If you’re staring at the table and trying to figure out if your team can still pull off a miracle, you're basically asking one thing: how many La Liga games left until the trophies are handed out and the tears start falling?
As of today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we’ve officially crossed the midway point. Most teams are sitting on 19 or 20 games played out of the total 38. This means we have 18 to 19 matchdays remaining, depending on exactly which club you support. For the math nerds out there, that’s roughly 180 to 190 matches left in the entire calendar.
The season is scheduled to wrap up on May 24, 2026. That might feel like a long way off, but with the Champions League knockouts and the Copa del Rey heating up, those weekend slots are going to disappear fast.
The State of the Race: How Many La Liga Games Left for the Leaders?
Barcelona is currently holding onto the top spot with 49 points. Hansi Flick has them playing some ridiculous football, but Real Madrid is breathing right down their necks with 48 points. Honestly, a single draw could flip the entire table next weekend.
🔗 Read more: Lawrence County High School Football: Why Friday Nights in Louisa Still Hit Different
Real Madrid has played 20 games, meaning they have 18 games left. Barcelona is playing their 20th game tonight against Real Sociedad. If they win that, they stay top. If they slip up at the Anoeta, Xabi Alonso’s Madrid side takes the lead.
Villarreal and Atlético Madrid are also lurking. Villarreal is the real "chaos factor" this year. They’ve played 19 games and sit in third with 41 points. If they win their game in hand, the gap between them and the giants becomes uncomfortably small.
Crucial Matchdays to Circle in Red
- Matchday 21 (Jan 24-25): Keep an eye on Villarreal vs. Real Madrid. This is massive. If Madrid loses here, Barcelona could build a cushion.
- Matchday 30 (Early April): Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona. Diego Simeone loves nothing more than ruining a title charge at the Metropolitano.
- Matchday 35 (May 9-10): The Big One. El Clásico at Camp Nou. With only four games left after this one, this is basically the final.
Relegation Stress: Counting Down the Bottom
While the top is a glamor fight, the bottom is a fistfight in a dark room. Real Oviedo, Levante, and Valencia are currently in the drop zone. Yes, you read that right—Valencia is in serious trouble.
💡 You might also like: LA Rams Home Game Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
For fans of Real Oviedo, every single one of their 18 remaining games is a cup final. They are sitting at the bottom with only 13 points. Historically, you need about 40 points to stay up. They need to find 27 points from 18 games. That is a tall order.
The pressure is weirdly high for teams like Sevilla and Alavés too. They aren't in the bottom three yet, but they’re only one bad weekend away from disaster. When you ask how many La Liga games left, you aren't just asking about time; you’re asking how many chances are left to fix a broken season.
Why the 2026 Schedule Feels Different
This season is moving at a breakneck pace because of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Because the World Cup starts in June in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, La Liga has to finish strictly by May 24. There is no wiggle room for delays.
📖 Related: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
We are going to see a lot of "midweek madness" in April. Matchday 33 and Matchday 36 are both scheduled as midweek rounds. This is where squad depth becomes the only thing that matters. If your favorite player has a "tight hamstring" in mid-April, they might miss three games in ten days.
Top Scorers in the Final Stretch
Kylian Mbappé is currently leading the Pichichi race with 19 goals. Lamine Yamal is right behind him in terms of overall impact, though his assist numbers are what’s really carrying Barcelona.
Will Mbappé hit 30? With 18 games left for Madrid, he needs 11 more goals. Given his current form, he’ll probably hit that by March.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're trying to track the finish line, don't just look at the points. Look at the "Average Position of Opponents" (APO).
- Check the Strength of Schedule: Barcelona has a brutal run in April, facing Atleti and Espanyol back-to-back. Real Madrid has a "softer" May, which might be where they make their move.
- Monitor the Midweek Rounds: Mark April 21st and May 12th on your calendar. These are the midweek dates where the "small" teams often surprise the tired giants.
- Watch the Yellow Cards: We are at the point where players are accumulating four or nine yellows. A strategic yellow card now prevents a suspension during a big game later.
- Sync Your Calendar: Ensure your local broadcaster hasn't shifted the "TBD" Sunday games to Friday night, which happens often for TV rights in the final ten weeks.
The race is far from over. With 180+ matches still to play, the "how many La Liga games left" question is the only thing that matters in every locker room from Madrid to Vigo.