MADRID, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The second round of games played in La Liga over the coming three days should help clear up some of the questions which were asked in the opening weekend in Spain.
The matches begin on Friday with Sevilla, who impressed in a 2-0 win away to Espanyol, visiting newly-promoted Granada where confidence is high following their 4-4 draw at Villarreal.
Sevilla made 11 signings over the summer and brought in former Spain and Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui and the early signs are positive, although Granada did beat them in a pre-season friendly.
There is an east coast derby on Friday as Levante entertain Villarreal, who need to tighten up in defense after their opening day result.
Saturday begins with the first of 20 Basque derbies of the season, as newly-promoted Osasuna look to build on their opening day win away to Leganes with a home game against Eibar, who lost in Mallorca.
Expect a competitive game, but not an open one, with both sides giving everything in every challenge.
Real Madrid put a poor pre-season behind them with an opening day win away to Celta Vigo and are clear favorites to win at home to Real Valladolid in a relatively unchallenging start to the season.
Gareth Bale will probably start again for Zinedine Zidane's side after his stellar performance last weekend, although the coach will have to decide on a replacement for Luka Modric, who was sent off last week in Vigo.
Either Isco or Federico Valverde are the most likely replacements for Modric, while new signing Ferland Mendy could be on the bench after recovering from a muscle injury.
Celta face another difficult rival in Valencia, who still don't know whether striker Rodrigo Moreno will join Atletico Madrid or not. Los Che will also have striker Maxi Gomez in their squad after the Uruguayan joined them from Celta over the summer.
Saturday's last game sees Athletic Bilbao visit a Getafe side without suspended striker Jorge Molina, with Angel Rodriguez likely to step into the side.
Athletic beat Barcelona in their opening game and coach Gaizka Garitano is likely to name an unchanged side, although defender Inigo Martinez could return after injury.
Barcelona's home game against Real Betis will be the focus of attention on Sunday as the reigning champions look for their first win of the campaign after losing at the San Mames.
Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele are both injured, but it looks as if Lionel Messi will be available and will partner Antoine Griezmann in attack. How that pair works together is just one of the questions that will be answered in the Camp Nou, where Betis will travel without the injured Borja Iglesias.
Atletico Madrid make a short trip to face Leganes looking to build on their opening day win, and all eyes will be on the impressive Joao Felix after his performance last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mallorca, who returned to the top flight in style a week ago, are at home again with Real Sociedad likely to ask more questions of the newly-promoted side, while Espanyol will need to recover from Thursday's Europa League tie before they visit Alaves.
