Matchday 62 of the Quiniela: analysis and predictions for the end of the season

Barça are champions. Now Matchday 62 arrives with relegation battles and an end of season full of surprises.

Matchday 62 of the Quiniela arrives just one day after FC Barcelona confirmed their La Liga 2025-26 title, beating Real Madrid 2-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou in a Clásico that will live long in the memory. With the championship already decided, matchday 37 of the Primera División — the penultimate round of the season — will all be played simultaneously on Sunday 17 May. But if you think the tension has dropped, you are very much mistaken: the battle to avoid relegation between Levante, Alavés, Sevilla and the rest will make Matchday 62 one of the most unpredictable of the entire year for Quiniela players.

Why Matchday 62 is the perfect trap for Quiniela players

The final matchdays of the season break all the usual Quiniela patterns. Teams that have already achieved their objectives — the title, European qualification, survival secured — tend to rotate, give bench players minutes, and manage games with less intensity. Meanwhile, teams in the danger zone take to the pitch as if every minute is a cup final. This asymmetry of motivation is exactly what gives Matchday 62 an extra layer of risk for anyone hoping to complete the full 15.

What's more, the unified format of LaLiga matchday 37 (all matches kicking off at the same time) means no team starts their game knowing the results of their direct rivals. This removes the possibility of a team managing their result based on their rival's scoreline, which increases the unpredictability of many fixtures. For the Quiniela, this means that even the clearest predictions are worth a second look.

The battle for survival: key matches from LaLiga matchday 37

Three direct relegation head-to-heads define matchday 37, which corresponds to Quiniela 62. With Levante in last place (33 pts), Alavés in the relegation zone (36 pts) and Sevilla on a knife edge (37 pts), every point is worth its weight in gold. We break down the key fixtures:

• Levante v Osasuna: Levante (33 pts) need to win, full stop. They are at home with their fans pushing from the first minute. Osasuna, already safe, may come into this relaxed. Recommended prediction: 1, with an eye on X if you want some coverage.
• Elche v Alavés: Two teams separated by three points in the direct relegation zone. Any of the three results is plausible. Recommended prediction: double 1X to cover the two-way risk.
• Sevilla v Espanyol: Sevilla (17th, 37 pts) against Espanyol (15th, 39 pts) is a crucial six-pointer. The atmosphere at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán could be a key factor. Recommended prediction: 1 as a slight favourite, but X is very likely.
• Villarreal v Atlético de Madrid: Villarreal are fighting for a European spot while Atlético are defending their Champions League position. A clash with plenty at stake for both sides. Recommended prediction: uncertain — consider going triple 1X2 if your budget allows you to cover it.

The effect of Barça's title on the predictions

With the La Liga title already won, FC Barcelona will almost certainly make significant rotations in their next matchday 37 fixture. The same pattern is expected from Real Madrid, who are left with no meaningful objective for the remaining games. Big clubs with nothing left to play for have a habit of surprising: unexpected draws, away wins for teams that looked to have little say in the matter. In the Quiniela, fans tend to overestimate big teams who have already reached their goal. In 'truce' matches like these, X tends to be undervalued.

Watch out for teams already qualified for Europe

By the end of the season, several teams will have already secured their spots in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League. When a club has nothing to play for, it is common to see experimental line-ups featuring youth-team players or those returning from minor knocks. Identifying which teams come into Matchday 62 without motivation — especially in games considered 'easy' by the majority of Quiniela players — is the trick to finding the upsets that separate the best players in the QuiniPrats rankings.

5 strategic tips to get the most out of Matchday 62

• Cover the relegation battles with doubles: use 1X or X2 in the Elche-Alavés and Sevilla-Espanyol matches. The pressure affects both teams and draws are statistically common in end-of-season fixtures.
• Don't trust favourites with nothing left to play for: if a big club has already secured their position, seriously consider going X or even 2. Rotations can be decisive.
• Look for value in home wins for relegation-threatened teams: Levante at home is the prime example. Their fans can work miracles.
• Play it safe on the Full 15: uncertainty is at its highest, and reduced combinations let you cover more possibilities with the same budget.
• Check the line-ups until the last minute: many clubs will announce their rotations hours before the ticket closes (Sunday 17 May, around 14:00). A reshuffled starting XI completely changes the prediction.

Enjoy Matchday 62 on QuiniPrats with your friends

The Quiniela is much better when you experience it together. On QuiniPrats you can create your own private prediction league, make your Matchday 62 predictions before the deadline, and compare your picks with friends and family in real time, match by match. With the season's statistics at your fingertips and the rankings updated automatically, Matchday 62 becomes a far more intense experience than watching the games alone. Sign up for free today and start your private league in time for the penultimate matchday of the season.