MADRID, April 1 (Xinhua) -- La Liga returns to action this weekend for the long run-in to the end of the season, with the title, European qualification and relegation all still at stake.
FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will attract much of the attention in the coming days as the two sides meet in La Liga Saturday ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal, meaning they will face each other three times in less than two weeks.
The first of those meetings comes Saturday when Barcelona returns to Atletico's Metropolitano Stadium, where nobody has forgotten the 4-0 drubbing Atletico handed Hansi Flick's side in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal in February.
The good news for Flick is that Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia and possibly Alejandro Balde should be fit for Saturday, but that is offset by the loss of Raphinha to a hamstring injury suffered while playing for Brazil.
Raphinha is a key player for Flick, not only in attack but also in pressing opponents as they try to play the ball out from defense. Given how Atletico exposed weaknesses in Barcelona's back four in the Copa del Rey, his absence is a major blow.
Real Madrid visits relegation-threatened Mallorca Saturday afternoon, with Alvaro Arbeloa's men boosted by their derby win over Atletico Madrid before the international break.
Jude Bellingham is a doubt after returning early from international duty with a muscle problem, while Arbeloa will also have to assess the condition of other players, such as Arda Guler, after their international appearances.
The weekend kicks off with Rayo Vallecano at home to Elche Friday night. Elche claimed its first win of 2026 before the break but remains without an away victory all season, something that has hampered its survival hopes.
Betis has taken just two points from its last 12, but will be the favorite at home to an Espanyol side that has yet to win in 2026, with a 12-game run seeing the club fall from fifth to 11th in the standings.
Getafe's trajectory has been the opposite of Espanyol's, with Jose Bordalas' side looking for its fourth consecutive win when it hosts Athletic Bilbao.
Athletic Bilbao got a needed morale boost by beating Betis before the break and could have Nico Williams, Benat Prados and Maroan Sannadi available again after injury. Yeray Alvarez's 10-month ban for taking a banned substance ends Thursday, making him available as well.
Valencia showed improvement before the international break and is at home to Celta Vigo, while Luis Garcia Plaza will make his debut as Sevilla coach with a vital trip to face Oviedo.
Luis Garcia was named as the replacement for Matias Almeyda at the start of the international break, and his first game in charge is a visit to the bottom side, which is battling to keep its survival hopes alive.
Early signs suggest Sevilla will be more direct under its new coach, so an intense game with few chances can be expected.
Alaves took vital points in its survival battle in Vigo before the break, and striker Toni Martinez will be one to watch in a derby against Osasuna, where forward Victor Munoz impressed on his Spain debut last weekend and Ante Budimir is also always a threat.
The round of matches ends Monday with third-place Villarreal traveling to face a Girona side that has improved in recent weeks but still needs points to ensure survival. ■
