La Liga’s matchday 13 will see Girona look to go into the next international break as leaders, while Real Madrid will have an interesting home game against Valencia and Barcelona needs to recover their form.
The round of games opens with Athletic Club Bilbao at home to Celta Vigo. Athletic is looking to ensure they go into the break in fifth place, while Celta, unhappy with recent refereeing decisions against it, needs to climb out of the bottom three.
Girona has early start on Saturday, with an interesting visit to Madrid to face Rayo Vallecano. Michel Sanchez’s team has won 10 matches from 12 and last weekend showed its resilience and attacking flair by coming back from 2-1 down to win 4-2 away to Osasuna.
Real Sociedad booked its place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night, but has little recovery time ahead of its visit to winless bottom side Almeria.
Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil will probably make some rotations for the trip. Although Almeria has improved slightly in defense since Gaizka Garitano took the reins, it is still in danger of relegation.
Consecutive defeats have seen Osasuna slip to 14th, and it has a tough game against Las Palmas, who has adapted well to life back in the top flight and sits comfortably in mid-table after last week’s impressive win at home to Atletico Madrid.
Granada coach Paco Lopez is under pressure after a controversial defeat in Valencia last weekend and Granada’s expulsion from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player. Lopez desperately needs a win, but that won’t be easy against a very defense-minded Getafe.
Saturday ends with Real Madrid at home to Valencia in their third home game in a week. Jude Bellingham will be back after a slight shoulder problem, but Kepa is a doubt after picking up an injury in warm-up prior to Wednesday’s 3-0 win at home to Sporting Braga. Andriy Lunin is likely to start.
Barcelona looks to put an end to what coach Xavi Hernandez called a “small dip in form” when it entertains Alaves on Sunday.
Barca showed poor form in its 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine in the Champions League on Tuesday. Although players such as Pedri and Raphinha have returned, Barca is still missing the playmaker Frenkie de Jong this weekend.
Barca’s game is followed by the Seville derby as Sevilla plays Betis.
Sevilla has yet to win under new coach Diego Alonso and was outplayed for 90 minutes in a loss to Arsenal on Wednesday. Betis is unbeaten in seven league games, with three wins and four draws.
Villarreal coach Jose Rojo ‘Pacheta’ is another coach under pressure, with tips that Marcelino Garcia Toral has been lined up as his replacement.
Anything other than three points away to Atletico Madrid on Sunday is likely to cost him his job. But with Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata in fine form, Atletico is clear favourite.
