Four questions to answer in Spain's matchday 31

MADRID, April 7 (Xinhua) - The highlight of Spain's matchday 31 is without doubt the Madrid derby that sees Real Madrid entertain Atletico Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. That game and others raise several questions which will be answered over the coming hours.

1) Is the 'BBC' Zidane's best option

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane decided to rest his first choice strike force of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema for the trip to Leganes giving a chance to Lucas Vazquez, Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio. He was rewarded with two goals from Morata, while Asensio showed once again he would get more minutes in virtually any other club in the league and Vazquez was a constant threat to the Leganes defense.

There seems virtually no doubt that the 'BBC' as Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, are known, will return against Atletico Madrid, but with Atletico on the top of their game at the moment and Ronaldo and Bale arguably a step off their best form, the question is: should Zidane show more faith in the young guns, who never let him down?

2) Will leaky defense let Real Madrid down?

Real Madrid maintain a two point lead over Barcelona at the top of the Liga Santander table, but the fact is some of their performances have been less than convincing. Wednesday saw them allow Leganes come back from 3-0 down to 3-2 in just three minutes, while the previous weekend they made much harder work of Alaves than the final score of 3-0 might suggest.

Madrid have a tendency to leak goals and although against the majority of sides their firepower in attack is more than enough to compensate, against an Atletico side, who have the best defensive organization in the league, it may not be such a good idea to trade blows.

Kevin Gameiro is a doubt for Atletico, but with Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco back to their best, Atletico are better equipped than anyone to soak up Madrid's pressure and hurt them on the break.

3) Will Malaga complicate life for Barca

It was a long time coming for Malaga, but when their second win of 2017 arrived, it came at exactly the right time on Wednesday as the side now coached by Michel Gonzalez won away to Sporting Gijon. The win lifted Malaga eight points clear of the relegation zone, putting an end to a painful slide down the table.

Barcelona are next in town, bursting with confidence after their 3-0 demolition of Sevilla, but also with one eye on their midweek trip to face Juventus in the Champions league.

With his side hot on Real Madrid's coat-tails, Barca coach Luis Enrique can't afford to make too many changes in the La Rosaleda Stadium, but will Malaga's new-found confidence and former Barca striker, Sandro Ramirez be enough to complicate life for a side without the suspended Gerard Pique, but with Messi, Suarez and Neymar?

4) Coaches under the spotlight in Las Palmas

Thursday saw Las Palmas crash to a 3-1 defeat away to Eibar, while on Tuesday night Betis were beaten 1-0 at home to Villarreal in results which have put both of their coaches under the spotlight.

After seeing his side play some excellent football in the first half of the season, it appears to have gone sour for Las Palmas boss, Quique Setien, who has already confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the campaign.

Meanwhile after initially provoking a reaction after replacing Gustavo Poyet at Betis, things have also got complicated for Victor Sanchez at Betis with a sector of the crowd chanting for his dismissal during the Villarreal game. The match between the two sides on Sunday is one neither coach can afford to lose and defending on the result, it is tempting to ask, will they both have a job 24 hours later? Enditem