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No rest as Spanish La Liga moves into 27th round of games

Xinhua, March 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 27th round of the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga kicks off on Tuesday with two vital games as second place Atletico Madrid entertain Real Sociedad while Las Palmas look to inflict a seventh consecutive defeat on Getafe.

Atletico can close the gap at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga to just five points behind FC Barcelona if they are able to defeat a rival which has hit decent form in recent weeks and is unbeaten in five matches.

Getafe meanwhile need to start scoring goals after a disastrous run has seen them drop from mid-table to just two points above the relegation zone.

The round of matches continue on Wednesday as an injury hit Real Madrid, who are in crisis after losing to Atletico on Saturday, travel to face bottom of the table Levante.

Real Madrid are without the suspended Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Marcelo are all suffering various muscle problems, while Levante captain, David Navarro is suspended after being sent off at the weekend.

Villarreal know that if they are able to avoid defeat away to Celta Vigo then a fourth place finish and qualification for next season's Champions league are virtually assured. Coach Marcelino Garcia will field his strongest side after resting key players in the weekend win at home to Levante.

Wednesday also sees Sevilla continue their battle for a top-six finish at home to Eibar, who are safe from relegation, but started to run out of steam following an excellent campaign.

Athletic Club Bilbao will also look to keep on the pressure close to the top as they entertain a Deportivo la Coruna side that has not won so far in 2016, while Valencia need to recover from their weekend drubbing at home to Athletic when they visit a Malaga side that also has ambitions of a top-six finish.

There are three matches on Thursday with league leaders, Barcelona travelling to the capital to take on Rayo Vallecano in a game which promises plenty of goalmouth action, partly thanks to Rayo's total commitment to attacking football.

There is tension in the relegation zone as Granada look for their second win under coach Jose Manuel Gonzalez against a Sporting Gijon that slipped back into the relegation zone following Saturday's home defeat to Espanyol.

Espanyol meanwhile are aiming for their third win in three games as they entertain a Betis side which point by point is slowly easing its way towards Primera Liga survival. Endit