La Liga is back with a brutal slate of games this weekend. The action kicks off with a struggling Madrid derby as Rayo Vallecano hosts Getafe, who are missing striker Borja Mayoral. Saturday features a heated Barcelona derby with fifth-place Espanyol, riding a five-game win streak, hosting league leaders FC Barcelona at their hostile Cornella ground. Barca gets Pedri back but remains without several key players like Gavi.
Other Saturday matches see in-form Celta Vigo face a Valencia side flirting with relegation, while Athletic Club Bilbao, hampered by injuries, visits Osasuna. Sunday brings coaching debuts for Luis Castro at Levante against Sevilla and Pellegrino Matarazzo as Real Sociedad hosts a dangerous Atletico Madrid featuring Antoine Griezmann. Real Madrid, missing the injured Kylian Mbappe and others, faces a tough Betis at home under pressure for manager Xabi Alonso. The round concludes with relegation battles as Mallorca meets Girona and Alaves, now led by coach Guillermo Almada after losing forward Salomon Rondon, hosts offensively-challenged Oviedo.
Other Saturday matches see in-form Celta Vigo face a Valencia side flirting with relegation, while Athletic Club Bilbao, hampered by injuries, visits Osasuna. Sunday brings coaching debuts for Luis Castro at Levante against Sevilla and Pellegrino Matarazzo as Real Sociedad hosts a dangerous Atletico Madrid featuring Antoine Griezmann. Real Madrid, missing the injured Kylian Mbappe and others, faces a tough Betis at home under pressure for manager Xabi Alonso. The round concludes with relegation battles as Mallorca meets Girona and Alaves, now led by coach Guillermo Almada after losing forward Salomon Rondon, hosts offensively-challenged Oviedo.
