MADRID, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona return to action after their first midweek without a game in 2019, while there is another Madrid derby and Real Madrid look to extend their winning run at home to a Girona side that has not won in 10 matches in the 24th round of games in Spain this weekend.
Barcelona will hope to have a placid evening when Valladolid visit the Camp Nou on Saturday night.
Ernesto Valverde's side goes into the game after consecutive draws against Valencia, Real Madrid and Athletic Club Bilbao and against Athletic especially they looked to be lacking sharpness after a demanding start to the year.
The Barca coach will have been grateful not to have a midweek game this week, which should have given Leo Messi to recover from his thigh injury although he was still struggling on Wednesday, and Ousmane Dembele to get back up to speed after an ankle issue and flu. Jordi Alba will also be back in the side after missing the trip to Bilbao through suspension.
Valladolid have slipped to 15th in the table with just one win from their last eight games and another defeat would leave them dangerously close to the relegation zone.
The last relegation spot is currently filled by Rayo Vallecano, who slipped back into the bottom three after their injury time defeat to Espanyol last weekend.
Rayo host Atletico Madrid, who have lost their last two league games to fall eight points behind Barca and two behind Real Madrid, who defeated them 3-1 in the Wanda Metropolitano stadium last weekend.
Diego Costa has returned to full training ahead of what is a vital game for both sides, although Atletico may have half an eye on next week's Champions League clash against Juventus.
The round of games kicks off as Eibar entertain Getafe, who would temporarily at least move to fourth with a win in the difficult Ipurua Stadium.
Celta will then look to Iago Aspas to lead them to victory at home to Levante in a battle against relegation. Levante will again be without left back Tono, who is currently in prison, faces charges including extortion.
Real Sociedad entertain Leganes with the Basque side looking for successive home wins for the first time this season against a rival that defeated Betis 3-0 a week ago and who have young striker Youssef En-Neysiri in the best form of his career.
Real Madrid have a rare midday kick off at home to Girona, with visiting coach Eusebio Sacristan under huge pressure after past weekend's defeat to Huesca. Real Madrid are clear favorites after twice beating Girona in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
Impressive substitute displays against Villarreal and Rayo mean Chinese striker Wu Lei could start for Espanyol in their difficult trip to Valencia, who are in Europa League action on Thursday.
Two more teams playing in Europe go head to head in the Estadio de la Ceramica with second from bottom Villarreal facing Sevilla. Villarreal have no win in their last 10 games, while their rivals have three defeats and three draws in their last seven league games.
Betis then play Alaves in a key game between two sides looking for a top-6 finish and the round of matches ends on Monday as Huesca look to make it three wins from three games when they entertain Athletic Club Bilbao, who have just one defeat in their last nine and last weekend drew at home to Barca.
