La Spanish La Liga resumes its action-packed schedule after the international hiatus, setting the stage for an intense round of matches before another brief pause for the Copa del Rey final. Leading the charge, Real Madrid, perched atop the La Liga standings, brace themselves for a clash against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. However, Real Madrid will miss the services of Vinicius Jr, sidelined due to suspension, while Eduardo Camavinga's participation remains doubtful following an ankle injury sustained while on international duty with France.
Eder Militao eyes a potential comeback after recovering from a cruciate knee ligament tear suffered during the inaugural match of the season. Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois continues his rehabilitation journey, undergoing another operation for his meniscus ligament injury, ruling him out of contention, as reported by Xinhua.
For Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde, striking a delicate balance is imperative. His team currently occupies the fourth spot in the league, vying for a coveted place in next season's Champions League. Valverde faces the dilemma of whether to risk key players like Nico and Inaki Williams, a mere six days before the Cup final, or provide game time to reserve keeper Julen Agirrezabala, who is set to feature in the final.
The weekend opener assumes critical importance in the relegation battle as third-from-bottom Cadiz hosts second-bottom Granada. With Cadiz trailing by five points from safety, securing a victory against Granada becomes paramount. Granada, under new leadership with Jose Ramon Sandoval at the helm, strive to turn the tide in their favor.
In another matchup, Sevilla, under the guidance of Quique Sanchez Flores, faces Getafe, a club he has previously managed thrice. Sevilla, holding a slender six-point lead over Cadiz, seeks to cement their survival hopes. However, the pressure mounts if Cadiz clinches victory on Friday night.
Almeria, rejuvenated by Pepe Mel's coaching, seek to capitalize on their recent momentum as they square off against Osasuna. Osasuna, reeling from the departure announcement of coach Jagoba Arrasate, aim to navigate through turbulent waters against Almeria's spirited challenge.
Mallorca, gearing up for their impending cup final against Athletic Bilbao, embark on a trip to Valencia. Expecting a competitive encounter, both teams might opt to rest key players ahead of the upcoming showdown.
Barcelona, eager to keep pace with Real Madrid, confront Las Palmas, a team struggling to regain momentum. Despite grappling with injuries to key players like Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, Barcelona remains determined to secure a victory.
Girona's aspirations of a title challenge have dimmed following a string of defeats, rendering their top-four finish uncertain. Michel Gonzalez's side squares off against Betis, who seek redemption after enduring a crisis before the break.
Alaves and Real Sociedad ignite the Basque derby, with the latter buoyed by the return of winger Ander Barrenetxea from injury.
Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano lock horns in a bid to ascend from the relegation zone, while Atletico Madrid concludes the round with a daunting visit to in-form Villarreal on Monday.
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