La Liga preview: Relegation haunts seven

As many as seven teams are all in danger of relegation in what promises to be a tense climax to the La Liga season on Saturday.

As things stand, third bottom Real Zaragoza occupy the final relegation berth. They are one point from safety and play at Levante.

Promoted last season, Levante are six places and three points better off than Zaragoza, but could still go down on their head-to-head record if they lose to Zaragoza and other results go against them.

That scenario is perhaps the least likely; it requires all of the other five teams beneath 12th-placed Levante to pick up points.

Mallorca, Real Sociedad, and Osasuna, 13th, 14th and 15th respectively, are all one point worse off than Levante.

They are level with each other on 44 points, two points clear of the relegation zone.

Mallorca are at home to Atletico Madrid, who must win if they are to have a chance of finishing in a Europa League qualification spot.

Osasuna host Villarreal, a team already assured of fourth place and a route into the Champions League qualification rounds.

Sociedad are at home to Getafe, who are just one point clear of the relegation zone in 16th place.

Level with Getafe on 43 points, but beneath them in 17th place courtesy of an inferior goal difference, are Deportivo La Coruna.

Deportivo won the La Liga title in 2000 and reached the Champions League semi-finals as recently as 2004, but could find themselves in the second tier next season, unless they pick up points at home to third-placed Valencia.

In other matches, Real Madrid fans could be in for a goal glut when Cristiano Ronaldo, soon to be confirmed as winner of the Pichichi award for the league’s leading scorer, takes to the field against already-relegated Almeria.

Sporting Gijon travel to Hercules, who have also already been consigned to the Second Division, while champions Barcelona are away to Malaga.

In the fight to secure a Europa League berth, fifth-placed Sevilla are away to Espanyol, while sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao also away against Racing Santander.

Sevilla and Bilbao are level on 55 points and need to win if they are to keep ahead of Atletico.