MADRID, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 25th round of La Liga matches this weekend could be decisive in the title race and bring changes in the battle to qualify for Europe next season.
Real Madrid's 4-0 win at home to Girona last weekend put them five points clear of their nearest rivals in the title race, and they have a chance to extend that lead to eight points on Sunday when they visit Rayo Vallecano.
Carlo Ancelotti is still without Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba, and Jude Bellingham's ankle problem means he also misses out, while Brahim Diaz, who replaced Bellingham for Real Madrid's 1-0 Champions League win in Leipzig, is also a doubt with a calf problem.
Rayo welcomes Real Madrid after a run of just one win in 14 league games saw Francsico Rodriguez sacked as coach during the week and replaced by Inigo Perez.
The former assistant to Andoni Iraola at Vallecas makes his coaching debut in arguably the toughest game of the season.
Girona welcomes back coach Michel Sanchez, Daley Blind and Yangel Herrera, who were all suspended in Madrid, for their visit to Athletic Bilbao.
Athletic is fifth in La Liga and would have gone fourth if they had beaten Almeria on Monday night. The side coached by Ernesto Valverde is unbeaten in their San Mames Stadium since the opening game of the season, with six wins in their last six home games.
Athletic has been tired after their efforts in the Copa del Rey, but they could have Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta back after injury.
FC Barcelona dropped further points last weekend and Xavi Hernandez's side visits Celta Vigo on Saturday, with one eye on next week's Champions League visit to Napoli.
Celta's 3-0 win in Pamplona last weekend showed their potential but they are still deep in the battle to avoid relegation.
Atletico Madrid also warms up for Champions League action with a home game against Las Palmas. Atletico is without the injured Alvaro Morata, and coach Diego Simeone has to balance the need for points in La Liga with the physical demands of playing in Europa and a Copa del Rey return leg at the end of the month in Bilbao.
The round of games kicks off on Friday night with Villarreal at home to Getafe. Villarreal still needs points to move clear of the relegation struggle.
Cadiz's defeat to Real Betis last weekend means they have gone 20 games since their last league win, and they visit Osasuna, who will be anxious to bounce back after last weekend's loss to Celta. Osasuna has lost forward Jose Arnaiz to a muscle injury.
Valencia capitulated to two late goals in Las Palmas last weekend and is at home to Sevilla. The return of Youssef En-Nesyri boosts Quique Sanchez Flores' men in their battle to avoid the drop.
Second from bottom Granada entertains bottom side Almeria in a dramatic match after both sides impressed last weekend, with Granada taking a point away to Barcelona and Almeria holding Athletic Bilbao with 10 men.
Almeria's survival hopes look to have gone, but a win over Granada would give them a slim chance of staying up.
Mallorca plays Real Sociedad 10 days after they met in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal (which ended 0-0) and 10 days ahead of their return leg.
Sunday's final game sees Betis, who is without Ayoze Perez and Isco, look to move closer to a place in Europe at home to a rugged Alaves, who has powerful striker Samu as their main threat. ■
