Real Valladolid’s Descent: A Tale of Overwhelming Struggles
This past weekend, Real Valladolid suffered a devastating 7-1 defeat at the hands of Athletic Club, further exposing their struggles in the 2024/25 La Liga season. The thrashing at San Mames was not an isolated incident but a stark reflection of the deeper issues Valladolid has been grappling with since their return to the top flight. Promoted last season after a single year in Segunda División, Valladolid has found the step up in quality overwhelming. Despite having a larger wage bill than other La Liga clubs such as Rayo Vallecano and Leganés, their recruitment has failed to build a squad with enough talent to compete. This has shown up in their numbers, with Valladolid being, by a wide margin, the team with the fewest goals scored (16) and the most goals conceded (59). The club has already sacked two managers, Paulo Pezzolano and Diego Cocca, with youth team manager Alvaro Rubio currently in charge. As it stands, Valladolid looks increasingly resigned to returning to the second tier, and it might be better for the club to start thinking about player and coach recruitment for their next season in Segunda División.
Espanyol: Finding Hope Away from Home
Espanyol, another promoted side, has shown flashes of promise that suggest they could escape the drop. Despite being solid enough at home, they had one of the worst away records in the division, with just 2 points out of 33 in away games before this weekend. Their victory against Alavés on Saturday was their first of the season, and if Espanyol wants to comfortably avoid relegation, they will need more such away wins. Under coach Manolo González, their game plan is to maintain a very deep defensive block, allowing the most passes per defensive action in the league. While this setup is designed to be passive and hit opponents on the counter, it has often left them posing no attacking threat on the road. However, the 23-year-old goalkeeper Joan García has been a bright spot, consistently bailing out a sometimes shaky defense with highlight-reel saves. Espanyol’s recent upturn—three wins and two draws in their last six games as of late February 2025—is in no small part due to García’s form. If they can maintain this defensive discipline and capitalize on their newfound away game success, they stand a good chance of survival.
Leganés: Fighting with Organization and Heart
Leganés’ return to La Liga after a four-year absence has been marked by a strategic determination to stay afloat despite limited resources. They have the smallest revenue and wage bill in the competition, and it was clear from the start that they would be fighting to avoid relegation. However, under coach Borja Jiménez, Leganés has not found themselves in relegation spots at the end of any of the last 25 matchdays. Jiménez has crafted a team that is organized, scrappy, and hard to break down. They employ a low-to-mid defensive block and aim to hit opponents on the counter, a strategy that has yielded several draws in away games and some surprise wins against big clubs like Barcelona, Athletic Club, and Atlético Madrid. Their lack of quality in the final third is a glaring weakness, with goals being hard to come by (third-worst attack in the league with 22 goals). Without a standout individual to bail them out, Leganés will need to maintain their defensive discipline and hope their rivals falter to secure another season in the top flight.
Las Palmas: A Turnaround in Trouble
UD Las Palmas had a promising start under manager Luis Carrion, but it quickly turned sour. The arrival of Diego Martínez in October seemed to provide a much-needed boost, with the team accumulating six wins, one draw, and just two losses in their first nine La Liga games under his guidance. A comfortable mid-table finish appeared within reach. However, the new year has brought a significant dip in form, with Las Palmas losing every match except for a draw at home against Osasuna. Their momentum has stalled, and they are now back in the relegation zone. The absence of Kirian Rodriguez, their team captain, who announced he would step away from football indefinitely to undergo chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, has left a void in leadership and midfield presence. The recent injury to key striker Fabio Silva has further compounded their issues. Despite the relatively good form of goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and the strikers, Las Palmas’ defense remains consistently leaky and error-prone. Martínez will need to address these defensive concerns if he hopes to guide his team to safety.
Alavés: Fading Early Promise
Deportivo Alavés began the 2024/25 season with a promising start, their physical and direct style shining under Luis García Plaza. However, that promise was short-lived. Plaza was sacked on December 2, following a string of poor results that saw the team slide dangerously close to the relegation zone. At the time of his dismissal, Alavés sat 16th in the table, just one point above the drop zone. Despite García Plaza’s excellent track record, which included leading Alavés to promotion from Segunda División in 2022 and securing a 10th-place finish the following season, the club’s management opted for a change to “give an impulse to the team,” as club president Alfonso Fernández de Trocóniz stated. The new manager, Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet, brought a different approach, and while the team looks more solid collectively, they have struggled to convert their dominance into victories. Aside from striker Kike García’s excellent form, Alavés lacks the individual talent to carry them through this crucial period. Their defensive issues have also persisted, and if they want to avoid relegation, they will need to address these problems quickly.
Valencia: The Wounded Giant’s Gambit
Valencia’s sacking of Rubén Baraja and the subsequent hiring of Carlos Corberán marked a significant shift for the club under Peter Lim’s ownership. Baraja, a Valencia legend as a player, was dismissed on December 23 after a dismal run that left the team 19th in La Liga with just two wins from 17 matches. Fans were restless, and the pressure on Lim, who has long been criticized for treating the club more as a business than a footballing institution, was intense. The decision to hire Corberán, a 41-year-old Valencian with a glowing reputation from stints under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds and a playoff push with Huddersfield, was an unusual move for a club not typically associated with splashing cash on managerial changes. Valencia paid around €2.4 million to trigger Corberan’s release clause, bringing the total cost of the transition to roughly €7.4 million. Despite the gamble, Corberán’s impact has been positive, with a more compact and solid defensive approach. They have won crucial home matches against Real Sociedad, Celta, and Leganés and secured draws against Sevilla and Villarreal away. Out of all the relegation contenders, Valencia appears to have the most talented and deepest squad, positioning them well to avoid relegation. However, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili’s form has been inconsistent, and a return to his previous standards could be the decisive factor in their survival.
The Road Ahead: A Dramatic Relegation Scrape
As the 2024/25 La Liga season approaches its crucial final months, the race to avoid the remaining two relegation spots is wide open. Real Valladolid, despite their current struggles, might be the most resigned to returning to Segunda División, but surprises can always happen. Alavés and Valencia, in my opinion, have the most talented squads among the relegation contenders, though they currently occupy relegation spots. Valencia, under Corberán’s guidance, seems to have found a more solid team identity and is well-positioned to escape relegation. Espanyol and Leganés, while lacking in overall talent, have clear defensive plans that allow them to grind out results. Espanyol, in particular, has been bolstered by the excellent performances of their young goalkeeper, Joan García. Las Palmas, on the other hand, faces the most uncertainties. They lack a clear team identity and the squad’s talent may not be enough to compensate for their defensive weaknesses. As the season progresses, direct clashes between these teams will be decisive. One thing is certain: the 2024/25 La Liga relegation scrape promises to be filled with drama right until the final whistle.
