La Liga Fixtures 2016 Week 7: Schedule, Live-Stream Info, Picks and Key Players

La Liga leaders Real Madrid will be out to end a run of three successive draws on Sunday as they welcome Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Villarreal, Las Palmas and Borussia Dortmund have all managed to take a point off Zinedine Zidane’s side in recent domestic and European matches, and although they’re still setting the pace in Spanish football’s top flight, another slip could see their title rivals capitalise.

Barcelona are the team in closest proximity to Los Blancos, just a point behind, and they travel to Celta Vigo in their attempt to keep the pressure on their rivals. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid head to a struggling Valencia side early on Sunday in one of the most eye-catching clashes of the weekend.

Here’s the Week 7 schedule in full, key details on where to catch the action and a closer look at a couple of players who can make a big difference for their team this weekend.

Date	Time (BST)	Fixture	Prediction
Friday, Sept, 30	7:45 p.m.	Real Sociedad vs. Real Betis	2-1
Saturday, Oct. 1	12 p.m.	Granada vs. Leganes	2-2
Saturday, Oct. 1	3:15 p.m	Sevilla vs. Alaves	3-1
Saturday, Oct. 1	5:30 p.m.	Osasuna vs. Las Palmas	1-2
Saturday, Oct. 1	7:45 p.m.	Deportivo La Coruna vs. Sporting Gijon	1-1
Sunday, Oct. 2	11 a.m.	Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid	0-2
Sunday, Oct. 2	3:15 p.m	Real Madrid vs. Eibar	4-0
Sunday, Oct. 2	5:30 p.m.	Malaga vs. Athletic Club	1-2
Sunday, Oct. 2	5:30 p.m.	Espanyol vs. Villarreal	1-1
Sunday, Oct. 2	7:45 p.m.	Celta Vigo vs. Barcelona	0-3

R	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Real Madrid	6	4	2	0	15	6	+9	14
2	Barcelona	6	4	1	1	19	6	+13	13
3	Atletico Madrid	6	3	3	0	12	2	+10	12
4	Villarreal	6	3	3	0	9	4	+5	12
5	Athletic Club	6	4	0	2	9	6	+3	12
6	Sevilla	6	3	2	1	11	9	+2	11
7	Las Palmas	6	3	1	2	14	11	+3	10
8	Eibar	6	3	1	2	8	6	+2	10
9	Alaves	6	2	3	1	7	5	+2	9
10	Real Betis	6	2	2	2	8	11	-3	8
11	Leganes	6	2	1	3	6	10	-4	7
12	Sporting Gijon	6	2	1	3	5	14	-9	7
13	Celta Vigo	6	2	1	3	5	8	-3	7
14	Real Sociedad	6	2	1	3	8	9	-1	7
15	Valencia	6	2	0	4	9	12	-3	6
16	Malaga	6	1	2	3	5	8	-3	5
17	Espanyol	6	1	2	3	9	14	-5	5
18	Deportivo La Coruna	6	1	2	3	3	5	-2	5
19	Granada	6	0	2	4	7	15	-8	2
20	Osasuna	6	0	2	4	5	13	-8	2

Matches can be streamed via Sky Go (U.K) and beIN Sports Connect (U.S)

Gareth Bale, Real Madrid

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Real Madrid’s illustrious attacking trio of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema has yet to fully fire this term, especially in the aforementioned clashes in which they’ve only been able to muster a point. The former, in particular, hasn’t been at his best lately.

The effort and endeavour remains for Bale, as he’s been tasked with fulfilling some different roles early in the campaign. However, he’s not netted since a brace against Real Sociedad on August 21, six games ago.

As noted by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, there have been times in matches when the Welshman has been asked to do a job for the team:

However, against Eibar, there’ll be an onus on the former Tottenham Hotspur man to add some trademark thrust to Madrid’s attacking play.

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Last term, Los Blancos were so dangerous when Bale was fit and firing. Neither Ronaldo nor Benzema have the burst of speed needed to surge past a defender or scythe through the massed opposition defence. The Wales international does, although things haven’t quite been clicking for him lately.

Eibar will come to the capital and adopt a defensive approach, and Zidane will be looking to Bale to take a grip of the contest. With his long-range shooting ability, incomparable acceleration and power in the air, there are myriad ways he can make a decisive contribution in the final third. Expect a big performance from Madrid’s No. 11.

Neymar, Barcelona

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When Lionel Messi was downed by injury early last season, there was plenty of panic among Barcelona fans. But Luis Suarez and particularly Neymar stepped up to help compensate for the absence of the Blaugrana’s talisman.

With Messi sidelined again we’re seeing a similar pattern, with the Brazil international excelling as the team’s chief creator. Luis Enrique’s side have shifted the fulcrum of their attacking from the right flank to the left, and Neymar is making the most of his extra time on the ball.

As noted by sports journalist Rafael Hernandez as Barcelona beat Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Brazilian is making vital contributions by hook or by crook:

Overall, Neymar’s form has been wonderful, especially away from home when he has more space to gallop into. In his last two games on the road in La Liga, Leganes and Sporting Gijon found the forward impossible to contain. Celta should beware.

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Knowing the threat posed by Neymar and nullifying it are different matters entirely, though.

In recent contests the Brazilian has roamed into so many dangerous positions, with Enrique giving him increased freedom in Messi’s absence.

It’s something Goal’s Ben Hayward picked up on during the 5-0 win over Sporting:

The Brazilian can still improve in areas of his game, most notably in terms of his decision-making with the ball at his feet, but that’s being picky.

What makes Neymar so dangerous when he operates with this fluidity is his relentlessness in possession. During the course of a game, he’ll consistently try to conjure many ingenious moments; naturally, they don't always come off. However, the ones that do stick typically swing a match the way of his side.