MADRID, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- La Liga returns to action after the international break with Real Madrid visiting Getafe, while FC Barcelona has injury problems ahead of its home game with Girona.
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso will be glad that his side has to travel less than 10 miles to Getafe as he looks to put the pressure on ahead of the 'Clasico' against FC Barcelona in the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26th.
Dean Huijsen is out with the muscle injury he picked up with Spain and he joined Trent Alexander Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy on the injury list, but Kylian Mbappe should be fit after leaving the French team due to an ankle problem.
Mbappe has scored nine goals in La Liga this season and if fit he will spearhead the Madrid attack against a rival that once again is proving tough to beat in front of its fans.
The good news for FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is that Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez should be fit to play Girona, but the bad news is that Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia are still out.
Ferran Torres was another player to leave the Spain squad with a slight physical issue, but should be fit to lead the attack, although after the 4-1 defeat to Sevilla before the break maybe Flick's biggest task is toughening up the Barca defense.
Villarreal's start to the season has taken Marcelino Garcia Toral's side up to third in the table ahead of an interesting match at home to fourth placed Betis.
Former Betis striker, Ayoze Perez could be back in attack for Villarreal after injury, but Marcelino loses right back Santiago Mourino after his harsh sending off against Real Madrid two weeks ago.
With an eight-point deficit to Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid will look for home comfort against Osasuna, with Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez providing Atletico's firepower in attack.
Nico Williams, Alex Berenguer and Oihan Sancet could return to give Athletic Bilbao more options on its trip to face an Elche side that lost its unbeaten record before the break.
Elche is without influential defender David Affengruber due to suspension.
Luis Carrion returns to the Oviedo dugout for Friday's home game against Espanyol after Veljko Paunovic's harsh sacking during the international break. Carrion wasn't a popular appointment after leaving the club for Las Palmas in 2024, so he needs a good start to get fans onside.
Sevilla's win at home to Barcelona gave the club its first back-to-back wins in 18 months and there is a good chance of making it three wins from three when bottom of the table Mallorca visits the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday.
Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco's job was a matter of debate during the break, and he could lose his job if his side loses away to a Celta Vigo side still looking for its first league win, but with six draws from eight matches.
Elsewhere, Levante is at home to Rayo Vallecano, with Levante striker Etta Eyong the man to watch out for in the game and Valencia visits Alaves with Valencia coach Carlos Corberan also under pressure after a run of poor displays and rumors of poor relations with his players. ■
