MADRID, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The last round of La Liga in 2025 gets under way on Friday and has some vital matches at both the top and the bottom of the table.
The standout game of the weekend sees third place Villarreal at home to league leaders, FC Barcelona on Sunday afternoon, although both sides will go into the clash in very different spirit.
Barcelona battled past third tier Guadalajara on Tuesday to qualify for the fourth round of the Copa del Rey, but Villarreal crashed out of the competition away to second division leaders Racing Santander to continue a miserable run of cup form both in Spain and in Europe.
This is the game that La Liga wanted to play in Miami, but instead the Estadio de la Ceramica is the venue as Barcelona looks to ramp up the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table, while Villarreal aims to confirm its candidacy for the title, despite a long list of absentees including Pape Gueye, Gerard Moreno, Thomas Partey and Dani Parejo.
Much-questioned Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso survived last weekend's visit to Deportivo Alaves, but his credit suffered another setback as his team made hard work of its Copa del Rey tie against third tier Talavera on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappe once again assuring his side's win.
Alonso's side finishes the year at home to Sevilla, who were knocked out of the Copa by Alaves on Wednesday and the Real Madrid coach needs to end 2025 with a convincing win.
He recovers Fran Garcia at left back, but still has injuries to Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga, while Alvaro Carreras is suspended and Brahim Diaz has gone to the African Cup of Nations.
Sevilla also has a long injury list, including Akor Adams and defender Kike Salas.
Atletico Madrid was also made to work hard in the Copa on Wednesday night before defeating Atletico Baleares, but Diego Simeone made a host of changes to his side ahead of Sunday's visit to Girona.
Girona didn't have a cup game in midweek and should be fresh, but coach Michel Sanchez has a long list of absentees, including forward Cristhian Stuani and Azzedine Ounahi, who is also at the African Cup.
The weekend gets under way on Friday with Valencia facing Mallorca as both sides look to put space between themselves and the bottom three.
Guillermo Almada debuts as Oviedo's third coach of the season with a home game against a Celta Vigo looking for a third consecutive league win to ease the pain of a cup exit in Albacete.
Ion Ansotegi is again in the Real Sociedad dugout for the visit to bottom of the table Levante in another direct relegation clash. The good news for Ansotegi is that striker Milkel Oyarzabal should be available after injury.
Osasuna and Alaves have a game between close neighbors on Saturday, while Elche faces a Rayo Vallecano that is without Spain winger Jorge de Frutos with a knee injury, while Pathe Cisse is another who is now in Morocco.
Betis is at home to Getafe, while Athletic Club Bilbao has Aitor Paredes as its only fit central defender for Monday's game at home to an Espanyol side looking for a fourth consecutive league win. ■
