MADRID, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- This Friday sees the start of 10 intense days of league football in Spain with the fifth round of matches in the Liga Santander. Here are some things to look out for over the weekend.
1. Time for rotations
With three league games in a week, most teams in Spain will find the depth of their squads tested to the limit, with those playing in Europe having even more pressure in an intense period of football.
Expect Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde and Real Madrid's Julen Lopetegui to make changes to their starting 11's for their respective home games against Girona and Espanyol. This could be the moment that new signings such as Arturo Vidal, Clement Lenglet and Arthur at Barca and Mariano Diaz (who scored a brilliant goal in his Champions League debut on Wednesday) could be waiting. Meanwhile Alvaro Odriozola at Real Madrid must think that if he doesn't start against Espanyol, he's never going to get the chance....
2. Atletico seeking 'away comforts' in Getafe
Atletico Madrid have had a poor start to the Liga Santander with just 5 points from their first four league matches. One reason for that was put forward by Diego Costa on Tuesday when he criticized the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, saying it was in 'dreadful' condition.
Atletico make the short trip to face Getafe on Saturday and it remains to be seen if the Alfonso Perez Coliseum will offer any comfort to Atletico.
Getafe coach Pepe Bordalas is known for making conditions as difficult as possible for his side's rivals, so Atletico can expect dry pitch with the grass as long as possible to receive them for what promises to be an ugly, hard-fought match.
3. Rulli or Moya for Real Sociedad
Last season saw Real Sociedad sign goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya after a series of errors from Geronimo Rulli cost them vital points. Injury sidelined Moya at the start of this season with Rulli getting the nod and making a series of important saves, however, his habitual weakness on high balls was all too evident as two errors last weekend gifted FC Barcelona a 2-1 win in the new-look Anoeta Stadium.
New Real Sociedad coach Asier Garitano's first big decision of the season is: does he stick with Rulli or bring Moya into the side despite the possible blow that would deal to the Argentinean's confidence?
4. Will the real Valencia finally stand up?
It's been a tough start to the new season for Valencia: the side that finished fourth last season sit just above the relegation zone without a win so far and their return to the Champions League on Wednesday ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Juventus despite playing against 10 men for over an hour after Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off.
Valencia pressed hard all game but the ball would not go in the net for them on Wednesday, while at the back, they have looked far from the solid outfit which did so well a year ago.
Coach Marcelino Garcia Toral will hope to have midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia available for the short trip to face Villarreal (who are themselves struggling for form) but he needs his team to work as a unit again, otherwise they could find themselves spending much of the season playing catch up.
