La Liga Fixtures 2015 Week 3: Schedule, Live Stream Info, Picks and Key Players
Defending champions Barcelona face a tough early test in Week 3 of the new La Liga season as they travel to the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Saturday to face Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid will be looking to build on their 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis last time out when they meet Espanyol, while Sevilla visit Levante on Friday.
Fast-starters Celta de Vigo and Eibar will be hoping to maintain their perfect starts to the season when they face Las Palmas and Malaga, respectively, on Sunday.
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Read on for the full fixture list for this weekend's action in La Liga, as well as picks, live streaming information and a look at the key players who could make an impact.
| Date | Time (BST/ET) | Fixture | Live Stream | Pick |
| Friday, September 11 | 7:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. | Levante vs. Sevilla | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Sevilla |
| Saturday, September 12 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Espanyol vs. Real Madrid | beIN Sports Connect | Real Madrid |
| Saturday, September 12 | 5:15 p.m./12:15 p.m. | Sporting de Gijon vs. Valencia | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Valencia |
| Saturday, September 12 | 7:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. | Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Draw |
| Saturday, September 12 | 9 p.m./4 p.m. | Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Real Sociedad |
| Sunday, September 13 | 11 a.m./6 a.m. | Granada vs. Villarreal | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Villarreal |
| Sunday, September 13 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Athletic Bilbao vs. Getafe | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Athletic Bilbao |
| Sunday, September 13 | 5:15 p.m./12:15 p.m. | Celta de Vigo vs. Las Palmas | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Celta de Vigo |
| Sunday, September 13 | 7:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. | Malaga vs. Eibar | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Malaga |
| Monday, September 14 | 7:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. | Rayo Vallecano vs. Deportivo La Coruna | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Draw |
Lionel Messi, Barcelona
It's so glaringly obvious it's almost not worth mentioning, but Lionel Messi will be key for Barca if they are to pick up a vital away win against Atleti.
The Argentinian superstar has started uncharacteristically slowly in La Liga this season, failing to register either a goal or an assist in Barca's two 1-0 wins—he had already netted twice at the same stage last season.
However, Messi has seemingly found his scoring boots over the international break, as he has scored three times in two friendlies, and he was vital as Argentina came back from 2-0 down to draw with Mexico on Wednesday, per barcastuff:
"Video: Goal Messi (2-2) vs ARG https://t.co/xLBBNUeQH5 [via @argentina]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) September 9, 2015"
Luis Enrique's men met Atletico four times last season and won every match, with Messi registering three goals against Diego Simeone's side.
Messi's movement and link-up play with Luis Suarez and Neymar will need to be on point if Barca are to undo Atleti's solid central defensive pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez.
The 28-year-old superstar's successes with Argentina may just have been what he needed to inspire him to get off and running in La Liga this season and engineer a victory over Madrid.
Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
Frenchman Antoine Griezmann has picked up where he left off last season for Atleti and could cause Barca's defence all kinds of problems on Saturday.
The 24-year-old has had a major impact already this season, scoring in Atletico's 1-0 win over Las Palmas on the opening day and providing two assists in the excellent 3-0 away win at Sevilla last time out, per WhoScored.com.
Griezmann is the creative force that makes Simeone's side tick, and if he is well assisted by Koke against Barca, Atletico will certainly carve out some opportunities in front of goal.
Equally, his fledgling relationship with new striker Jackson Martinez could be vital, and the hosts will need to be clinical with their finishing if they are to reverse their losing trend against Barcelona.
Griezmann has the ability to become one of the world's best players, and his form against the top sides in the world is how he will be judged. Barca are most certainly one of those, and Griezmann has a terrific chance to make an impact against the Camp Nou giants.
Gareth Bale, Real Madrid
Gareth Bale has a new role at Real Madrid under manager Rafael Benitez, who has moved him into a more central position to play just behind the striker.
It seems to be paying dividends as the Welshman netted twice last time out against Betis, and he will look to continue his goalscoring form in Barcelona this weekend.
Los Blancos are likely victors against Espanyol this weekend given their excellent recent record against the Periquitos—both La Liga fixtures last season saw Real win by a three-goal margin.
However, they must guard against complacency, as a victory will see them close in on one or both of their main rivals for the La Liga title, with Barca and Atleti meeting each other.
Bale came under immense scrutiny last season as his form was inconsistent, but he has made an excellent start to the new term. He could make a claim to be Real's key man during the campaign if he keeps his goalscoring form going.
