to grab their UEFA Cup spot back from Villarreal? Or will it be Zaragoza who end up (undeservedly IMO) missing out?

Will Sevilla manage to stop Villarreal's run of form and give themselves a chance of a shock title win if both Madrid and Barcelona mess up?

At the bottom - can Stoichkov pull off an escape for Celta? Or will it be the grand old teams Real Sociedad and/or Athletic Bilbao who go down? Betis are still in the thick of it too.

Other matters to be decided are the Pichichi (top scorer) and Zamora (best goalkeeper) awards. Van Nistelrooy should be able to wrap up the former since he has a 3 goal lead over Diego Milito, and also has a chance to win the overall European Golden Boot. Abbondanzieri of Getafe currently leads the Zamora standings, with Valdes 2nd.


Fixtures:
5pm:
Celta-Getafe
Racing-Betis
Valencia-Real Sociedad
Athletic-Levante
Espanyol-Deportivo ("dead" match)

9pm:
Nastic-Barcelona
R. Madrid-Mallorca
Sevilla-Villarreal
Osasuna-Atletico Madrid
Recreativo-Zaragoza


Started this thread early since there's bound to be a lot of relevant discussion as we approach Sunday.

There is still some confusion over the status of various clubs' African and South American players. Cameroon are supposedly playing a qualifying match, but I doubt Etoo will go.

On the other hand, Diarra has said he will go play for Mali, and Dunga/Brazil are also insistent that Robinho join them since he is part of the Brazil squad for the Copa America. Sevilla also have quite a few players called up for that tournament.

In terms of injury news, Barcelona will probably have a fully fit squad, whereas Beckham is still undergoing treatment for Madrid. No news on Torres yet, who had pulled out during the warmup in the Zaragoza game.

Eto'o's not in the Cameroon squad to play Rwanda - he's been allowed to stay behind for the Nastic match.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2007-06-09T003541Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-302267-1.xml&archived=False

Good of Cameroon, they don't really need him.

Huuuge weekend and one where I shall attend first primera game of the season, so really looking forward to it, although gutted I'll miss the title shootout. Vamos Mallorca.

Real wrote a letter to the CBF yesterday asking them to let Robinho play the last game - and possibly collect his winners medal

Hopefully they accept, if not, doesn't matter. We have plenty of cover.

Becks will defo shake of the injury and play

It is still a bit of a mystery. Some reports say that Diarra will be unavailable for selection but Marca was saying today that both Diarra and Robinho will be fit to play. I'm not sure why the CBF think they can threaten Madrid with point deduction. I don't know all of the FIFA rules so maybe someone can explain? Brasil don't even have a match as far as I know.

Apparently the CBF have told Real they will be excercising their right to call Robinho to the Brazil squad, and are going to do it straight away, whereas they were going to let him stay in madrid till Friday.

So how many goals to Barca have to score to knock Real off if they both win?

Or is that not a permutation that can happen?

Goals in that sense are irrevelent. If Becks is a bit injured, Robinho, Torres, and Diarra are all out, you never know. Majjorca held Seville just the other day

Tweedle wrote:So how many goals to Barca have to score to knock Real off if they both win?

Or is that not a permutation that can happen?

Madrid will win on head to head games

@ Tweeds

If Real win it's over!!! (the years of wait)

Not going to happen target man, there is a final twist in the air

Who did you put money on LRD?

Target Man SSK wrote:Who did you put money on LRD?

Unfortunatly a lot on barca

Real should do it. Will Beckham be fit or is he still 50:50?

Why does the season finish so late? If it finished the same time as the rest of the leagues then international call ups, wouldnt be an issue.

Barca already have a vastly superior goal difference... its decided on head to head, tweedy!! If Real win, they win!

Tweedle wrote:So how many goals to Barca have to score to knock Real off if they both win?

Or is that not a permutation that can happen?

Yes, it is head-to-head that matters and interestingly enough, this tiebreaker could come into play at the other end of the table because in theory Real Sociedad, Betis, Athletic, and Celta could all (or some combination) end up level on points as they try to avoid relegation.

ok robinho is out of this weeks game which is stupid sine they dont have a a game soon but what can you do. Diarra i understand since Mali needs to win to qualifi for Nations cup next year. what i dont get is that the brazilian federation will punish a player that always reports for duty unlike some of the stars(kaka,dinho).
becks will play the game 100% sure because he always plays with a injury even if its not healthy. since capello doesnt get that helguera on the field is a walking disastor it is very important that torres is ready.

Havent Gago & Higuain been called up for the copa america too ?

Argie boss has only named 10 player from squad so far, and has waited till la liga finishes to name the rest

i have no idea what will happen. now they are saying we have reaced a deal.
Robinho And Diarra Will Play For Real Madrid On Sunday Real Madrid have announced that Robinho and Mahamadou Diarra will play for Real Madrid in the final game of the season after reaching an agreement with their national teams. The duo were at the centre of a dispute with Brazil and Mali repectively as both countries wanted them to report to their training camps and miss the match against Real Mallorca.

Madrid president, Ramón Calderón, held lengthy negotiations with representatives of the two national sides and thrashed out a deal that earlier looked to have been impossible.

Robinho has been called into Brazil's squad for the forthcoming Copa América and was expected to report at the pre-tournament training camp.

If the forward had arrived then he would have been allowed to return to Madrid for the last match of the Spanish season without any problems, but la Real were unwilling to let him go.

After talks on Monday broke down, los Merengues have now reached an agreement after a second round of negotiations.

"He can play for us because he has been called up for a training camp and not an official game," Calderón explained.

Diarra will also be available after a similar agreement was reached that will see him appear for Mali against Sierra Leone in the African Nations' Cup qualifier.

The midfielder had insisted that he would choose club over country if a decision had to be made, but he will now be able to play in both games.

I'm going to dress up as a Madriz fan (doc marteen boots, alpha jacket and some nazi symbology) and jump onto the pitch to hit the ref

Don't worry fellows culers, the title is coming home

golsud wrote:I'm going to dress up as a Madriz fan (doc marteen boots, alpha jacket and some nazi symbology) and jump onto the pitch to hit the ref

Don't worry fellows culers, the title is coming home

Way to take one for the team

Robinho podrá jugar ante el Mallorca

AVANCE. El Real Madrid se ha salido con la suya. Robinho podrá jugar el próximo domingo ante el Mallorca después de que la Federación Española de Fútbol recibiese un fax de la FIFA autorizando la presencia del jugador brasileño en el trascendental partido. La Confederación Brasileña había exigido la presencia inmadiata de Robinho en la concentración de Brasil para la Copa América.

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Don't know about Diarra, my guess is he won't be released since Mali actually have a match. Worse than that is that Salgado may start as right back against Mallorca. With Helguera suspended Sergio Ramos will play in the centre. But if Miguel Torres does not recover from injury, it appears to be Salgado who plays on Sunday.

Oh shizzle, i forgot ramos was suspended!

Lets get it overturned

well im sure that shuster will stay in getafe now because if he was to leave laudrup was supposed to take over but he is now joining recreativo. not sure it is a good move for him as they were overachievers this year and will prob lose some players. a hard job since he wont be able to use his great scouting network.

This weekend marks the departure of Roberto Carlos who has served the club for 11 years, as well as David Beckham.


HOpefully both of them get the send off they deserve; with a title

He will leave with the title "the biggest c**t in football".