Three key issues to watch for in La Liga this weekend

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – La Liga Santander – FC Barcelona v Real Betis – Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain – November 11, 2018 The match ball on display before the match REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

As La Liga reaches its penultimate week AFP Sport looks at three hot topics in Spain this weekend.

Real Madrid have been crowned champions, Barcelona, Girona and Atletico have sealed Champions League qualification, while Almeria and Granada are down, but there are still some key issues to be resolved.

Europa League battle
Real Sociedad and Real Betis clash in a tussle to secure Europa League football next season on Sunday. La Real, sixth, travel to Seville to face Betis, seventh, leading by a single point.

The hosts are sweating on the fitness of midfielders Isco and Guido Rodriguez after both sustained knocks in the 2-2 draw at Las Palmas on Thursday.

“It’s a very important game, we have the chance to play it at home and we’ll try to finish as high up as possible,” said Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Real Sociedad snatched a 1-0 win against Valencia on Thursday to leapfrog Betis, which ensured they will compete in Europe for the fifth season running — what is yet to be confirmed is the competition.

Spanish goalkeeper Alex Remiro excelled against Valencia and he could be key at the sold-out Benito Villamarin, with Betis fans driving their team forward.

Cadiz still clinging on
It hasn’t been pretty but Cadiz scraped two 1-0 wins in their last two matches to keep clinging on for dear life in 18th place, hoping for a survival miracle.

Currently the Yellow Submarine are four points from safety and host Las Palmas on Sunday, a team without a win in 12 La Liga matches.

If Cadiz win that match they will have a chance of staying up on the final