The calculator of the drama of Espanyol and Girona: what do they need to be saved?

BarcelonaThe most dramatic League in memory is approaching its conclusion, especially at the bottom. With only two matchdays left and Oviedo out of the running, up to nine teams are involved in the fight for the most expensive survival in history. Two of them are Catalan: Espanyol and Girona. At the moment, Llevant and Mallorca would be relegated, both having 39 points and facing each other this Sunday. They have the same points as Elx, the first team to be safe; one less than Girona and three less than Espanyol, who have 42. Sevilla and Valencia are not yet out of danger because, in a League as crazy as this year's, no one can be sure that with 43 points you won't fall to the Second Division.

Weeks ago, the two Catalan teams could have certified their permanence, but their poor dynamics – Girona has gone six games without a win and Espanyol went eighteen consecutive– force them to play for their lives over two weekends of radio broadcasts – they are unified matchdays – and defibrillator.

Espanyol can be saved at El Sadar

Manolo González and his footballers were relieved after the cleansing victory against Athletic. With 42 points in hand, they can secure permanence this Sunday at Osasuna's ground (7:00 PM, Movistar). If they win, it will be mathematical. The situation becomes more complicated in case of a draw, a plausible result considering that their rival approaches the match with the same points as the periquitos.

With one point, Espanyol would have 43 and would be saved in one of the following two scenarios: if Levante and Mallorca do not draw and Elche loses at home against Getafe, or if Levante and Mallorca do not draw and Girona does not beat Atlètic de Madrid. If none of these combinations occur, the periquitos would play for it next Saturday at home against Real Sociedad with nothing at stake.

In case of defeat at Sadar, Espanyol would also depend on themselves to be saved on the last matchday. Other results will determine if the parakeets would be enough with a draw – with 44 points, salvation is assured – or if they would need to beat the Basques. The goal average will come into play, which Espanyol, depending on what happens at Sadar – they won 1-0 against Osasuna in the first leg –, has lost with Alabès, Girona and Valencia; drawn with Mallorca, Sevilla and Llevant, and only won with Elx. That is to say, in case of a final tie in points between more than two teams, the white-and-blues would have a hard time.

Girona's calculations

Girona has real options to guarantee their continuity in First Division this Sunday, visiting Atlètic de Madrid (7:00 PM, DAZN), without waiting for the dramatic duel against Elx on the last matchday at Montilivi. To be completely safe at the Metropolitano, Girona must win and hope for a combination that is not illogical: Elx would have to lose against Getafe, who are playing to go to Europe, and the Levante-Mallorca match could not end in a draw. If that happened, Girona would have 43 points and Elx and the loser of Levante-Mallorca, 39. All this without counting on Alabès' match in Oviedo, which in case of defeat for Vitòria's team, would leave them with 40 points and the goal average lost against Montilivi's team, whom they could not surpass either.

What cannot happen on Sunday under any circumstances is that Girona is relegated to Second Division. No scenario includes it. A draw may cause, depending on how, Girona to continue depending on themselves in the last duel. And in the worst case, that of a white-and-red defeat, Girona would maintain the 40 points they have, Alabès could finish with 43 points, Elx with 42 and both Levante-Mallorca cannot win. However, depending on the results that occur throughout the matchday, Girona would be obliged to defeat Elx at Montilivi on Saturday, May 23rd, and perhaps would need something more.

As of now, Girona has the goal average won against Espanyol, Alabès and Mallorca, drawn with Valencia and Osasuna, and lost against Sevilla and Levante, and pending Elx, against whom they lost 3-0 in the first round. In case of a final tie in points, a kind of mini-league is calculated with the results between all of them and Girona could come out badly.