La Liga Fixtures 2015 Week 23: Schedule, Live Stream Info, Picks and Key Players
Real Madrid could be forgiven for watching their backs during La Liga's Week 23, such was the whooping handed to them during Atletico Madrid's 4-0 rout of the European champions.
Carlo Ancelotti's men can get back to winning ways in a favourable tie against Deportivo La Coruna, however, while the Rojiblancos travel to an out-of-form Celta Vigo side.
Second-place Barcelona are just one point behind Real at the top of the table, and will be confident of at least maintaining pace when they host Levante. Atletico are three points further back and need to build on their four-game winning streak.
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Here's a look at the upcoming fixtures and live stream schedules, followed by a discussion of which players will define the fortunes of their club during the next round of play.
| Friday, Feb. 13 | 7:45 p.m. | Almeria | Real Sociedad | BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 3 p.m. | Sevilla | Cordoba | BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 3-0 |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5 p.m. | Real Madrid | Deportivo La Coruna | Sky Go (UK)/BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 4-1 |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. | Granada | Athletic Bilbao | Sky Go (UK)/BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 1-2 |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 9 p.m. | Malaga | Espanyol | BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 2-2 |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 11 a.m. | Valencia | Getafe | BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 2-0 |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m. | Barcelona | Levante | Sky Go (UK)/BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 5-0 |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m. | Rayo Vallecano | Villarreal | Sky Go (UK)/BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 0-2 |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 8 p.m. | Celta Vigo | Atletico Madrid | Sky Go (UK)/BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 0-2 |
| Monday, Feb. 16 | 7:45 p.m. | Eibar | Elche | BeIN Sports Connect (US) | 2-1 |
Key Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
It's not often Cristiano Ronaldo's name is mentioned in a negative light. After all, he is always a key player for Real Madrid, and usually the man to thrust his team toward victory with a haul of goals.
However, his performance during the loss to Atletico was notable due to a noticeable lack of quality, a display which set the tone for Los Blancos' drubbing.
As such, CR7 is among the players who needs to turn things around during Deportivo's visit to the Bernabeu. He netted a hat-trick during September's 8-2 thrashing in the reverse fixture, a performance which wouldn't go amiss after Real suffered one of their most damaging defeats in recent history.
Stats provided by Squawka, OptaJoe and WhoScored.com highlighted CR7's troubles at the Vicente Calderon:
In truth, such a performance has been coming. Ronaldo has hit four in seven—great by most players' standards, average by his—and has appeared consistently frustrated with Real's play since returning from the winter break. His red card against Cordoba highlighted a player who has lost a gear since winning the 2014 Ballon d'Or, a feeling which he carried into the Atletico match, per 101 Great Goals:
Ronaldo is the man who stretches Madrid's play. He needs to press harder against Deportivo, find space out wide, dart back into the centre and ensure Victor Fernandez's side cannot isolate him. Karim Benzema doesn't need a second invitation to set the Portuguese star free if he is given time to hold the ball up, but it's Ronaldo's movement which will allow the Frenchman pockets of space to maintain possession.
Deportivo can be nervous of a potential backlash performance from Madrid, who cannot afford any further mishaps.
Antoine Griezmann
Diego Simeone's decision to play Antoine Griezmann just behind centre-forward Mario Mandzukic is working an absolute treat. The former Real Sociedad star has netted nine in his last seven La Liga appearances and is now Atletico's top scorer in the domestic division, per WhoScored. Where Ronaldo failed during the derby, Griezmann delivered.
However, he is fast becoming more than just a constant attacking threat. He popped up all over the pitch against Real and proceeded to take up smart positions which aided his side's defence, noted by Simeone, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:
Griezmann registered a tackle, interception and play-halting foul, per WhoScored, to stop Real progressing up the field. He burst forward when his side regained position, moving quickly to support Mandzukic in gaps of space left open by Ancelotti's makeshift defence. Out of his five shots on goal, three hit the target and one rattled the back of Iker Casillas' net, recorded by WhoScored.
You can see the best of his recent goalscoring antics below:
Celta Vigo's defence has been fairly solid this year, letting in only 24 goals in 20 matches. Eduardo Berizzo's team drew 2-2 with Atletico earlier in the season and shocked Barcelona 1-0 at the Camp Nou in November, but their current form signals their position in 10th isn't going to be held for much longer.
In fact, Celta have won just one of their last 12 matches. We're not seeing great margins—seven of the last eight losses have been by one goal, per WhoScored—but there's not much to suggest things are greatly improving. Griezmann's incisiveness and direct style of play has the capability to cause havoc against a side who need to quickly improve.
He's certainly looking for more goals, reported by Rupert Fryer of Goal.com: "I hope to become a real striker. I am working a lot in front of goal and I’ll try to get better every game."
Both Ronaldo and Griezmann will have a massive say in their respective clubs' end of season results, meaning there's no time for either to slow down as La Liga's vital stages approach.
