Barcelona moved 11 points clear at the top of the La Liga table on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 victory away to a dangerous Getafe side, less than 24 hours after Real Madrid had been held away to Real Betis.
The La Liga 2026 betting odds have shifted firmly in the direction of Catalonia and, with just five games remaining that is exactly where they will stay. The job could be completed next week should the Blaugrana win away to Osasuna if their city neighbours Espanyol can suddenly find form and beat Real Madrid on Sunday.
When Getafe hosted Barcelona on Saturday the Blaugrana were already eight points clear at the top of the La Liga table after Los Blancos had dropped points on Friday night, in a 1-1 draw away to Real Betis. In my SBOTOP preview of Barca’s trip to the Getafe I backed the Blaugrana to win by more than one goal and Hansi Flick’s men did the business, picking up a 2-0 victory thanks to goals in either half from Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford.
With over 70 per cent possession, 13 shots to four and four shots to nil on target the Blaugrana made short work of a team which has been on the up in recent weeks, and is in the middle of the race for European places. Getafe stayed in sixth place for the time being; but with Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad playing on Sunday that spot was precarious.
Meanwhile Barcelona fans could not be happier.
Los Blancos were heading for three points away to Betis until veteran wingback Hector Bellerin scored a 94th minute equalizer to deliver a hammer blow to Real Madrid’s rapidly dwindling title hopes.
Kylian Mbappe made his 100th appearance for the Madrid giants but he failed to get on the score sheet in Seville, hitting a sweet volley just wide of the post. But when Federico Valverde’s powerful shot was parried by the Betis keeper, Vinicius Junior was on hand to fire the loose ball home. That was on 17 minutes, and the visitors had chances to extend their lead, but they were left to rue their misses when former Arsenal star Bellerin saw his shot deflected past Andrii Lunin in the Madrid goal.
Manager Alvaro Arbeloa was furious on the touchline, claiming that Ferland Mendy had been fouled in the build up, but VAR failed to come to his assistance and the damage was done.
The El Clasico pair are out of the Champions League, but not so Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid which beat Barcelona to book a semi-final date against Premier League leaders Arsenal. And, in other La Liga 2026 news from an action-packed weekend, Los Rojiblancos cemented their fourth place thanks to a 3-2 win over Athletic Club. The Basque boys silenced the Wanda Metropolitano crowd midway through the first half when Aitor Paredes rose highest at a corner to head home and the visitors went into half time with a 1-0 lead.
But Atleti roared back and Antoine Griezmann levelled from close range minutes into the second half and, with 54 on the clock, the hosts were ahead as Alex Baena broke away before teeing up Alexander Sorloth for the first of his two goals. The Norwegian ace was on the end of another fast break to make the points safe on 93 minutes. There was still time for Athletic Club to half the deficit when Alejandro Rego launched a free-kick into the penalty area and Gorka Guruzeta planted his header home. But with their European hopes still just about alive, Bilbao stays in ninth.
On Sunday Rayo Vallecano hosted Real Sociedad and, inspired by talisman Mikel Oyarzabal La Real picked up a 3-3 draw but, eight minutes into injury time it looked like they would win all three. The second half of the campaign has been superb for the San Sebastian side, winning the Copa del Rey and climbing up the Primera Division. On Sunday Oyarzabal gave La Real an early lead before Sergio Camello levelled before the break. Orri Oskarsen made it 2-1 to Sociedad before Oyarzabal added a third. And then the hosts launched a late comeback, Florian Lejeune halving the deficit on 83 and, in an explosive finish, Alemao headed a 99th minute equalizer.
Sociedad stayed eighth, now a point behind Getafe.
In a clash of two more teams who are targeting European action Villarreal meet Celta Vigo in the late Sunday game. The Yellow Submarine is close to guaranteeing a Champions League place, currently third and 12 points clear of Betis in fifth, while Celta have a good chance of winning Europa football.
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