MADRID, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- La Liga returns after the international break with a game where injuries are likely to play a key role, as Real Sociedad entertain Real Madrid on Saturday night.
Real Madrid are without Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Aurelian Tchouameni and David Alaba with various injuries, while Jude Bellingham is a doubt due to a muscle problem he picked up before the break.
The absences leave Carlo Ancelotti with a jigsaw puzzle to complete in defense and midfield and Dani Carvajal or Jesus Vallejo could start alongside Antonio Rudiger in the heart of their defense.
Real Sociedad have lost their two home matches this campaign and are also struggling with a long list of absentees that includes Mikel Oyarzabal, with a badly twisted ankle, Hamari Traore, who is out for the season, and creative midfielder Brais Mendez, along with Aritz Elustondo and Alvaro Odriozola, leaving coach Imanol Alguacil without a fit right back in his first team squad.
The round of matches starts on Friday when Betis take on recently promoted Leganes, who could give a debut to star signing Sebastian Haller, who they hope will give some spark to their attack.
Villarreal impressed in the opening games of the season, but it is still hard to understand why they allowed Arnaut Danjuma to join Girona after he began the season with two goals in three games. Villarreal coach Marcelino will hope not to miss the Dutch forward when his side make the short trip to Mallorca on Saturday lunchtime.
Consecutive wins have lifted Alaves well up the table and confidence will be high when Luis Garcia's team visit Espanyol, although their Barcelona-based rivals got their season up and running with a late winner at home to Rayo Vallecano before the break.
Sevilla and Getafe go head-to-head on Saturday, with both sides looking for their first win of the season, with Sevilla without the injured Loric Bade due to a muscle problem.
Sunday kicks off with Celta at home to Valladolid. The visitors have had two weeks to recover from their 7-0 humiliation in Barcelona a fortnight ago, but will have to plug the gaps against a rival that bases their football on all-out attack.
The big game on Sunday is the Catalan derby between Girona and FC Barcelona. Girona beat Barcelona twice last season and after a lot of changes over the summer, they began to run into form ahead of the break. They have also added Danjuma to their attack.
Barca travel as the only team in La Liga with a 100 percent record, but with the same injury problems, it remains to be seen how fresh players such as Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski are after their respective international efforts.
Athletic Club Bilbao are at full strength as they prepare to visit a Las Palmas side that has gone 18 games without a win, before Sunday ends with Atletico Madrid at home to Valencia.
Atletico were very lucky to win in Bilbao before the break, but will fancy their chances against a rival that has only one point from four games and who are without the injured Hugo Duro. Rafa Mir's arrest for alleged sexual assault has kept Valencia in the headlines for the wrong reasons during the break and the big forward will take no part in Sunday's match.
The round of matches ends on Monday with Rayo Vallecano likely to give a home debut to star signing James Rodriguez when they entertain Osasuna in their Vallecas Stadium. ■
