MADRID, April 1 (Xinhua) -- La Liga is back in action this week after the last international break of the season. Here are some things to look out for in matchday 30 in Spain.
1. Will Real Madrid bounce back after 'Clasico' thrashing?
Real Madrid will probably be without coach Carlo Ancelotti for Saturday's visit to Celta Vigo after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday, but the big question hanging over the club is how they will react to their 4-0 defeat at home to FC Barcelona in their last match.
The international break probably came at a good time for Ancelotti's men as it allowed most of them to travel with their national teams and put that defeat behind them. The fact that they are still nine points clear at the top of La Liga table was also a factor in keeping the pressure off.
They will be confident of winning in Vigo, where they are unbeaten in their last seven visits, but failure to win would set a few alarm bells ringing.
2. Can Barca or Sevilla keep the pressure on?
One thing in Real Madrid's favor is that their two closest rivals for the title, Barcelona and Sevilla, face each other in the Camp Nou Stadium, and at least one will drop points.
Confidence is sky-high in Camp Nou after the win over Real Madrid and club president Joan Laporta continues to insist that the title is still possible, but for Barca to have the slightest chance they will have to beat the side directly above them in the table.
Sevilla haven't won in the Camp Nou since 2010 and have lost six of their last seven visits to the ground, conceding 22 goals in the process. Coach Julen Lopetegui will also be without players such as goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Papu Gomez, Thomas Delaney, Rafa Mir and Marcos Acuna, which only serves to make his task more difficult.
3. Big chance for Atletico to maintain a good run ahead of a visit to Manchester City
A run of five consecutive wins in La Liga has steadied the ship just when it looked as if Atletico Madrid were on the verge of missing out on a top-four finish this season.
Atletico have an excellent chance of making it six wins out of six and getting the perfect preparation for their Champions League quarterfinal visit to play Manchester City next week when they entertain Alaves.
Alaves are second from the bottom without a win in five matches, and their last game before the international break saw them surrender a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 at home to fellow strugglers Granada. Alaves coach Jose Luis Mendilibar looked to be almost in shock when he spoke to the press after that defeat and with his side continuing to leak goals, another defeat looks very likely.
4. Aguirre to make his mark at Mallorca?
Javier Aguirre was named as the new Mallorca coach during the international break after Luis Garcia Plaza lost his job following a run of six consecutive defeats which left them in the relegation zone.
Mallorca is Aguirre's sixth La Liga club and he is a man who generally gets results. Although his last Spanish adventure at Leganes ended in a heartbreaking last day relegation, he improved a team that had looked doomed when he took over.
Only bottom of the table Levante have conceded more goals than Mallorca, so when Aguirre makes his debut away to Getafe on Saturday lunchtime, it is easy to see where he has to start. ■
