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MADIRD, Jan 26 -- There is one standout game in matchday 26 of the Spanish La Liga, but given recent results we can take little for granted. Here are four things to keep an eye out for this weekend.
1. Huge test for Real Madrid in Mestalla
Real Madrid appeared to have put talk of a crisis behind them last weekend with a 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna, but the phantoms swiftly returned on Wednesday when they were knocked out of the Copa del Ray by Leganes.
Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who scored on Wednesday, should start away to Valencia on Saturday in a game Real Madrid simply must win to avoid dropping to eight points behind their rivals and risk slipping into fifth position on the league table.
Manager Zinedene Zidane admitted after the cup exit that his job was on the line; defeat in Valencia could just leave him out of work.
2. Coutinho to shine against Alaves?
Barcelona's record signing, Philippe Coutinho made his debut in the closing minutes of Barca's cup win at home to Espanyol on Thursday night and gave fans a glimpse of what the club paid 160 million euros for with some moments of skill and vision.
Alaves are next in the Camp Nou, and although the league leaders won the first meeting between the two earlier this season, they will no doubt remember how the side from Vitoria defeated them on their home turf last year.
Alaves have improved drastically under the guidance of former Barca defender Aberlado Fernandez and Barca could find it tough to break them down. However with Messi in outstanding form, Barca should take all three points and the fans will want to see more of their record signing.
3 Las Palmas to surprise a Costa-less Atletico?
It has not been a good week for Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Girona and were then knocked out of the Copa del Ray by Sevilla.
Las Palmas should offer Diego Simeone's men, who are still second in the La Liga, a chance to return to winning ways, but last weekend's triumph at home to Valencia has given a morale boost to Las Palmas. Las Palmas were lifted off bottom of the table and are showing that Paco Jemez may just be starting to make things happen at the club.
It is a big ask for the side with the worst defense in Spain to take a point at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, but with Diego Costa struggling with a groin injury and Atletico finding it hard to score goals without him, this may be the best chance they have.
4 Drama for Deportivo and Levante
It is all too easy to talk about sides in the top four or five of the table being in 'crisis' but when you are fighting against relegation week after week that puts things into perspective.
Deportivo are currently in the relegation zone and need a confidence boost after last weekend's thrashing away to Real Madrid.
Saturday's home game to Levante offers them the chance to get back on track, but it will be a test of nerve for both sides given that the loser will end the weekend in the bottom three.
Levante have one win in their last 13 games, while Deportivo have one win in their last 10. That is a real crisis and for one of the two sides the crisis will only get deeper on Saturday.
MADIRD, Jan 26 -- There is one standout game in matchday 26 of the Spanish La Liga, but given recent results we can take little for granted. Here are four things to keep an eye out for this weekend.
1. Huge test for Real Madrid in Mestalla
Real Madrid appeared to have put talk of a crisis behind them last weekend with a 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna, but the phantoms swiftly returned on Wednesday when they were knocked out of the Copa del Ray by Leganes.
Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who scored on Wednesday, should start away to Valencia on Saturday in a game Real Madrid simply must win to avoid dropping to eight points behind their rivals and risk slipping into fifth position on the league table.
Manager Zinedene Zidane admitted after the cup exit that his job was on the line; defeat in Valencia could just leave him out of work.
2. Coutinho to shine against Alaves?
Barcelona's record signing, Philippe Coutinho made his debut in the closing minutes of Barca's cup win at home to Espanyol on Thursday night and gave fans a glimpse of what the club paid 160 million euros for with some moments of skill and vision.
Alaves are next in the Camp Nou, and although the league leaders won the first meeting between the two earlier this season, they will no doubt remember how the side from Vitoria defeated them on their home turf last year.
Alaves have improved drastically under the guidance of former Barca defender Aberlado Fernandez and Barca could find it tough to break them down. However with Messi in outstanding form, Barca should take all three points and the fans will want to see more of their record signing.
3 Las Palmas to surprise a Costa-less Atletico?
It has not been a good week for Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Girona and were then knocked out of the Copa del Ray by Sevilla.
Las Palmas should offer Diego Simeone's men, who are still second in the La Liga, a chance to return to winning ways, but last weekend's triumph at home to Valencia has given a morale boost to Las Palmas. Las Palmas were lifted off bottom of the table and are showing that Paco Jemez may just be starting to make things happen at the club.
It is a big ask for the side with the worst defense in Spain to take a point at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, but with Diego Costa struggling with a groin injury and Atletico finding it hard to score goals without him, this may be the best chance they have.
4 Drama for Deportivo and Levante
It is all too easy to talk about sides in the top four or five of the table being in 'crisis' but when you are fighting against relegation week after week that puts things into perspective.
Deportivo are currently in the relegation zone and need a confidence boost after last weekend's thrashing away to Real Madrid.
Saturday's home game to Levante offers them the chance to get back on track, but it will be a test of nerve for both sides given that the loser will end the weekend in the bottom three.
Levante have one win in their last 13 games, while Deportivo have one win in their last 10. That is a real crisis and for one of the two sides the crisis will only get deeper on Saturday.
