La Liga Fixtures 2016: Schedule, Live Stream and Week 12 Predictions

The Madrid derby highlights La Liga's fixtures this week. First-placed Real Madrid can move nine points ahead of local rivals Atletico Madrid with a win at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

However, Los Blancos might already be second by kick-off time, provided champions Barcelona beat Malaga at the Camp Nou earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, third-placed Villarreal will attempt to keep the pressure up on the usual suspects at the top by getting three points on Sunday. It won't be easy, though, away against an Athletic Club Bilbao side that are strong at the San Mames Stadium.

Read on for the schedule and streaming details for this week's fixtures, along with predictions:

Date	Time (GMT / ET)	Match	Predictions
Friday, November 18	7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.	Real Betis vs. Las Palmas	1-2
Saturday, November 19	12 p.m. / 7 a.m.	Deportivo La Coruna vs. Sevilla	1-2
Saturday, November 19	3:15 p.m. / 10:15 a.m.	Barcelona vs. Malaga	3-1
Saturday, November 19	5:30 p.m. / 12:30 p.m.	Eibar vs. Celta Vigo	1-1
Saturday, November 19	7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.	Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid	2-1
Sunday, November 20	11 a.m. / 6 a.m.	Alaves vs. Espanyol	1-0
Sunday, November 20	3;15 p.m. / 10:15 a.m.	Valencia vs. Granada	2-0
Sunday, November 20	5:30 p.m. / 12:30 p.m.	Sporting Gijon vs. Real Sociedad	1-1
Sunday, November 20	7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.	Athletic Club Bilbao vs. Villarreal	1-0
Monday, November 21	7:45 p.m. / 2:45 p.m.	Leganes vs. Osasuna	0-0

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

Preview

Injury concerns are pressing for both teams ahead of the Madrid derby, but it's the hosts who have the greater worry.

Atleti are sweating over the fitness of star forward Antoine Griezmann, although the club has denied that the 25-year-old broke his foot on international duty with France, per BBC Sport.

Naturally, Griezmann is considered a doubt to feature on Saturday. If he can't start, he'd be a major loss for Los Rojiblancos, even though manager Diego Simeone's squad features a few more options up top.

In particular, French striker Kevin Gameiro and Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco have added firepower to Atleti's forward line this season. The latter has struck seven goals in domestic and UEFA Champions League action, per WhoScored.com.

Former AS Monaco man Carrasco has been making intelligent runs off the ball to fool markers and regularly put himself in scoring positions, and his deceptive pace has also proved a problem for defences.

Still, few attackers in Europe can match the perception of Griezmann's movement.

Real's defenders will likely breathe a collective sigh of relief if Griezmann misses out, especially since there are a number of injury issues along Los Blancos' back line.

However, manager Zinedine Zidane has received a boost with the news centre-back Sergio Ramos is back for the derby, according to Spanish publication AS:

Ramos' return is timely since Real have conceded at least once in six of their last seven league matches, per Sky Sports.

However, Zidane's bigger concerns may come in midfield, where holding player Casemiro and creative ace Mateo Kovacic need to be monitored, according to ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan.

As usual, Barcelona's hopes will rest on the performances of their star-studded front three. Two of its members enjoyed contrasting fortunes on recent international duty.

Lionel Messi scored to help Argentina beat Colombia 3-0 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. In contrast, Luis Suarez saw his penalty saved by ex-Barca goalkeeper Claudio Bravo as Uruguay lost 3-1 to Chile.

Still, it seems unlikely Malaga will be able to resist the Messi, Suarez and Neymar triumvirate this week. Barca are second but have scored the most goals in the division. Expect their marquee strikers to add to the club's 32-goal tally.

MARTIN BERNETTI/Getty Images

The title race can twist and turn wildly on one day. Barca should go top in the afternoon, before Atletico grind out a typically tough win over their neighbours.