From Espanyol’s liberation to Levante’s giant step, a little closer to staying up

The calculations seemed complicated. Up to nine teams arrived at the penultimate matchday — with a unified schedule, all matches at seven in the evening — with relegation among their possibilities, compressed within just four points and with two spots in the red zone still open. The great miracle was once again signed by Levante, who defeated Mallorca (2-0), now in relegation positions and in trouble alongside Girona, who will play everything against Elche. With the salvation of Valencia, Espanyol, Sevilla, and Alavés, five teams will fight for survival in the last matchday: Levante (42 points), Osasuna (42), Elche (42), Girona (40), and Mallorca (39). Two of them will fall to the Second Division and join Real Oviedo. This was confirmed on an afternoon when every goal from the nine stadiums altered the survival map. And in the middle of that unstable board, Levante-Mallorca became the epicenter of a matchday that ended up marking its destiny.

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All eyes were focused on the Ciutat de València, where the persistent rain painted an even more dramatic scenario, between heaven and hell for two teams then tied and in the relegation zone. The match started with probing and caution, with both teams more concerned about not making mistakes. Levante grew from a high press to bother Mallorca in ball distribution, attacking with crosses and direct deliveries into the area.

But it was the Balearic team who had the ball and the initiative, passing without finding cracks between lines and without being incisive. Their main attacking route appeared on the left, with Mojica, although he always ran into a reliable Ryan. After more than half an hour, the decisive blow came: Carlos Espí had already chased David López’s mistake and, after insisting again and again, found reward. The defender failed in the clearance, the forward took advantage of the gift and finished alone in front of Leo Román to put Levante ahead with their first shot on target.

Mallorca reacted before halftime and forced Ryan to intervene again, decisive in maintaining the home advantage, while Levante returned from the locker room with the same initial intensity, with chances in transitions and a shot from Iván Romero. But they found greater difficulty due to loss of ball control. In a context of maximum tension, Mojica and Brugué were sent off — the first for a hair pull on the second, who responded with a slap — leaving both teams with ten men. Amid the disorder, Levante sealed a miraculous win with a header from Arriaga, bringing them closer to survival.

But out of the corner of their eyes, they watched the match between Elche and Getafe (1-0). Both with very different needs, the first with the urgency to move away from relegation, and the second seeking to taste European competitions. The Elche team took control from the start against a toothless Getafe. The home dominance bore fruit when Víctor Chust hooked a great shot from the edge of the area, tight to the right top corner, which made Martínez Valero erupt.

Far from settling for the lead, Elche maintained control and kept pushing for more. In one of those runs, Djené saw red and left Getafe, who had no shots during the first half, with 10 men as Bordalás prepared substitutions. But with one less, Getafe stepped up in the second half against an Elche that left boldness in the locker room; however, it was enough to secure the victory.

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And while they fought to escape relegation, Osasuna and Espanyol (1-2) did so to confirm their survival. Both, then, tied on points, meaning a win would save either of them. The team led by Manolo González stormed El Sadar in a match of alternating dominance, with tense calm at the start and more chances for the rojillos, who lacked the necessary decisiveness to beat Dmitrovic, decisive in supporting Espanyol. Osasuna looked for Budimir, but especially Víctor Muñoz on the left flank. However, it was the white-and-blue team that was more effective, seeking the goal on the counterattack, freed from pressure after their last victory, the first in all of 2026.

Oviedo, already condemned

And then, Carlos Romero put Espanyol ahead. After the goal, the white-and-blue team dropped back and entrusted their goalkeeper. And although Osasuna showed teeth, it was not until after the break that they struck with Víctor Muñoz to equalize. But the visitors’ response was immediate: Kike García restored Espanyol’s lead. And also their survival after a black year: from fearing a new relegation to sealing salvation in five days.

Alavés also achieved it, playing away against a Real Oviedo (0-1) already mathematically relegated. Revitalized after beating Barcelona, they came out with the objective of closing everything. They played a discreet match, but with the necessary determination, and found reward thanks to Toni Martínez in the 18th minute, a goal that brought them closer to an almost definitive objective against a combative Oviedo that came close to equalizing with a header from David Costas. From there, the Vitoria team managed the lead. And, without great displays, Alavés resisted and held on to a victory that tasted like survival.

Now, Girona, Elche, Osasuna, Mallorca, and Levante will play everything in the last matchday of the championship.

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