MADRID, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- La Liga prepares for another international break with a round of matches in which some teams are under pressure and others want to show how much they have improved. Here are some things to look out for this weekend in Spain.
1. Sevilla to test Barcelona
Sevilla plays at home to FC Barcelona on Sunday looking for its first home win since February and trying to achieve back-to-back triumphs for the first time in almost 18 months, but Barcelona would be advised to be wary of the visit to the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
Although a home win has proved elusive, Sevilla has looked a more compact team since the arrival of Matias Almeyda as coach, and has won three away games by combining a solid defense with rapid counter-attacking football.
With Barcelona expected to have most of the ball on Sunday, Sevilla will be able to sit deep and break as it does away from home, and Barcelona's defense may give Almeyda's side the chance of an upset.
2. Villarreal a good test for Real Madrid
It has been a strange week for Real Madrid after a 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid was followed by a 5-0 win in the UEFA Champions League away to Kairat Almaty.
Far from calming the waters, Tuesday's win seemed to highlight fissures between coach Xabi Alonso and some players, with Vinicius Jr unhappy at being substituted and Federico Valverde's reaction at not getting into the game also raising questions about his relationship with Alonso.
Villarreal will be a good test, as Marcelino Garcia's side arrives third in the table and with plenty of options in attack. If Villarreal is able to get a good result, it will be a difficult fortnight for Alonso.
3. Atletico looks to ride the wave in Vigo
Last week has made a huge difference at Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone's side going into last weekend in real danger of crashing out of the title race, but turning things around with a 5-2 win over Real Madrid, before thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League.
Those results and Julian Alvarez's performances have totally changed the mood around the club, and there is huge optimism ahead of Sunday's visit to play Celta Vigo.
Celta has two defeats and five draws this season but won in the Europa League on Thursday, while Atletico has 48 hours more recovery time and a bigger squad to allow more rotations.
4. Valverde, Nico back to help Athletic Club
Athletic Club has had a horrible month since the last international break with three defeats in La Liga and two in the Champions League, along with a draw at home to Girona.
There is probably no coincidence the results coincided with Nico Williams' injury and coach Ernesto Valverde's four-game ban after being sent off in early September.
Valverde is back in the dugout and Williams Jr should be on the pitch against Mallorca on Saturday, although Athletic's players have little recovery time after playing Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Wednesday. ■
