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Primera Liga features Madrid derby this weekend

Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

There are two outstanding matches in the coming weekend in Spain's BBVA Primera Liga: the Madrid derby between Atletico and Real and FC Barcelona's trip to San Mames to face Athletic Club Bilbao.

The Vicente Calderon will get the ball rolling on Saturday afternoon as it plays host to the sixth meeting this season between the two rivals from the capital.

Atletico have yet to lose to Real this campaign, lifting the Spanish Supercup in August and knocking them out of the King's Cup in January after also defeating Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu in the league.

However, Real Madrid cross town with a four point lead over FC Barcelona at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga table and a seven point advantage over Atletico, which means a win on their neighbor's home turf would effectively end Atletico's challenge to retain the title.

Real Madrid have key players missing with both left backs, Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao out with Marcelo suspended and Coentrao injured.

James Rodriguez is also absent after breaking a bone in his foot against Sevilla on Wednesday, while Sergio Ramos and Pepe are also injured.

Carlo Ancelotti will probably pair Nacho Fernandez and Rafael Varene in central defense while Alvaro Arbeloa fills in at left back to try and stop Atletico's in-form strikers, Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Fernando Torres, who has already scored three times against Real since returning to Spain at the start of the year.

Madrid derbies tend to be feisty affairs, so expect tough tackles and controversy to get the weekend going.

Barcelona have to wait until Sunday night before their game gets underway in San Mames and no doubt the Catalans will be hoping to see Real drop points in the Calderon before focusing on taking all three themselves.

It has been a difficult weeks for Barca, but all of the drama has come off the pitch following the indictment of President, Josep Maria Bartomeu on charges of tax fraud related to the signing of Neymar. It remains to see how much that will affect the performance of the team, which travels to Bilbao in its best form of the season with Neymar and Leo Messi scoring goals almost at will.

Athletic have disappointed this season, but got back to winning ways away to Levante last weekend and their fans and players will remember last season's 1-0 win over the Catalans.

Apart from the Madrid derby Saturday features several games which affect both the battle for Europe and the relegation zone. Villarreal, who were unfortunate to lose away to Barca last week, will hope to take all three points from struggling Granada, while bottom of the table Levante have to beat a Malaga side which has ambitions of playing in Europe next season after a 1-0 win over Valencia last weekend.

Finally Real Sociedad, without the injured Carlos Vela aim to bounce back against Celta Vigo following their 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

Sunday kicks off with an Andalusia derby between struggling duo, Cordoba and Almeria, before the afternoon sees Getafe, who can't afford any more slip-ups, at home to Sevilla, who are currently fourth in the table, ahead of Valencia, who face Espanyol in a replay of the Kings Cup tie, which saw Espanyol emerge triumphant.

Monday sees Elche play at home to Rayo Vallecano. Endit