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Cup factor tests powerhouses as La Liga moves into second half

Xinhua, January 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Spanish BBVA Primera Liga moves into the second half of the season in the coming weekend with a mirror image of the matches which saw the campaign kickoff in August last year.

That means league leaders, Real Madrid, who should be well rested after not having to play in the King's Cup during the week face a trip to play a Cordoba side who have improved drastically under coach Miroslav Djukic since his appointment.

Real Madrid look to be on the verge of signing Brazilian midfielder, Lucas Silva, but whatever happens he will not have had time in Spain to be included in the squad for Saturday's game.

Both of Real Madrid's pursuers in the race for the title, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have did play in midweek, indeed they played each other in the last 8 of the Cup and will meet again next week after Barca took a slim 1-0 lead in the Camp Nou.

It remains to be seen whether Barca coach, Luis Enrique and Atletico's Diego Simeone will choose to rest players for the return leg at the weekend.

Barca should win in Elche, but will be aware their rivals have shown signs of life in the relegation zone with two wins in two games, while Atletico Madrid are at home to Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo can be relied to play open football, but their style of play could lead them open to Atletico's counter-attacking style and Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann may fancy their chances of adding to their goal tally.

Those games will help decide the destination of the league title, but perhaps the most interesting game of the weekend sees Valencia entertain Sevilla in a match which could decide who ends the season in fourth.

Sevilla had a tough Cup game away to Espanyol on Thursday and that could affect the chances of Unai Emery's side as he returns to face his former club, who were able to enjoy a weekend' s rest.

Elsewhere, Villarreal entertain struggling Levante in an east-coast derby and Villarreal will be hoping for a draw between Valencia and Sevilla in order to boost their own hopes of a top-four finish.

There is a Basque derby in San Sebastian as David Moyes' Real Sociedad desperately need a home win against Eibar, who are currently the top side in the Basque region in their first campaign in the elite.

Athletic Club Bilbao and Malaga have the second of three games scheduled to be played over eight days. Athletic will look to reproduce the display that earned them a draw in the Cup, while aiming to add more punch in attack.

Finally Espanyol play at home to Almeria who are still mired in the battle against relegation, while Deportivo la Coruna need to dust themselves down after last weekend's 4-0 thrashing by Barca, before entertaining bottom of the table Granada who have Abel Resino back in the dugout for his second spell as coach at the club. Endit