MADRID, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid and FC Barcelona's first meeting of the season will take center stage in La Liga this weekend. Madrid looks to extend its league lead, while Barcelona aims to overcome recent subpar performances and take points from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barcelona will have an extra 24 hours of rest before the big match, having played its Champions League game against Olympiakos at home on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought win against Juventus on Wednesday.
Raphinha is a doubt for Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski misses out with a hamstring strain, and Ferran Torres is a slight down with a muscle strain for Barcelona. Coach Hansi Flick will have to watch from the stands after his sending-off against Girona.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso could have right-backs Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold available after injury as his side looks to reverse last season's trend of four defeats to its eternal rival, including two in La Liga, one in the Copa del Rey, and another in the Spanish Supercup.
The weekend matches kick off on Saturday night with Real Sociedad hosting Sevilla, with home coach Sergio Fernandez's job under threat despite last weekend's away draw at Celta Vigo. Real Sociedad starts the match in the relegation zone, while Sevilla's recent good form was halted by a surprising home defeat to Mallorca.
Bottom side Girona, unlucky to lose to Barcelona last weekend, hosts second-bottom Oviedo with new coach Luis Carrion needing to win over skeptical fans after replacing Veljko Paunovic.
Espanyol is at home against Elche, a side that has impressed at the start of the season with its possession-dominant play. Athletic Club has under 70 hours to prepare for its home game against Getafe following a morale-boosting 3-1 Champions League home win against Qarabag on Wednesday. Coach Ernesto Valverde has complained about the Getafe game being scheduled for Saturday, arguing that it could have been played 24 hours later to allow players more recovery time.
Getafe is without suspended duo Allan Nyom and Alex Sancris after their red cards against Real Madrid.
Valencia faces third-placed Villarreal in an east-coast derby on Saturday, with Carlos Corberan's team needing to end a four-game winless streak that has seen them slip down the table after a positive season start.
Mallorca hopes to build on its victory against Sevilla with a home game against a Levante side reeling from a 3-0 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano, while Osasuna hosts Celta Vigo. Celta has an incredible record of seven 1-1 draws this season and will have limited recovery time following Thursday's Europa League tie against Nice.
Alaves takes La Liga's best defensive record away to Rayo Vallecano, while the round of matches concludes on Monday with Real Betis hosting Atletico Madrid in another test of Atletico's questionable away form. ■
