La Liga Week 16 Preview: All eyes on the first Clasico of the season, Sevilla set their sights on Champions League place and Atlético Madrid look for a first away win
Saturday, December 10 (All times UK)
17.00
  
Ciutat de Valencia
Sevilla will travel to the east coast as they look to leapfrog Levante into fourth place by recording a win over Juan Ignacio Martinez’s side. The Granotas, who have lost four of their last five matches, are without left-back Asier del Horno as well as striker Wellington, who is yet to make his debut for the club whilst Marcelino García Toral is missing winger Diego Perotti, who is out with a hamstring injury, and goalkeeper Andres Palop for the trip to Levante.
19.00
 
Benito Villamarín
Valencia will be looking to maintain the pressure on Barcelona with a win away to Real Betis this weekend. Los Che have lost just one of their last 10 league matches but return to league action on Saturday following a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League midweek. Betis have not won any of their last 10 fixtures but will be looking to avoid dropping into the relegation zone by getting a result at home to Unai Emery’s men and midfielder Jose Alberto Canas is confident his side can beat Valencia, as he told Marca: “We can beat a great team such as Valencia...I hope that this Saturday we achieve the victory that we all need.”
21.00
 
Santiago Bernabéu
The first Clasico of this season’s league campaign could prove to be a key moment in deciding the title. As Real currently sit three points ahead of Barcelona in the league table with a game in hand, a victory on Saturday night means they could potentially go nine points ahead of their arch rivals. Jose Mourinho’s side have won each of their last 15 matches in all competitions and so far this season and have scored 28 goals at the Bernabeu whereas the Blaugrana have netted just eight times on the road. But Barcelona midfielder Xavi, who will make his 600th appearance for the club on Saturday, feels current form counts for very little when it comes to Clasicos: “[Form] means nothing as far as this game is concerned. The Clasicos have nothing to do with the table, nor how either team are doing. Anything can happen.”
Sunday, December 11
11.00
 
Campo de fútbol de Vallecas
Rayo Vallecano will be hopeful of ending their recent decline this weekend by bringing their run of defeats, which currently sits at three, to a halt with a victory over Sporting. José Ramón Sandoval’s side have dropped to 11th in the league and face a Gijon side which sits second bottom and has won just one of the last five matches. Manuel Preciado is without Alberto Lora, Ricardo Leon and Sebastian Eguren for this clash whilst Nacho Cases and Gaston Sangoy are doubtful.
15.00
 
Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
Granada, who are unbeaten in their last five matches, travel to face an inconsistent Getafe who have failed to build on their recent shock victory over Barcelona, having lost 3-0 to Sevilla the following week. Carlos Martins will be absent for the visitors for this clash whilst the hosts have no fresh injury worries. Getafe will feel desperate to get a result against Granada in order to avoid dropping closer to the relegation zone and they will feel they have a great chance after seeing Granada surrender a lead in midweek to draw 2-2 with Mallorca.
15.00
 
El Madrigal
After a disappointing European campaign, Villarreal will return to Liga action on Sunday as they host Real Sociedad. Defender Matteo Musacchio is suspended after he picked up his fifth yellow card against Racing last weekend. Despite the defeat to Racing, Juan Carlos Garrido received some good news as Nilmar and Cani returned to action after lengthy layoffs. The visitors earned their second consecutive last minute win after defeating Malaga 3-2, two victories that have lifted some of the pressure from Philippe Montanier’s shoulders. Xabi Prieto has missed the last two matches due to injury and is likely to miss this one, along with Asier Illarramendi and Alberto De la Bella as Sociedad look to win at Villarreal for the first time in five years.
17.00
 
La Romareda
Mallorca travel to Zaragoza after picking up two draws against Athletic Bilbao and Granada. Pedro Bigas served his one-game suspension in the first of those games, but with Pablo Caceres returning he may not start at left back. Defender Kevin is the only unavailable player for Joaquin Caparros as his team returns to full strength. Zaragoza are still without Leo Franco, Paulo Da Silva, Fernando Meira and Ivan Obradovic, as they look for their first win in seven La Liga games.
17.00
 
La Rosaleda
Osasuna defender Damia picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Betis last week and will serve his one-game suspension in this match. Marc Bertrán is also doubtful for this game and Mendilibar may look to his youth squad to fill the right back position. Ruben Gonzales Rocha and Javad Nekounam will also be unavailable for Osasuna as they search for only their third victory away to Malaga in the Primera since their re-foundation. Manuel Pellegrini has a number of unavailable players as Sergio Sanchez, Jesus Gamez, Julio Baptista, Joaquin and Weligton are all ruled out through injury. However the hosts will be buoyed by the news that Santi Cazorla should feature despite finishing the Sociedad game with some back trouble.
18.45
 
San Mamés
Athletic only managed a draw against Mallorca in their last outing as Marcelo Bielsa’s team have not been at their best ahead of Santander’s visit on Sunday. Striker Fernando Llorente didn’t feature against Mallorca after aggravating a knee injury in the Europe League match against Bratislava and is doubtful for this game. As Racing are still without a Coach, Juanjo Gonzalez, Pablo Pinillos and Fede Castano will try to lead the visitors to their first victory against Bilbao in over three years. However the trio will have to do so without the services of the injured winger Jai
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