With Bayern Munich taking what’s almost certainly an unassailable lead at the top of the Bundesliga, the La Liga return date of June 11 can’t come soon enough for those thirsting for a bit of sporting drama in their lives. With 11 matches still to go for every side in Spain’s top division, the La Liga return schedule highlights the twists and turns we have lying ahead.
Although it’s the usual two-horse race at the top between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the usual imperviousness of Spain’s two biggest clubs has all but disappeared this season. Barça has lost five games — in the title-winning campaigns of 2017-18 and 2018-19 the Blaugrana lost a combined total of four.
Real, on the other hand, has slumped to eight draws with an attack that’s averaging 1.8 goals per game (Barcelona gets 2.3).
On Matchday 26, Real put itself in the driver’s seat by defeating Barcelona 2-0 at the Bernabéu in this season’s final Clásico (the first finished 0-0 at the Camp Nou), but Los Blancos quickly ceded control back to Catalonia after losing to Real Betis in the side’s final match before the outbreak of COVID-19.
While that victory represented the high point of an otherwise disappointing season for Betis, it’s their derby rivals Sevilla that are currently on course for Champions League qualification in third place (11 points behind Barcelona). In fourth sits Real Sociedad, a club that’s enjoying one of its finest seasons in decades and still hopes to contest the 2020 Copa del Rey Final against Basque derby rival Athletic Bilbao with a full stadium.
Lurking just outside the Champions League places are Getafe, current quarterfinalist Atlético Madrid and Valencia.
La Liga Return Schedule 2020
Thursday, June 11: Sevilla vs. Real Betis
Friday, June 12: Granada vs. Getafe; Valencia vs. Levante
Saturday, June 13: Espanyol vs. Alaves; Celta Vigo vs. Villarreal; Leganes vs. Valladolid; Mallorca vs. Barcelona
Sunday, June 14: Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid; Real Madrid vs. Eibar; Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna
Kick-off times (CET) for Matchday 28 of #LaLigaSantander 2019/20.
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 31, 2020
Here’s the promptly following midweek schedule (June 15-18), which includes a Thursday clash between Real Madrid and Valencia.
Kick-off times (CET) for Matchday 29 of #LaLigaSantander 2019/20.
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 31, 2020
Here’s the full list of La Liga Matchdays. The season concludes with No. 38 on Sunday, July 19. Godspeed Gareth Bale's calves.
11th June
19th July#LaLiga IS BACK!Click below to see the full schedules for #LaLigaSantander and #LaLigaSmartBank.
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) May 31, 2020
