MADRID, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona needs to stop the slide in form and results it has suffered in recent weeks if it wants to end 2024 at the top of La Liga, but Hansi Flick's side has a difficult game at home to Atletico Madrid in the 18th round of matches in Spain this weekend.
Barca and Atletico are level at the top of the table, but their recent performances have been very different, with Barca going into the game after taking just five points from its last six matches and on the back of a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Leganes last weekend.
That game also saw it lose Lamine Yamal with an ankle injury, which robs Flick of a key player, although defender Ronald Araujo is set to return for his first appearance of the season.
Atletico's form is a stark contrast to Barcelona, after seven consecutive league wins, with the partnership of Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann starting to gel in attack, while the runs of Marcos Llorente from deep could also be a factor if Barca continue with its high defensive line.
Newly crowned Intercontinental Cup champion Real Madrid ends 2024 at home to Sevilla who is comfortable in mid-table under.
If Barca and Atletico draw, a win would see Carlo Ancelotti's side end 2024 on the top of the table, although Ancelotti will have to rotate his squad to avoid tiredness after Wednesday's game in Doha, while Vinicius Jr misses the game due to suspension.
The round of matches kicks off with new Valladolid coach Diego Cocca making his debut away to Girona. A 1-0 win over Valencia last weekend lifted Valladolid from the bottom of La Liga, but it has never won away to Girona.
Getafe still needs a win to climb away from the danger zone and could have a chance against a Mallorca side that loses Vedat Muriqi and Manu Morlanes through suspension.
Real Sociedad take its good recent form to play Celta Vigo for what promises to be an entertaining game as one team performs well at home and another is strong on the road.
There is a derby as Osasuna take on fourth placed Athletic Bilbao, with the visitors looking to extend their unbeaten run to 14 matches in all competitions and get back to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw away to Alaves last weekend.
The big question over the game is whether Unai Simon or Julen Agirrezabala will play in goal for Athletic after Unai returned to league action with a costly error in Vitoria.
Alaves will take heart from its point against Athletic ahead of a vital game away to bottom of the table Valencia. Coach Ruben Baraja is under ever increasing danger of losing his job at Valencia after defeat to Valladolid last week and a 1-1 draw away to Espanyol on Wednesday night and could even be gone before Sunday.
Espanyol remains in the bottom three and visit a Las Palmas side that has climbed four points clear of the relegation zone, with three wins and a draw in its last five games under Diego Martinez, whose last job was an unsuccessful spell with Espanyol.
Villarreal travels to Leganes needing to end a run that hasn't seen it win since the end of October and will place its hope in forwards Ayoze Perez and Alex Baena as they take on a side boosted by their historic win in Barcelona.
The last match of the year in La Liga sees Betis at home to Rayo Vallecano, who travels south after drawing 3-3 at home to Real Madrid and holding Villarreal 1-1 on Wednesday night. ■
