La Liga Fixtures 2015 Week 30: Schedule, Live Stream Info, Picks and Key Players
Real Madrid went some way to proving their detractors wrong in their last match, smashing nine goals past a helpless Granada.
The huge haul also cut Barcelona's once impressive goal difference advantage to just four, with Los Blancos hot on the Catalan club's tail.
Barca managed to maintain their points gap at the top of the league after narrowly beating a dogged Celta Vigo side 1-0.
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The next round of matches take place over midweek, with a host of evening kick-offs.
Here is the full schedule of games, including stream information, picks and key player focus:
| April 7 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad | Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US) | Atletico |
| April 7 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Eibar v Malaga | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Draw |
| April 7 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Levante v Sevilla | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Sevilla |
| April 8 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Barcelona v Almeria | Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US) | Barca |
| April 8 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Deportivo v Cordoba | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Draw |
| April 8 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Granada v Celta Vigo | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Celta |
| April 8 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid | Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US) | Madrid |
| April 9 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Athletic Bilbao v Valencia | Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US) | Valencia |
| April 9 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Elche v Getafe | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Draw |
| April 9 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Villarreal v Espanyol | beIN Sports Connect (US) | Villarreal |
Key Players:
Gareth Bale and Luka Modric - Real Madrid
Tottenham Hotspur fans look back on this pair with much favour, but not many of them would have believed the former Spurs duo would star for the biggest club in world football.
But Gareth Bale and Luka Modric have proved themselves to be world class entities, and how those fans in north London must miss their special talents.
In recent times, Bale has received a barrage of ridiculous criticism as Madrid's strange season crackled and popped, with fans looking for a scapegoat.
Bale does not have the Galactico framework of some of his team-mates, who appear to be born to wear the Madrid shirt, but the Welshman is worthy, nonetheless.
The wide attacker has once again posted a good set of numbers in his second season in La Liga, and grabbed the first goal in his team's 9-1 destruction of Granada, calmly rounding the goalkeeper and finishing like an old pro.
In must be remembered that Bale is not Cristiano Ronaldo, who is a freak of nature, but his statistics still add up.
Bale has scored 15 times in his 33 La Liga and Champions League appearances combined, per WhoScored.com, proving he is not the flop many of the Spanish press proclaim he is.
But as Angel Di Maria recently found out—despite his match-winning performances during La Decima last season—myth can become reality at the Bernabeu, and you can soon be on your way out of the Spanish capital.
Bale is still pivotal in the current Los Blancos team and his powers do not appear to be weakening. Carlo Ancelotti's team take on Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night, and Bale is likely to star once again.
However, it is his former Spurs teammate who now appears to be the central fulcrum to all that is good about the current crop of Galacticos.
The diminutive Croatian has turned from his early days as an attacking entity into a very capable and mobile central midfielder, becoming the heart and lungs of the Madrid side.
Sports Writer Sam Pilger moved quickly to highlight the player's contribution in the recent 9-1 victory against Granada, picking out the midfielder:
And Ancelotti spoke of the succinct reason why Modric is so important to him, as quoted by Los Blancos Twitter account SocialRMadrid:
"Ancelotti: "Modric is a decisive player. We play faster with him."
— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) April 5, 2015"
The player has been sidelined for much of the campaign, missing out on four months of football from November to March, but the midfielder has already imposed himself back on his manager's plans since his return.
It is very easy to be forgotten at Madrid when you are injured—as Sami Khedira recently found out—but Modric has proved why he is the first pick in Ancelotti's head.
Bale and Modric give Madrid the work ethic a side which drip in diamonds and gold needs, modern soldiers who do not have to forsake flair for functionality.
Bale could yet go on to replace CR7, as the Portugal hitman ages and eventually moves on, but the club must be patient and develop him for the task.
Modric may well end up being the missing piece of the jigsaw as Madrid chase Barcelona for the La Liga crown, giving Ancelotti the control at the core of his team he desires on a consistent basis.
However, even if Madrid do not catch the Catalan machine over the final weeks of the season, it will not be for the lack of effort from these two superstar footballers.
