La Liga resumes this weekend after a one-week Christmas break, featuring a full lineup of matches ahead of the Spanish Supercup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia next week. The action kicks off on Friday night with a Madrid derby as Rayo Vallecano hosts Getafe. Both teams are eager for a positive outcome, with Rayo still searching for their first league win since late October, while Getafe has fallen to 11th place following three straight losses and will be without key striker Borja Mayoral.
On Saturday, the highlight is the Barcelona derby where Espanyol faces league leaders FC Barcelona. Espanyol has been in stellar form, sitting fifth in the standings, and heading into this match on the back of five consecutive wins. Their most recent victory was a hard-fought 2-1 triumph in Bilbao, keeping their hopes alive for another three points against their city rivals. Barcelona arrives with some injury concerns, although coach Hansi Flick welcomes back Pedri, while Gavi, Andreas Christensen, and Dani Olmo remain sidelined.
The day’s earlier match sees Celta Vigo host Valencia, with Valencia needing a victory to avoid slipping into the relegation zone. Celta comes into the match with strong momentum, positioned in seventh place after the holiday break. Elsewhere, Osasuna aims for a third consecutive home victory against Athletic Club Bilbao, who continue to grapple with an extensive injury list.
Elche, fresh off a 4-0 home win against Rayo Vallecano, will take on Villarreal, though they will miss Hector Fort due to a shoulder injury. Villarreal also grapples with absences, including Renato Veiga due to suspension and Pape Gueye, who is participating in the African Cup of Nations.
Two coaches debut on Sunday: Luis Castro for Levante against Sevilla, and Pellegrino Matarazzo, who leads Real Sociedad in a challenging match against Atletico Madrid. After a difficult run of games, Real Sociedad finds themselves hovering just above the relegation zone, while Atletico boasts a formidable lineup bolstered by former Sociedad stars like Antoine Griezmann.
In a testing matchup at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid hosts Real Betis. Coach Xabi Alonso faces pressure to secure a positive result, particularly without injured star Kylian Mbappe and several other key players. Meanwhile, Mallorca battles Girona in a clash that could influence both teams’ relegation struggles, and Alaves hosts Oviedo, who looks to bounce back after parting ways with forward Salomon Rondon in search of a revival.
With intense rivalries and high stakes, this weekend’s La Liga matches are sure to deliver excitement as teams vie for crucial points heading into the new year.