La Liga Fixtures 2016 Week 31: Schedule, Live Stream Info, Picks and Key Players
This week's La Liga fixtures are headlined by the second Clasico of the season. It's a perfect chance for Barcelona to knock Real Madrid out of the title race once and for all.
Elsewhere, Celta Vigo's derby clash with Deportivo La Coruna affords the former a chance to close the gap on Villarreal in fourth place to just three points.
Here's the schedule information for the week's games, along with picks:
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| Date | Time (BST / ET) | Match | Live Stream | Picks |
| Friday, Apr. 1 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Rayo Vallecano vs. Getafe | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Rayo |
| Saturday, Apr. 2 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis | beIN Sports Connect | Atletico |
| Saturday, Apr. 2 | 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m. | Las Palmas vs. Valencia | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Draw |
| Saturday, Apr. 2 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Barcelona vs. Real Madrid | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Barcelona |
| Saturday, Apr. 2 | 9:05 p.m. / 4:05 p.m. | Celta Vigo vs. Deportivo La Coruna | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Celta |
| Sunday, Apr. 3 | 11 a.m. / 6 a.m. | Athletic Bilbao vs. Granada | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Bilbao |
| Sunday, Apr. 3 | 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. | Malaga vs. Espanyol | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Draw |
| Sunday, Apr. 3 | 5:15 p.m. / 12:15 p.m. | Eibar vs. Villarreal | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Draw |
| Sunday, Apr. 3 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Sevilla vs. Real Sociedad | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Sevilla |
| Monday, Apr. 4 | 7:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. | Levante vs. Sporting Gijon | Sky Go / beIN Sports Connect | Sporting |
Not that he needs extra motivation to once again punish Barca's bitter enemy, but Lionel Messi does have the chance to reach a career milestone in this Clasico.
ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan provided details:
Messi may like the timing, but it's ominous for Los Blancos. Barcelona's free-scoring No. 10 has been in superb form in 2016 and is now no longer the primary focus of opponents' attentions.
He can't be when teams also have to dedicate concentration and resources to shackling prolific pair Luis Suarez and Neymar. But no player is more efficient at punishing even a momentary lapse in focus than Messi.
The 28-year-old Argentinian talisman has decided his share of Clasico meetings during his decorated career. Count on Messi again proving decisive.
Fabian Orellana
Celta boast plenty of firepower up front in the form of Nolito, Iago Aspas and John Guidetti. But it's Chilean workhorse Fabian Orellana who really makes manager Eduardo Berizzo's team tick.
The versatile attacking midfielder is an expert at playing between the lines, exploiting space and creating chances for the forward line. Yet it's Orellana's own eye for goal that can make the difference against Depor.
The 30-year-old has found the net six times in Spain's top flight this season, according to WhoScored.com. His predatory instincts, cool touch in front of goal and shooting power will present a host of problems for a Deportivo defence that's been breached 43 times this season, per Yahoo Sports.
A derby victory would provide Celta's hopes of finishing in the UEFA Champions League places with a massive boost. It would put Berizzo's team just three points behind Villarreal, 24 hours before the Yellow Submarine visit Eibar for a tricky encounter.
Plenty of interest should also be paid to Valencia's trip to Las Palmas, Los Che's first game since dismissing Gary Neville as manager. While a talented yet under-performing squad attempts to get back on track, Atletico Madrid will look to take maximum advantage of the Clasico by grinding out three points at home to Real Betis.
But taking full advantage will require Atleti's neighbours taking something from the Camp Nou. Given Barca's continued dominance in La Liga, that doesn't look likely.
