The upcoming 22nd round of La Liga matches this weekend is poised to be influenced by both the midweek Copa del Rey quarterfinals and the contentious refereeing decisions in the recent Real Madrid versus Almeria match.
The spotlight is on VAR referee Hernandez following his decisions favoring Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu, sparking a week of controversy surrounding referees. Their performances will be closely scrutinized this weekend.
Almeria, seeking their first win of the season, face Alaves, who have surged seven points clear of relegation with consecutive wins. Real Madrid, without the suspended Jude Bellingham, travel to Las Palmas, with attention on Brahim Diaz in his attacking midfield role.
Las Palmas, having won 2-0 against Rayo Vallecano, will face scrutiny similar to players after the Real Madrid versus Almeria controversy. Despite not being part of the match, FC Barcelona complained about refereeing but must focus on their football after being eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club Bilbao.
Barcelona faces Villarreal, dealing with injuries from the epic cup game. Mallorca, after a 3-2 Copa del Rey win against Girona, hosts Betis. Girona and Celta Vigo, resting regular starters midweek, face pressure when they clash on Sunday.
Celta's coach Rafa Benitez faces fan discontent, and a failure to beat Girona could jeopardize his position. Cadiz's new coach, Mauricio Pellegrino, aims to end a winless streak against fifth-placed Athletic Club Bilbao.
Sevilla, potentially in the bottom three, faces Osasuna, with recovery concerns after a tough Copa del Rey quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid. Sevilla's new coach Quique Sanchez Flores seeks improvement after three league defeats in four games.
In the last game on Sunday, Atletico Madrid hosts Valencia, now seventh after four consecutive wins. Valencia's Ruben Baraja-led team presents a challenge for Atletico, who may face freshness issues.
(With Agency Inputs)
