Real Madrid: when could they be crowned LaLiga champions?
Barcelona's win over Villarreal means Zinedine Zidane's men cannot now secure their 34th LaLiga title when they play Alavés next Friday.
Barcelona's win at Villarreal on Sunday cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of LaLiga back to four points, and means Los Blancos cannot now be crowned champions against Alavés next Friday.
Barcelona slip-up would have paved way for Friday title party
Having stretched their advantage to a provisional seven points with victory over Athletic Bilbao earlier on Sunday, Madrid knew that if Barça failed to get more than a point from their clashes with Villarreal and Espanyol (Wednesday, 22:00 CEST), a win for Los Blancos over Alavés would hand them the title.
Real Madrid could be champions next Saturday
However, Barça’s 4-1 triumph at the Estadio de la Cerámica pushes back the earliest point at which Madrid can be champions by 24 hours. If Zinedine Zidane’s men beat Alavés on Friday and Barça manage only a point from their matches at home to Espanyol in midweek and away to Real Valladolid on Saturday (19:30), Madrid will be assured of their 34th LaLiga title.
The next possible date for a Madrid title party is Monday 13 July, when Los Merengues visit Granada at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes. If the leaders defeat both Alavés and Granada, Barça will be unable to catch their arch rivals if they fail to defeat either Espanyol or Valladolid. If Barça draw both those games, Madrid will only need four points from their match-ups with Alavés and Granada.
After that, Real Madrid are expected to host Villarreal on Thursday 16 July. Regardless of Barcelona’s results between now and then, Madrid know they will finish top of the table if they beat Alavés and Granada, and then also claim three points against the Submarino Amarillo.
Real Madrid and Barcelona's remaining fixtures
| Week | Real Madrid | Barcelona |
| 35 | Alavés (Friday 10) | Espanyol (Wednesday 8) |
| 36 | Granada (Monday 13) | Valladolid (Saturday 11) |
| 37 | Villarreal | Osasuna |
| 38 | Leganés | Alavés |
Home games in bold
When Real Madrid could be crowned LaLiga champions: at a glance
Saturday 11 July
Real Madrid will be champions if:
- they beat Alavés, and
- Barça take only a point against Espanyol and Valladolid
Monday 13 July
Real Madrid will be champions if:
- they beat Alavés and Granada, and
- Barça fail to win one of their games against Espanyol and Valladolid
or
- Madrid take four points against Alavés and Granada, and
- Barça draw both games against Espanyol and Valladolid
Thursday 16 July
If Barcelona don’t drop any points between now and Thursday 16 July, Real Madrid will be champions on this day if they win their next three games.