Atletico Madrid make the trip to in-form Granada on the final day of the La Liga season on Saturday hoping to secure automatic qualification into the Champions League.
Atleti need only a point to pip Valencia - who face Almeria away - to third place but, with Granada still scrapping against relegation, Diego Simeone's side face a fight at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.
Granada
© Getty Images
When Granada finished April in 19th and six points adrift of safety, few could have predicted that Josa Ramon Sandoval's side would make it to the last day with their top-flight status intact.
Yet fast forward three weeks and El Grana host Atletico knowing that even defeat would likely see them survive relegation.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Granada, who thumped Real Sociedad 3-0 last week with three goals in the final 15 minutes to make it three wins on the bounce.
Sandoval's charges have hit form at just the right time, with the 2-1 win at Getafe on May 3 ending an eight-match winless streak - five of which were defeats.
With four goals in that three-match winning streak, Youssef El Arabi has provided much of the spadework in this great escape and Granada will call on the Moroccan hitman once more to help complete the mission come Saturday.
Simply put, a fourth straight win would guarantee their final-day survival, but even defeat will likely be enough, with 17th-placed Deportivo behind on head-to-head and preparing to visit newly-crowned champions Barcelona.
Eibar, in 18th, host already-relegated Cordoba, while 19th-placed Almeria welcome a Valencia side who need to win in order to earn Champions League qualification. In truth, Granada can afford to put the champagne on ice, but Sandoval and co will still want a victory over Atletico to guarantee survival.
Recent form: DLLWWW
Atletico Madrid
© Getty Images
This time 12 months ago Atletico were preparing for a final-day trip to Barcelona knowing that victory would see them clinch the Liga title.
A year later and there is markedly less at stake on the last day of the season this time around for the recently-deposed champions.
It has been a difficult season for Simeone's charges compared to their heroics of last term, as Atleti sit a massive 16 points behind the Catalans and travel to Granada hoping to salvage automatic qualification into the Champions League.
The Rojiblancos sit three points clear of Valencia, and defeat for Atletico on Saturday, coupled with victory for Los Che, would see the capital club endure a two-legged playoff in order to book their place in the group stages next season.
Madrid could, and perhaps should, have secured a third-place finish long before the final day, but a run of three games without a win has seen them limp toward the finish.
Last week's 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona followed back-to-back draws against Levante and Athletic Bilbao - the latter of which ended a three-match winning streak to finish April.
Earning the point needed to secure third will not heal the wounds of finishing behind bitter rivals Real Madrid and surrendering their title without much resistance.
However, the guarantee of Champions League football could make the negotiation process between their transfer targets go smoother during the summer as Simeone looks to bolster his squad to disrupt the status quo once more next term.
Recent form: WWWDDL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWDDL
Team News
© Getty Images
Javi Marquez and Lass Bangoura, who have both featured heavily in the three-game winning run, will sit out the visit of Atletico through suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Robert Ibanez could come into attack in place of Bangoura, while Ruben Perez is expected to replace Marquez in midfield.
Tiago, who missed the defeat to Barca through suspension, is expected to return to midfield in place of Mario Suarez.
Up front, Mario Mandzukic, who turned 29 on Thursday, could displace Fernando Torres and partner Antoine Griezmann in attack.
Granada possible starting lineup:
Roberto; Nyom, Babin, Mainz, Carlos; Perez, Iturra; Rochina, Piti, Ibanez; El-Arabi
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Juanfran, Giminez, Godin, Siqueira; Turan, Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Mandzukic, Griezmann
Head To Head
The Rojiblancos bring a six-match winning streak over Granada into Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes this weekend - despite only facing them seven times. The first meeting threw up a 0-0 draw in the 2011-12 season.
Atletico won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in January of this season.
We say: Granada 2-1 Atletico
With a three-match winning streak, coupled with the incentive of survival, Granada will be a tricky proposition for Atletico this weekend and we expect the hosts to finish their season with another win to preserve their top-flight status.
No Data Analysis info
