Liga Matchday 32: Barcelona Close In On Title — Five Matches You Cannot Miss
La Liga Matchday 32: Barcelona Close In On Title — Five Matches You Cannot Miss
Tuesday 21 – Thursday 23 April 2026 | La Liga EA Sports Matchday 32
Nine points. Seven games. Barcelona are knocking on the door of back-to-back La Liga titles and this weekend's matchday 32 could bring them one giant step closer to slamming it shut. With Real Madrid crashing out of the Champions League and already dropping points across the last fortnight, Hansi Flick's side have done everything right — and now the trophy is right there in front of them.
But the title race is only one story this weekend. The battle for Champions League spots is boiling over, the relegation fight is getting brutal, and Atletico Madrid have a point to prove after their own European exit. Here is everything you need to know about matchday 32.
The Current Standings — Matchday 31
| Pos | Club | Pts | Played | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🔵🔴 FC Barcelona | 79 | 31 | +54 |
| 2 | ⚪ Real Madrid | 70 | 31 | +36 |
| 3 | 🟡 Villarreal | 61 | 31 | +20 |
| 4 | 🔴⚪ Atletico Madrid | 57 | 31 | +19 |
| 5 | 🟢⚪ Real Betis | 46 | 31 | +13 |
| 18 | 🔴 Elche CF ↓ | — | 31 | — |
| 19 | 🟡 Levante UD ↓ | — | 31 | — |
| 20 | 🔵 Real Oviedo ↓ | — | 31 | — |
🔵🔴 Barcelona vs Celta Vigo — Wednesday 23 April, 19:30 CET
This is the match of the weekend — not because it will be close, but because of what a Barcelona win could mean. Hansi Flick's side sit nine points clear at the top with seven games to play. Win here and they move to 82 points. If Real Madrid slip up against Alaves on Tuesday, Barcelona could be celebrating the title within days.
Celta Vigo arrive at Camp Nou in absolute freefall. They were dumped out of the Europa League quarter-finals this week — losing 3-0 to Freiburg in the first leg and never recovering — and they were thrashed 3-0 at home by relegation-threatened Real Oviedo at the weekend. Claudio Giráldez's side have conceded 12 goals in four games. The timing could not be worse for them.
Lamine Yamal will be hungry to put the Champions League disappointment behind him after Barcelona's exit to Atletico Madrid. Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford add firepower from every angle. Celta have no answers for this attack right now.
Barcelona win comfortably. Expect Yamal and Lewandowski to shine in front of a crowd that wants to see their team clinch the title as soon as possible. Prediction: Barcelona 3–0 Celta Vigo.
⚪ Real Madrid vs Deportivo Alaves — Tuesday 22 April, 19:30 CET
Real Madrid's season has fallen apart at both ends. They are out of the Champions League after Bayern Munich dismantled them 4-3 in the second leg on Wednesday night, and domestically they trail Barcelona by nine points. Alvaro Arbeloa's side desperately need to stop the rot — and fast.
Alaves, sitting near the bottom of the table, should be the kind of opponent Madrid put away on a bad day. But nothing has been straightforward for Los Blancos lately — they have already lost to Mallorca, Osasuna, Getafe and Celta Vigo in the league this season. Kylian Mbappé will need to rediscover his best form after a difficult European campaign. Jude Bellingham's fitness is also a concern.
"We need to win every game from now on. There are no easy matches left." — Alvaro Arbeloa
Madrid should win, but their recent form means nothing can be taken for granted. A narrow but important three points. Prediction: Real Madrid 2–0 Alaves.
🔴⚪ Elche vs Atletico Madrid — Wednesday 23 April, 17:00 CET
Atletico Madrid's season is defined by what happens in these final seven games. Diego Simeone's side are fourth in the table, four points behind Villarreal in third. After their Champions League exit at the hands of — and then exit to — Barcelona, every league game is now a cup final for them.
Elche are in the relegation zone and desperately need points themselves. Their 1-0 win over Valencia last weekend gave them a lifeline, but they are still in serious danger. Home advantage and a fighting spirit make this far from a gimme for Atletico, who have been inconsistent on the road this season.
Julian Alvarez has been Atletico's standout performer all season — his Champions League form has been extraordinary, and Simeone will demand he brings that same energy to a scrappy relegation battle in Elche. Alexander Sorloth provides the physical threat up front. But will Atletico be mentally sharp enough after European heartbreak?
