There are nine matches to go in the Spanish top flight and the latest La Liga top-four finish odds update suggests there is plenty of life left in the race for Champions League places.
Barcelona have leapfrogged Girona into 2nd place with a strong run of results to all but guarantee themselves a place in next season’s Champions League. That’s vitally important for the Catalans who are still in a precarious position when it comes to the balance sheet.
Girona still look on course for the top four despite a string of away defeats, but there could be a real battle on for fourth place, although with only two clubs likely to be involved, it’s not quite as exciting as the top four race in Serie A where a host of clubs are in the mix.
La Liga top-four finish odds update – Latest news
Atleti drop to fifth after Barca defeat
Atletico Madrid had dropped just two league points in more than 12 months at the Estadio Metropolitano heading into Sunday’s showdown with Barcelona. However that stunning home run came to a crushing end as Barca cruised to a 3-0 victory in the Spanish capital.
It was a result that ensured Diego Simeone’s side dropped to fifth place in La Liga. That’s highly unlikely to be good enough for Champions League football next season with other countries better placed than Spain to claim the two extra UCL slots that are on offer to the best performing nations in this season’s UEFA club competitions.
Valverde’s Athletic looking strong
While Girona have rightly drawn the plaudits as the season's surprise package, Athletic Club are also having an exceptional campaign with a formidable home record at San Mames the main reason for their success.
They have a Copa del Rey Final to look forward to in April and their top four odds are shortening following 2-0 victories over Las Palmas and Alaves in their last two league games.
La Liga top-four finish odds update – Current outrights
Girona (1/16)
Girona have suffered four straight away league defeats to derail their surprise title challenge. Real Madrid, Athletic, Mallorca and Getafe have inflicted those defeats on Michel’s side but they were already in such a strong position that the Catalans are still firmly on course for the Champions League.
They boast a seven point advantage on fifth placed Atletico Madrid and their home form has remained relatively strong so it’s not as if the wheels have completely fallen off. With five of their remaining nine matches at Montilivi, Girona will be confident they can pick up enough points to secure a first ever top four finish.
Athletic Club (11/10)
Athletic Club are the team most likely to benefit from Atletico Madrid’s poor form and they’re now favourites to finish above them according to some bookies. They’ve already knocked Atleti out of the Copa del Rey in emphatic fashion and beaten them in La Liga and now Ernesto Valverde’s men are a place and a point better off in the table.
They are less experienced when it comes to run-ins like this though and it remains to be seen how they cope with the pressure of fighting for a Champions League place. It’s likely to be a very close battle with Athletic imperious at home where they’ve gone 17 without defeat in all competitions.
They have some tough fixtures to come with Real Madrid away next while they travel to the Estadio Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid in what will be a huge game on the last weekend in April.
Atletico Madrid (11/8)
Atletico Madrid have never failed to finish in the top four during a full season with Diego Simeone at the helm. However that record is in serious doubt this campaign, largely due to their atrocious away form.
Los Rojiblancos have suffered seven away defeats in the league already. Their return of 15 points from 14 road games is identical to the likes of Osasuna and Las Palmas and worse than that of relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano.
The bookies are no longer convinced they are certainties to once again make the top four with their odds drifting as a result of back-to-back defeats against Cadiz and Barcelona.
Real Sociedad (200/1)
Real Sociedad finished in the top four for the first time in a decade last term, but they struggled badly during the winter months and they are long odds to repeat the feat this season.
Their main struggles have been in the final third where they’ve not been clinical enough but back-to-back victories over Granada and Cadiz heading into the international break suggest they may have turned a corner.
With 10 points currently between them and fourth place, they look more likely to end up fighting it out with Real Betis for a Europa League or potentially Conference League slot
