When Cyle Larin joined Real Valladolid in January this year, they were 18th in La Liga. Despite the Canadian international’s best efforts, that’s exactly where the club remain heading into their final match of the season on Sunday.

While he has been part of a struggling team like Orlando City before, a relegation battle is not something Larin has ever experienced firsthand.

But, in typical fashion, Larin is ready to tackle the challenge head-on.

“I’ve never been part of a situation like this,” Larin acknowledged during a press conference. “But for me, it’s another challenge in my career and I came to help the team. One of the goals was to stay up in La Liga and I hope to help them. I’ll work my hardest and try to score goals…and I’ll try to do it on Sunday again.”

With eight goals and three assists in 15 starts, the former Beşiktaş man has certainly played his part. He has been in scintillating form for Los Blanquivioletas since his arrival at Estadio José Zorrilla on loan from Club Brugge in January.

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He has breathed new life into a stale Valladolid attack with performances and a goal return that has caught the eye of team owner and Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

Larin has achieved two of his main targets at Valladolid already, which were to get consistent game time and score goals. But he knows there is one final goal at hand now, which is to help the team survive.

“I’ve come here to score goals and to start playing again,” he said. “I wasn’t playing at my old club. I came here and I’m very happy. I’m happy that I scored goals and I’ve done that. My last goal is to help the team stay up. For me, it’s always about the team first and everything else will come after.”

For the neutral, it promises to be an amazing spectacle.

The bottom third of the La Liga table is unbelievably tight heading into the final day. With Espanyol and Elche’s fate confirmed, six teams are battling to avoid joining them in Segunda Division next season heading into Sunday’s season finale. Valladolid, unfortunately, are currently at the bottom of that sextet but, with La Liga rules favouring head-to-head record over goal difference, matchday 38 promises to be spicy.

Larin’s side will be facing off against fellow strugglers Getafe, who they beat in the reverse fixture earlier this season. A win will guarantee safety for Los Pucelanos but a draw could work out too.

However, they will need Almería to lose and Celta to either draw or lose. Valladolid have a superior head-to-head record against these two teams which would keep them afloat in such a scenario.

If they lose, they’re gone.

After already impressing fans in his short tenure, Larin has a chance to seal hero status on Sunday, and possibly guarantee a spot on the team next season as well.