La Liga Fixtures 2015 Week 17: Schedule, Live Stream Info, Picks and Key Players
Any one of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid could end Week 17 of the La Liga campaign at the head of the table, with just two points separating first and third heading into the midweek schedule.
All three sides are in action on Wednesday as Barca host Real Betis hoping to move clear of Atletico, who travel to Rayo Vallecano, while rivals Real welcome Real Sociedad to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Week 17 also brings a clash between fourth-placed Celta Vigo and Athletic Bilbao, who sit seventh, before Gary Neville's Valencia have a tough trip to Villarreal in Thursday's sole fixture.
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Spain's elite return to top-flight action following their short winter break, and we provide all the vital viewing information for the midweek slate along with discussion of the top players to keep an eye out for.
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Levante | 1-1 | Malaga | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Real Madrid | 3-0 | Real Sociedad | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 5:15 p.m. (GMT) / 12:15 p.m. (ET) | Sevilla | 1-0 | Espanyol | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 5:15 p.m. (GMT) / 12:15 p.m. (ET) | Rayo Vallecano | 0-2 | Atletico Madrid | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 5:30 p.m. (GMT) / 12:30 p.m. (ET) | Eibar | 2-1 | Sporting Gijon | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 7:30 p.m. (GMT) / 2:30 p.m. (ET) | Barcelona | 3-1 | Real Betis | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 7:30 p.m. (GMT) / 2:30 p.m. (ET) | Celta Vigo | 2-2 | Athletic Bilbao | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 7:30 p.m. (GMT) / 2:30 p.m. (ET) | Getafe | 1-2 | Deportivo La Coruna | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Wednesday, Dec. 30 | 8 p.m. (GMT) /3 p.m. (ET) | Las Palmas | 1-1 | Granada | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
| Thursday, Dec. 31 | 3 p.m. (GMT) / 10 a.m. (ET) | Villarreal | 1-0 | Valencia | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect |
Key Players to Watch
Koke, Atletico Madrid
Atletico manager Diego Simeone will be without the services of suspended veteran Gabi for the trip to Rayo on Wednesday, placing a burden on young gun Koke to lead Los Rojiblancos' creative ranks in his absence.
The Vicente Calderon side can claim the La Liga lead—at least temporarily—with three points on Wednesday, and they're looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Malaga last time out.
Koke expressed his bitter disappointment with that result, per Spanish daily AS:
"The team faced up and fought with 10 men, we had the chance to make it 0-1, but we lacked intensity. We have to keep working and fighting, Today we can’t be happy because we didn’t play well. In the second half, practically the entore [sic] second half we couldn’t get that goal, and in one lucky moment they got the winner.
"
Antoine Griezmann has been the club's standout attacker this season, but in league matches away from home, Koke has been as big a presence in front of goal, scoring twice and recording two assists in seven games.
The playmaker has long been regarded as one of Atleti's most promising players. Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com recently expressed his disbelief that Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was ranked higher than the Spaniard in the Guardian's top 100 players of 2015:
Koke is often asked to shift around Atletico's flanks, and he may have to accommodate the team again in Gabi's absence, with the side looking to inflict more pain on Rayo, who lost to Real 10-2 in their last outing.
The 23-year-old is yet to score at the Vicente Calderon this season, but Atletico will look to Koke once again deliver them three points in foreign territory this week.
Eric Bailly, Villarreal
Villarreal's success has long been built on a stingy defensive record, and after conceding just 15 goals in the league this season, they're once again up there with La Liga's elite when it comes to their back line.
Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly has been a major component in that thriving Villarreal back four, and ESPN FC writer Salim Masoud Said has tipped the centre-back for a bright future:
Valencia are yet to win a game under Neville, and it's away from home that Los Che have really struggled this term, netting just nine times in eight fixtures outside the Mestalla.
Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC recently highlighted a trip to El Madrigal as one of the fixtures likely to trouble Valencia, and with Bailly blocking their way, one can understand why:
Bailly is striving to make his way back into Marcelino's squad after missing the 2-0 win against Real Sociedad through injury, the first league game his side have won without him this term.
The Yellow Submarine's defence looks more daunting with 21-year-old Bailly present, and the January 2015 recruit will look to cap off a terrific first year with Villarreal by securing a valuable three points against Valencia.
