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MADRID, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The three title favorites in the Liga Santander all have to wait until Sunday before playing matches that none of them can afford to lose as the second half of the season begins with a repeat of the fixtures from the opening day of the campaign.
Although Real Madrid have a one point lead and a game in hand over second place Sevilla, their home game against Real Sociedad is one Zinedine Zidane's side have to win.
Wednesday's exit from the King's Cup followed an unconvincing home display against Malaga, which in turn came on the back of two defeats, so anything other than victory would raise big questions over Madrid's current form.
Zidane will have to adapt his defense due to injuries to Dani Carvajal and Marcelo, while Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are also sidelined against a side which has improved greatly following their 3-0 home defeat to Madrid on the opening day of the season.
Sevilla are away from home and if their trip to play Espanyol is half as entertaining as the 6-4 the two sides served on the opening day of the season, fans are in for a treat.
Sevilla were fortunate in winning away to Osasuna last weekend, but should have Samir Nasri back to give some more control to midfield, meanwhile Espanyol were convincing in a comfortable 3-1 win at home to a weak Granada.
Barcelona have the midday kick off away to an improving Betis and will not be pleased after having a King's Cup tie against Real Sociedad late on Thursday night, which gives neither side much recovery time.
Luis Enrique will have to juggle his squad after injuries to Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta and it could be a moment for former Sevilla midfielder Ivan Raketic to up the pace after a disappointing season to date.
Betis are unbeaten at home since Victor Sanchez took over as coach and the Benito Villamarin is traditionally a hostile ground for Barca to play in.
Atletico Madrid's title hopes probably evaporated after last Sunday's 2-2 draw in Bilbao and Diego Simeone's men face their third visit to the Basque region in a week when they follow last weekend's match against Athletic Club and Wednesday's cup tie in Eibar with a trip to play Alaves in Vitoria.
Alaves are tough to beat, but have only beaten Betis and Granada in front of their fans and this promises to be a tight game with few chances.
The weekend kicks off with Osasuna, who were furious at refereeing errors during last week's defeat to Sevilla, entertaining a Malaga side that has lost three consecutive games under new coach 'Gato' Silva.
Villarreal are clear favorites to beat second from bottom Granada, while Deportivo la Coruna coach Gaizka Garitano takes his current club back to the ground where he led Eibar to promotion from the Segunda B to the Primera Liga in consecutive years.
Leganes need points to avoid being drawn into a relegation dogfight, but face a difficult task at home to Celta Vigo.
Finally, three former Athletic Club Bilbao players (Ismael Lopez, Borja Viguera and Fernando Amorebieta) return to play their former club in the colors of Sporting Gijon, who are currently third from bottom of the table.
The most positive note for Sunday's game in San Mames (and perhaps the weekend as a whole) is the return of Yeray Alvarez for Athletic, just 33 days after he underwent an operation for testicular cancer.
