Matchday 19 of the 2025/26 La Liga season offered a very different narrative, with the spotlight firmly on the bottom half of the table.
With Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid occupied by the Spanish Super Cup in the Middle East, the latest round of La Liga fixtures became crucial for teams fighting for survival and European relevance.
As a result, the relegation battle tightened further, with several sides picking up valuable points and narrowing the gap to mid-table. Girona’s resurgence gathered momentum, the teams in the drop zone showed resilience, and Villarreal took full advantage of the absence of the traditional heavyweights to strengthen their position near the top.
From survival boosts to top-four statements, Matchday 19 of the 2025/26 La Liga season proved to be a pivotal weekend across La Liga. Here are three key takeaways from the latest round of fixtures in Spain’s top flight.
Girona bolster their chances of survival
Girona were off to a very disappointing start to the season, and their chances of survival looked very slim after Matchday 15, as they had only managed two wins. However, the City Group-owned club have bounced back in some fashion in recent weeks.
The Catalan outfit have won three out of their last four league games, and they now have a four-point cushion over 18th-placed Valencia. After securing all three points against RCD Mallorca last week, they managed to go past Osasuna last time out.
Vladislav Vanat scored the only goal of the game, handing his team three very important points. Following this defeat, Osasuna have suffered eight defeats in their ten away La Liga games this term.
Michel Sanchez would be delighted by the effort of his players, as they went all out to ensure they got the desired result. Until last weekend, Girona had been a part of the bottom three since the start of the season, but now they have climbed up to 13th on the table.
La Liga’s bottom three avoid defeat
While relegation-threatened Sevilla, Osasuna, Deportivo Alaves, and RCD Mallorca dropped points, Levante, Real Oviedo and Valencia, who currently occupy the drop zone, all managed to secure a point, increasing their chances of survival just a touch.
With this point, they have moved a touch closer to the four teams above them. Valencia, who are 18th on the table with 17 points, are only five points behind 10th-placed Rayo Vallecano, which suggests the relegation battle in La Liga this season could be very intense.
Meanwhile, 20th-placed Real Oviedo are also five points behind 17th-placed Mallorca. So even the team that has struggled the most can still get out of the drop zone with a few positive results. Only two wins can completely change how the bottom of the table looks.
Villarreal strengthen their case for a top-four finish
With Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid not involved in this round of fixtures, Villarreal had the chance to strengthen their position at the top end of the table. They played one of their games in hand and secured a commanding 3-1 win over Deportivo Alaves.
Following that win, the Yellow Submarine are now three points clear of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, who have played one extra game. Meanwhile, Villarreal also have an outside chance of pushing for the title as they are only eight points behind leaders Barcelona with a game in hand.
While the defeat to Barcelona prior to the winter break was a massive blow for them, they have bounced back in some fashion and have secured two important wins in recent weeks. Given the kind of form they have been in since the start of the season, it will be a surprise if they do not secure a top-four finish at the end of the season.
