Storylines to Follow in La Liga This Weekend: Real Madrid to Test Sevilla Record
A full midweek fixture list in La Liga means that by the time we hit the weekend, we'll be looking at Gameweek 35 and moving into the final four games of the season.
At every level of the table, points are now critical and can mean the difference between achieving objectives and a heartbreaking or costly near-miss.
We've looked at each of the weekend fixtures in turn and here are our biggest storylines of the upcoming days in La Liga, starting with a title hopeful visiting the last unbeaten home record in Spain's top flight.
Sevilla's Unbeaten Home Record vs. the Best Away Attack
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Played 17, won 12, drawn five, lost none. That's Sevilla's home record in La Liga this term, the only side in the top flight in Spain who have avoided defeat at every challenge. The Sanchez Pizjuan is the refuge and dominion of the Andalucian side, who have only conceded nine times at the stadium.
That said, they haven't yet faced Real Madrid at home—and Real have hit the back of the net a massive 46 times in 17 matches on the road this term.
Real head into the match two points off top spot after their Wednesday night win over Almeria.
Top vs. Bottom: The Most Forgone Conclusion of the Season?
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Saturday morning sees Cordoba host Barcelona, the fixture of the two opposite ends of the Liga spectrum.
Barcelona are fighting for the title, clear at the top and have won nine of their last 10 Liga matches, drawing the other. During the week they put six past Getafe unanswered.
Cordoba, on the other hand, sit rock bottom, haven't won a game since mid-January and lost 1-0 to relegation-threatened Levante during the week. If they lose this match, they'll be officially relegated back to La Segunda Division regardless of results elsewhere.
In all honesty, even the most biased of home fans or cagey of Barca supporters would not expect anything other than a rampant win for the table-toppers this weekend. Earlier this season at the Camp Nou it finished 5-0. This time the scoreline could be even higher.
Atletico-Athletic
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Two of the most famous sides in Spain, with similar kits and similar names, face off over the weekend with both in good recent form.
Atletico Madrid host Athletic Bilbao following their first encounter in December. It was spectacular and exciting and sparked the tremendous run of form of Antoine Griezmann: he hit a hat-trick in that game just before Christmas and has since managed 19 goals in 17 league matches.
Atleti are hoping to continue their push for third, while Athletic's generally good form in 2015 means they are up in eighth and still retain a slim hope of European football for next year.
Precious Points for Getafe and Deportivo?
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The battle to escape relegation is still troubling up to 13th place realistically, but Getafe have a chance to seal their own survival this weekend and Deportivo La Coruna, currently in the last relegation spot of 18th, could also pick up hugely welcome—and unexpected—points.
Getafe were trounced by Barcelona in midweek but play 19th-place Granada at home on Sunday, a big opportunity to move to 39 points, which would be plenty to ensure survival.
Depor, meanwhile, are at home to Villarreal, who are a tremendous side but are struggling hugely at the end of this season, both for wins and for goals. If Fabricio, the excellent Depor stopper, can keep another clean sheet, then it would be a big step in the right direction—but they'll have to perform far better defensively than they did against Elche in midweek.
Valencia Must Take Advantage in the Race for Fourth
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We're looking at the weekend ahead of a Thursday night match for Valencia at Rayo Vallecano, but judging by Los Che's tactical solidity, their form and what's at stake for either team, we're gambling on them taking three points.
The weekend, though, sees what looks like a much more clear-cut three points for them, playing at home to the woefully out-of-form Eibar.
That simply has to be a win, especially with Sevilla facing Real Madrid and potentially dropping points, putting Valencia firmly back in control for a top-four finish.
Fighting for a Top-Half Finish
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We spoke about Rayo in the last slide, but they face Espanyol at the weekend in what is potentially a more winnable game. Paco Jemez tends to go all-out for victory every time, which may well give Sergio's side too much to deal with in a mid-table clash.
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad still need to get back to winning ways to finish in the top half after a poor recent run, and their Friday night match at home to Levante must surely yield three points.
The most in-form of the mid-table teams, Celta Vigo, travel to Almeria and will doubtless be confident of taking points there, too, after a good recent run including a last-minute win over Malaga in midweek.
