MADRID, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 24th round of matches in La Liga is marked by an in-form Real Sociedad's visit to Real Madrid with its morale sky-high to face a rival that has enjoyed a second midweek rest but now has to focus on a vital fortnight for its European future.
League leader FC Barcelona has plenty of time to recover from Thursday's Copa del Rey semifinal away to Atletico Madrid as Hansi Flick's side visits an improving Girona in a Catalan derby on Monday night.
That should give Flick's players time to recover tired legs and hopefully to get Raphinha fit after his recent muscle problems.
With Barcelona not playing until Monday, Real Madrid has the chance to go top of La Liga when it entertains Real Sociedad on Saturday. Jude Bellingham is still out of action for Real Madrid, while the stories in the press over recent days have focused on coach Alvaro Arbeloa's reluctance to use veteran defender Dani Carvajal, with speculations of a rift between the two.
Real Sociedad travels to Madrid revitalized under Pellegrino Matarazzo, with the team unbeaten in nine games since he arrived, with three draws and six wins, including Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg away to Athletic Bilbao.
Striker and captain, Mikel Oyarzabal is in excellent form, although Real Sociedad has an injury doubt over Goncalo Guedes, who appeared to end Wednesday's game with a groin strain.
Atletico Madrid makes a short trip to play Rayo Vallecano in the weekend Madrid derby, although there is a doubt over if the game will be played, due to the dreadful state of the pitch in Rayo's Vallecas Stadium.
The weekend kicks off with Elche at home to Osasuna with three defeats edging Elche ever closer to the relegation zone, while consecutive away wins have lifted Osasuna into the top-half of the table.
Getafe is at home to Villarreal as both sides look to build on important wins last weekend.
Saturday also sees a tense relegation clash between Sevilla and Alaves, with Sevilla deep in crisis on and off the pitch against a rival whose good run was ended by a poor performance at home to Getafe a week ago.
Athletic Bilbao will be accompanied by around 1,000 fans as it looks to put Wednesday's Cup disappointment behind it away to bottom of the table Oviedo.
Athletic Bilbao will hope to have Oihan Sancet and Dani Vivian available again after injury to face an Oviedo side that gained morale with a 1-0 win against Girona two weeks ago to end a 14-game streak without a victory.
There will be high tension in the Valencia derby where relegation is the key factor as second from bottom Levante takes on Valencia who sits two places and five points above it in the table. This is a game Valencia coach Carlos Corberan can't afford to lose if he wants to keep his job.
Finally, Mallorca will again look to attacking duo Vedat Muriqi and Jan Virgili as it hosts Betis, with Mallorca also worrying close to the bottom three, while Betis aims to strengthen its grip on a top-five finish. ■
