La Liga Round 25 is set to deliver some exhilarating matches as teams battle for points to secure their standing both at the top and bottom of the league. The highlight of the round will be FC Barcelona’s away encounter with Las Palmas on February 22, 2025. This match is particularly significant for Barcelona, who recently regained the top spot in La Liga after winning their last four matches, accumulating 13 goals and conceding just 2.
Barcelona, currently tied on points with second-place Atlético Madrid and just one point clear of third-place Real Madrid, must secure three points against 17th-placed Las Palmas to hold on to their lead. Las Palmas, conversely, is facing the brink of relegation, having not won any of their last six matches (1 draw and 5 losses) and slipping down the table.
Barcelona’s recent form has seen them overcoming strong opponents, such as their recent hard-fought 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano, where forward Robert Lewandowski scored the only goal from the penalty spot. Barcelona's solid defensive performances have allowed them to outlast tense matches, but they must eliminate errors against struggling teams like Las Palmas.
Historically, Las Palmas has proven to be unpredictable; they managed to upset Barcelona earlier this season, winning 2-1 at home. Nonetheless, the Catalans are determined to exert their recent dominance and capitalize on Las Palmas’ lack of form. "We need to start strong and keep the pressure on early," emphasized Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. "Every point matters now more than ever."
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid is on the hunt for their first win after their recent lackluster performance, which saw them draw against Celta Vigo. With moments of poor form, including one red card and inconsistent results, head coach Diego Simeone will be eager to see his side bounce back against Valencia, who are currently mired just above the relegation zone.
Real Madrid, trailing close behind Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, will also look to rekindle their form against Girona, aiming for much-needed points to remain competitive this season. Having suffered backlash over controversial officiates and player discipline issues, Real hopes to bring focus back to the pitch.
Among other fixtures this round, the battle for survival will also be highlighted as Éibar, currently sitting precariously above relegation, faces off against Real Sociedad. Sociedad's defeat against Real Betis last week left them at 11th place, and they’re desperate to end their streak of disappointments with hopes of European football next season.
It’s not just about the title for some clubs though; survival is the name of the game for teams like Las Palmas and Eibar, who face must-win situations to avoid dropping to lower divisions. Las Palmas’ coach has been under fire, and a loss at home could cost him his job.
The Saturday fixtures will kick off with Celta taking on Osasuna at 5 PM JST, followed closely by Alavés and Espanyol at 10 PM JST. Sunday promises more thrillers, with Rayo facing Villarreal and Valencia battling Atlético at 2:30 AM, dipping late-night watchers deep-diving to the edge of their seats.
Saturday night will crown the round with Barcelona's clash against Las Palmas; this is certainly one to tune in for. With everything at stake, each match will be closely contested, and it is unclear who will come out on top this round. The drama of La Liga is far from over, and every point will be hotly contested as teams push for their respective goals.
Week 25 of La Liga; it’s more than just points; it’s about pride and survival.