Living on the Edge: The Art of Surviving Relegation in LaLiga
Nine clubs have spent time in LaLiga's bottom three this season. Who's really in danger, and what does history tell us about survival?
Twenty-four matchdays in and LaLiga’s relegation battle is already a proper drama — nine different clubs have tasted life in the bottom three this season, and it’s far from over.
How Many Clubs Have Been Dragged In?
Nine teams have spent at least one matchday in the relegation zone so far in 2025-26. That’s not the most chaotic season in recent memory — last campaign had 11 clubs flirting with the drop — but it’s more than the seven involved in the 2023-24 fight for survival. Some clubs have only had a brief visit to the danger zone (Celta, for instance, were 18th after matchday one and quickly did one), while others have made themselves rather too comfortable down there.
Oviedo: Permanent Residents of the Abyss
If there’s one club that’s basically set up shop in the relegation places, it’s Real Oviedo. The Asturian side have been in the bottom three in 19 of the 24 matchdays played so far, and have held the wooden spoon position since matchday 18. That’s grim reading.
But — and here’s where it gets interesting — spending loads of time in the red zone doesn’t automatically mean you go down:
- Girona were in the bottom three for 16 consecutive matchdays (matchdays 2-17) and are now sitting 12th. Remarkable turnaround.
- Granada were only in danger for five matchdays in 2021-22… and still got relegated the following season.
- Valladolid spent just nine matchdays in the drop zone in 2022-23 and went down anyway.
So the stats can be well deceptive, mate.
The Record Holders for Misery
For sheer, sustained suffering, nobody tops Elche, who spent all 38 matchdays of the 2022-23 season in relegation positions. Granada managed 35 that same year. More recently, Valladolid (2024-25) and Levante (2021-22) both spent 32 matchdays in the bottom three.
What Does Matchday 24 Actually Tell Us?
Here’s a fun bit of context. Last season, the three clubs in the bottom three at matchday 24 were Valencia, Alavés and Valladolid. Only Valladolid went down in the end — the other two pulled themselves out. Meanwhile, Las Palmas and Leganés, who did go down, were sitting 17th and 16th at this same stage.
The one season where matchday 24 was basically a spoiler? 2023-24 — Cádiz, Granada and Almería were already nailed on from the first half of the season and never shifted from the bottom three. All three were relegated.
The Clubs Who Keep Tempting Fate
Some sides are becoming serial relegation flirters, which historically isn’t a great sign:
- Cádiz spent three successive seasons brushing up against the bottom three before finally going down in 2023-24.
- Celta have been in the bottom three at least once in five of the last several seasons — they’re still here, but living on borrowed time.
- Valencia spent ten matchdays as bottom club last season before eventually surviving.
With 14 games still to go, there’s everything to play for. History says don’t panic if you’re hovering just above the line — but if your club’s name keeps cropping up in these conversations season after season, that’s when you start getting a bit nervous.