MADRID, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Leaders Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid both have difficult away games this weekend in La Liga, and tiredness could be a factor for both sides after draining matches in midweek.
Barcelona returned to winning ways with a convincing win away to Mallorca, and it has not escaped anyone's attention that the win came with Lamine Yamal back in the starting 11.
The youngster will start again as Barca travels to face Real Betis, who qualified for the Copa del Rey's third round on Wednesday night with a side containing several fringe players.
Betis' form has dropped away worryingly in La Liga, with two defeats and two draws in the last four matches seeing the team fall into mid-table, and Manuel Pellegrini needs to see a reaction on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid also needs to react after losing 2-1 away to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, in a game where Los Merengues was outrun and outplayed by their rival.
Carlo Ancelotti's side has another long trip to face Girona, who lost in the Cup on Wednesday on penalties to fourth-tier Logrones, who played the closing minutes and the shootout with a player less and an outfield player in goal.
Despite its Cup exit, Girona's form has picked up considerably in the league, with three wins and a draw in the last four games.
Real Madrid's main concern is for Kylian Mbappe to recover his confidence after missing another penalty in Bilbao, while Vinicius Jr and Eduardo Camavinga are still out with hamstring injuries.
The win against Madrid has strengthened Athletic's grip on fourth place, but the Basque side will have to lift itself again for another big game when Villarreal visits the San Mames Stadium on Sunday.
Villarreal sits just three points behind Athletic with two games in hand, but was also knocked out of the Cup by a lower division rival on Wednesday, and coach Marcelino Garcia - who worked at Athletic for almost two seasons - will look for a reaction.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde will continue with his squad rotation as he looks to keep his players as fresh as possible.
Atletico Madrid has improved in recent games and sits just a point behind Real Madrid going into the weekend. Los Colchoneros is at home to Sevilla and should be favorite to continue the recent good form.
Elsewhere, Valencia returns to the Mestalla Stadium for a vital match at home to Rayo Vallecano. Valencia is second from bottom, while three consecutive league defeats have left Rayo on the verge of a battle against relegation.
Las Palmas has the chance to move away from the danger zone when they entertain bottom side Real Valladolid, who has B-team boss Alvaro Rubio on the bench after Paulo Pezzolano was sacked in the wake of last weekend's 5-0 drubbing at home to Atletico Madrid.
Celta Vigo is at home to Mallorca and needs to end a run of three games without a win that has seen them slump towards the wrong half of the table, while Real Sociedad looks to continue its climb in the other direction away to a well-organized, but limited Leganes.
Eduardo Coudet makes his league debut as Alaves coach after the surprise sacking of Luis Garcia Plaza in a derby away to an Osasuna side that has lost winger Bryan Zaragoza with a broken bone in his foot.
The round of matches ends on Monday with another relegation battle, as Getafe entertains Espanyol, another side beaten by lower level opposition in the Cup. ■
