Spanish matchday 34 gets nervy at top and bottom of league table

Matchday 34 of the Spanish Liga Santander takes off on Tuesday just a day after the end of the previous round of matches.

Matchday 33 will be remembered for Leo Messi's last minute goal which gave FC Barcelona a 3-2 win away to Real Madrid and brought the race for the league title back to life. Although Real Madrid who have a game in hand, are still favorites for the title, they also know they cannot afford any slip ups between now and the end of the season.

Wednesday sees Barcelona first into action and they should open up a three-point lead over Madrid when they entertain bottom of the table Osasuna in the Camp Nou.

Osasuna travel to Barcelona with 10 players out injured and knowing a defeat coupled with a win for Leganes at home to Las Palmas would confirm their relegation and a swift return to the second division. They will also be forced to wear an orange shirt designed especially for the game in order to avoid a color clash which the TV providers believe their red first choice and green second choice shirts would cause.

Barcelona are without the suspended Neymar and Luis Enrique will probably make some changes following the win in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with Javier Mascherano likely to start in defense.

Real Madrid kick off almost immediately after Barca's game finishes, with Zinedine Zidane's side playing away to Deportivo la Coruna, who were seconds away from taking a point from the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season.

Sergio Ramos, the man who denied Deportivo with a last minute header in that game, is suspended after seeing a red card on Sunday, while Gareth Bale's calf injury sees the Welshman miss out again.

Deportivo are still not safe from relegation and after a dreadful display away to Real Sociedad on Sunday, they need an improved performance in front of their home supporters.

The round of matches kicks off on Tuesday with Sporting Gijon looking for three points to pressure fourth bottom Leganes as they entertain Espanyol, while Tony Adams looks for his first win at Granada as the relegation haunted side face local rivals Malaga.

Third placed Atletico Madrid entertain fifth place Villarreal in the Vicente Calderon Stadium in a game which has a bearing on which sides finish third in the table and qualify directly for next season's Europa League.

Wednesday sees seventh place Real Sociedad look to continue their European challenge away to a Valencia side that has Enzo Perez, Mangala and Dani Parejo suspended, while fourth from bottom Leganes have a vital home game against Las Palmas, who tend to be a much easier proposition on the road.

The round of matches finishes on Thursday with a Basque derby between Alaves and Eibar, while fourth place Sevilla entertain a Celta Vigo side entirely focused on their Europa League semi-final against Manchester United.

The round of games ends in Athletic Club Bilbao's San Mames stadium as the home side look to build on Monday's win in Eibar against a rival with little more than pride at stake. Endit