MADRID, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid faces a must-win match on Friday night, while Athletic Club hosts FC Barcelona in a meeting between two beaten Copa del Rey semifinalists and Atletico Madrid welcomes Real Sociedad in a preview of next month's cup final as Matchday 27 of La Liga unfolds this weekend.
Real Madrid's home defeat to Getafe on Monday set alarm bells ringing at the club, which has slipped four points behind Barcelona in the title race.
The result also raised questions about the long-term future of coach Alvaro Arbeloa ahead of next week's Champions League last-16 tie at home to Manchester City, with the outcome likely to influence whether he remains in charge at the end of the season.
Madrid travels to face sixth-place Celta Vigo without Kylian Mbappe, who is struggling with a knee injury, Rodrygo, whose season ended Monday with a torn cruciate ligament, and Franco Mastantuono, who received a two-game ban for insulting the referee in that match.
Those absences add to those of Raul Asencio, Jude Bellingham and Eder Militao, leaving Arbeloa with a selection headache.
Barcelona produced an impressive performance against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday but fell short of overturning a 4-0 first-leg deficit in the Copa del Rey semifinal.
The Catalan club will know Madrid's result before kicking off at Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium, with anything less than a win offering the chance to extend its lead at the top of the table.
Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde both suffered muscle injuries on Tuesday, while Robert Lewandowski could play wearing a protective mask after fracturing an eye socket last weekend.
Athletic Club lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad on Wednesday to miss out on the Copa del Rey final and has several players injured, including Nico Williams, Benat Prados, Maroan and Yeray Alvarez, limiting coach Ernesto Valverde's options.
By a twist of fate, Atletico Madrid hosts Real Sociedad just days after both teams booked places in the Copa del Rey final, with Saturday's match serving as a dry run for April's showdown.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone is expected to rotate his squad ahead of a Champions League visit to Tottenham, which could offer an opportunity for Real Sociedad, who drew the first meeting this season 1-1 in coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's first game in charge.
Elsewhere, two coaches make their debuts in key matches.
Martin Demichelis takes charge of Mallorca for the first time as his side visits Osasuna. Mallorca begins the weekend third from bottom and is in urgent need of inspiration after a poor run of form dropped it into the relegation zone.
Quique Sanchez Flores makes his debut at Alaves after Eduardo Coudet left to join River Plate. Flores begins with an away match against Valencia, where he previously enjoyed success as both a player and a coach early in his career.
Fourth-place Villarreal hosts Elche, who is still searching for a first away win of the season and slipping deeper into relegation trouble. Elche forward Rafa Mir will be under scrutiny after allegations of racist abuse against him last weekend.
Sevilla hosts Rayo Vallecano after both sides produced positive results during the past week, while Getafe travels to face Betis with confidence high following Monday's victory over Real Madrid.
Levante's win over Alaves last weekend kept its survival hopes alive, but it needs a home victory over an improving Girona before the round concludes on Monday. Espanyol also plays at home, hosting an Oviedo side that looks increasingly resigned to relegation after losing to Rayo Vallecano in midweek. ■
