Four things to look out for on Spain's matchday 34

MADRID, April 20 (Xinhua) –— The final of the Copa del Rey between Barcelona and Sevilla on Saturday night means that matchday 34 in the Liga Santander will be a truncated affair, but there is still a lot of look forward to this weekend in Spain.

1. Barca or Sevilla to lift the Cup?

You have to question the decision to schedule the final of the Copa del Rey for the Saturday following a round of midweek league fixtures: would it have been so hard for the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to have picked a date which would have allowed both finalists more than 3 days to prepare for one of the games of the season?

Both sides have looked tired of late, but both rested key players during their Tuesday league matches, so hopefully tiredness won't be a major factor.

Last month saw Barca come back from 2-0 down away to Sevilla to snatch two late goals and a 2-2 draw in their recent league meeting, with their improvement coming with the introduction of Leo Messi into the action. Messi will be the key to Barca winning a fourth successive Cup. If he is on form, it will be tough for Sevilla to beat Barca, but if they are able to keep him quiet, maybe a surprise is possible.

2. Can Betis conquer the Wanda?

Atletico Madrid's move to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium has to be seen as a major success, both in social and sporting terms. The club has been able to increase the number of fans who can watch their games, while at the same time the players have adapted to life in their new home to such an extent that they remain unbeaten there in the Liga Santander and have conceded just four goals there in the league.

Sunday's visitors Betis will, however, think they have a chance of ending that unbeaten record as the Andalusian side travel to the capital on the back of six straight wins and five clean sheets, which has taken them to a verge of a place in Europe.

Atletico looked flat as they lost to Real Sociedad on Thursday and their Europa League semi-final against Arsenal is now the most important game for them, Diego Simeone's side never gives up, but this could be a chance for Betis.

3 Battle for Europe hots up

If Sevilla beat Barca on Saturday they will assure a place in next season's Europa League no matter where they finish in the Liga Santander, but if Barca lift the Cup, the side which finishes seventh in the Liga Santander will qualify for European competitions next season, opening the door to possible surprise.

Betis look certain to assure a European place whatever happens in the Wanda, while Villarreal's win against Leganes also makes them favorites to return to European action, but with Sevilla struggling for league form, teams such as Celta Vigo, Girona and even Getafe have the chance of finishing seventh.

This weekend Getafe have a tough game in Eibar, while Girona will hope to beat Espanyol at home, as Celta take on Valencia. So far the battle for seventh has seen an alarming lack of consistency, so now is the moment to put a run of wins together.

4 Win or bust for Deportivo

Deportivo's run of good form looks as if it is going to be too little too late; two wins and a draw had pulled them to within 4 points of fourth bottom Levante on Tuesday night, but Levante's last minute winner against Las Palmas on Thursday took them 7 clear of the Galician side with just 15 points to play for.

The next visitors to Deportivo's Riazor Stadium are FC Barcelona, who will be crowned Champions if they win that game, so it is vital for Deportivo to win away to Leganes this Friday.

Clarence Seedorf's men have looked much more intense over the last month and a win would at least give them hope, but anything other than all three points and despite the improvement it's going to be 'adios amigos'. Enditem