Atletico grind out a win in what will be an ugly, physical affair. Alvarez gets on the scoresheet. Prediction: Elche 0–1 Atletico Madrid.
🟡 Real Oviedo vs Villarreal — Thursday 24 April, 19:30 CET
What a week Real Oviedo are having. They beat Celta Vigo 3-0 away from home last weekend — a result that stunned La Liga — and now they host third-placed Villarreal in a game that matters at both ends of the table. Oviedo are fighting to escape the bottom three. Villarreal are fighting to stay in the top four and secure Champions League football.
Villarreal have been one of La Liga's surprise packages this season, sitting third with 61 points. But they lost 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao last Monday and can not afford to drop more points to a side that has nothing to lose. Their Europa League run was also ended this season, so domestic focus is everything now.
Oviedo's momentum is real but Villarreal's quality wins out. A tight one — expect a single goal to separate them. Prediction: Real Oviedo 0–1 Villarreal.
🟢⚪ Girona vs Real Betis — Tuesday 22 April, 19:30 CET
One of the most intriguing matchups of the midweek round. Girona have been quietly impressive in 2026 — they won 2-1 at Barcelona back in February and have lost just three of their last 13 games. Real Betis, meanwhile, are still alive in the Europa League semi-finals and coming off a 1-1 draw with Osasuna.
Both sides have plenty to play for. Betis sit fifth with an eye on European spots. Girona are in 12th and want to finish the season strong after a rocky first half of the campaign that saw them scrapping near the relegation zone. Manuel Pellegrini will likely rotate with the Europa League semi-final on the horizon, which could give Girona an opening.
A tricky game for a potentially rotated Betis. Girona sneak a draw or narrow win on home soil. Prediction: Girona 1–1 Real Betis.
Full Matchday 32 Fixture List
| Date | Match | KO (CET) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 22 Apr | Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna | 17:00 |
| Tue 22 Apr | Mallorca vs Valencia | 17:00 |
| Tue 22 Apr | ⭐ Real Madrid vs Alaves | 19:30 |
| Tue 22 Apr | ⭐ Girona vs Real Betis | 19:30 |
| Wed 23 Apr | ⭐ Elche vs Atletico Madrid | 17:00 |
| Wed 23 Apr | Real Sociedad vs Getafe | 18:00 |
| Wed 23 Apr | ⭐ Barcelona vs Celta Vigo | 19:30 |
| Thu 24 Apr | Levante vs Sevilla | 17:00 |
| Thu 24 Apr | Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol | 18:00 |
| Thu 24 Apr | ⭐ Real Oviedo vs Villarreal | 19:30 |
Bottom Line
Barcelona are on the verge of making history and matchday 32 could be the week it becomes official — or at least very close. With Real Madrid out of the Champions League and struggling for consistency, the gap at the top might be insurmountable. But La Liga is never short of drama, and the battles for Champions League spots and survival in the bottom three will keep every matchday electric right through to May.
Set your alarms, block the calendar, and enjoy one of the most action-packed midweek rounds of the Spanish season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the La Liga matchday 32 games kick off?
Matchday 32 runs from Tuesday 22 April through to Thursday 24 April 2026. The headline matches are Real Madrid vs Alaves and Barcelona vs Celta Vigo, both on Tuesday and Wednesday at 19:30 CET respectively.
Can Barcelona win the La Liga title this weekend?
Not quite yet, but they are very close. Barcelona lead by 9 points with 7 games remaining. If they win and Real Madrid drop points this week, the gap could grow to 12 — making the title mathematically near-certain within days.
Who are in the La Liga relegation zone heading into matchday 32?
Elche, Levante UD and Real Oviedo currently occupy the bottom three places heading into matchday 32. All three are in serious danger of dropping down to the Segunda División.
How many points does Real Madrid need to overtake Barcelona?
With 7 games left and a 9-point deficit, Real Madrid would need to win all remaining games AND hope Barcelona drop at least 3 points. It is possible but extremely unlikely given Barcelona's form.
Where can I watch La Liga matches in Australia?
La Liga matches are available to stream in Australia via Optus Sport. You can watch all matches live or on demand through the Optus Sport app or website.