Girona welcome relegated Granada today
Concluding a sensational 2023-24 La Liga campaign, Champions League bound Girona welcome relegated Granada to Montilivi on Friday. Michel‘s men are guaranteed to finish in the bronze medal position in the rankings, while their demoted foes can only hope to avoid finishing bottom of the pile en route to the second tier.
Preparations for an unforeseen Champions League campaign are in full swing for 2023-24 surprise package Girona, whose quest for title glory may have not come to fruition, but Michel’s troops will finish on the podium positions courtesy of an exceptional several months.
Since the turn of the year, more losses have appeared on Girona’s record as Real Madrid stormed off into the title sunset, and a slight drop-off also allowed deposed champions Barcelona to build up an unassailable lead in second place, as they took just one point from six on offer against Alaves and Villarreal.
Four points adrift of Barcelona while boasting a buffer of five over Atletico Madrid, third place is wrapped up for Girona ahead of Friday’s finale, where the hosts will endeavour to avoid losing back-to-back La Liga home matches for the first time in the current campaign.
Granada’s woeful season is surely destined to end without a single away success to their name, as Girona’s hotshot attackers should still be running riot at this late stage of the campaign.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Real Madrid host Europa Conference League-bound Real Betis
Concluding a near-faultless 2023-24 La Liga campaign, Real Madrid welcome Europa Conference League-bound Real Betis to Bernabeu on Saturday evening.
Carlo Ancelotti‘s troops are already sailing off into the title sunset, while their visitors will not move from their seventh-placed position, making this weekend’s affair little more than a dead rubber.
Refusing to rest on their laurels since ripping the La Liga crown out of Barcelona’s grasp, Real Madrid scored at least four goals for the third La Liga match running in last weekend’s encounter with Villarreal, having previously put Alaves and Granada to the sword in merciless fashion.
Ancelotti’s current iteration of Real Madrid will not hit that three-figure total this time around, but they are already enjoying the longest unbeaten run La Liga has ever seen, navigating each of their last 31 games without defeat since September’s 3-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid.
Betis will have more modest European aspirations in mind for the 2024-25 campaign, having failed in their quest to rejoin the Europa League table for the fourth season running, and a first foray into the Europa Conference League league stage awaits Los Verdiblancos next term.
Recent battles between Real Madrid and Real Betis have often been close-run affairs, and with many of Ancelotti’s troops also casting their eye over to the Champions League final and Euro 2024, Los Blancos should not go gung-ho in search of a rather meaningless three points.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Juventus can finish third if they beat Monza
Wrapping up another tough season in Turin, Serie A giants Juventus can only finish third at best, as they tackle mid-table Monza on Saturday.
Though Juve recently lifted the Coppa Italia and will return to the Champions League next term, their league campaign has tailed off badly, building up to the dismissal of former boss Max Allegri.
After the dramatic sacking of one of their most successful coaches, following a very public post-cup final meltdown, Juventus asked former defender Paolo Montero to step up from the club’s primavera and steady the ship.
Although Allegri had led Juve to success in Rome, beating Atalanta BC 1-0 to claim the Coppa for a 15th time in their history, his hastened exit left the Bianconeri managerless at the end of another turbulent season.
Early in 2024, Juventus were hot on the heels of eventual champions Inter Milan, but since February they have barely been able to buy a win, drawing the last five league games of Allegri’s less successful second spell and winning just two from 15.
Putting the full stop on an uneven campaign, Juventus can take advantage of Monza’s wilting form and finish the season with an overdue win.
Then, a busy summer awaits the Bianconeri’s new boss, who will be expected to get a well-paid squad back in contention for the Scudetto.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Europa League Champions Atalanta faceoff with Turin
Atalanta come into the game on the back of a fantastic 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. It was a tremendous performance by Atalanta against a team that had gone unbeaten all season.
Atalanta opened the scoring in the 12th minute and doubled their advantage 14 minutes later. They secured the trophy with a third goal in the 75th minute.
The win over Bayer Leverkusen means Atalanta have won 5 of their 6 most recent fixtures in all competitions. There have been additional victories over Salernitana and Lecce away plus Roma at home in Serie A. Atalanta have also beat Marseille at home in the Europa League. The only defeat came in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus.
The stats show Atalanta have not lost in 10 of their last 11 home matches in Serie A. At least one goal has been scored by Atalanta in all their last 14 home league games and both teams have scored in 3 of their 4 most recent Serie A fixtures on home soil.
Atalanta know they need a point to be 100% sure of finishing in the top five but they have already booked their place in the Champions League next season by winning the Europa League.
Credit: forebet.com
Spanish La Liga
Friday 24th May
Saturday 25th May
Real Sociedad 15:15 Atlético Madrid
Rayo Vallecano 17:30 Athletic Club
Sunday 26th May
Las Palmas versus Deportivo Alavés
Italian Serie A
Friday 24th May
Saturday 25th May
Sunday 26th May
Hellas Verona 19:45 Internazionale
