As they begin their campaign against Alaves at Mendizorrotza Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Atletico Madrid will be looking to win back-to-back games in Spain's top division.
Alaves is now in 17th place in La Liga, two points outside of the relegation zone going into the final stretch, while the visitors are in third place, 10 points behind champions Barcelona.
With eight victories, ten draws, and fifteen losses from their 33 league games this season, Alaves has 34 points overall, which puts them in 17th place and two points above the relegation zone.
Even if Atletico may theoretically win the championship this year, it would take an unusual turn of events to get them back into the running, since they are now six points behind Real Madrid in second place and 10 points behind leaders Barcelona.
However, with five games remaining, the Red and Whites are well positioned to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League the next season, lying 12 points clear of sixth-place Real Betis.
The supporters will be feeling optimistic ahead of the 2025–26 season because Atletico is reportedly preparing for a big summer transfer window and has displayed so many encouraging indicators for the most of the season.
Eduardo Coudet’s team heads into the match buoyed by a significant 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, having secured victories in two of their last four La 1-0 La Liga matches, with their only loss in that stretch coming against Real Madrid.
The Blue and Whites have struggled at home this season, earning just 19 points from 16 home games, while Atletico have dropped points in nine of their 16 away league matches in the 2024-25 season.
Last season, Alaves triumphed 2-0 over Atletico in this fixture, though Diego Simeone’s side edged a 2-1 victory in the reverse match at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this campaign.
Coudet’s team understands the importance of securing three points this weekend, as a loss could leave them exposed ahead of a tough clash against Athletic Bilbao on May 11.
Atletico’s season, which began with high hopes, is ending on a sour note. The Red and Whites were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in March and fell to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Simeone’s squad has also seen their title hopes fade, sitting third in the La Liga standings with 66 points from 33 matches, with a record of 19 wins, nine draws, and five losses.
