Matchday 35 for LA LIGA
The race for the La Liga football title continues with no time for rest in the 35th round of games this weekend.
The midweek games in the 34th round finished on Thursday, but with Atletico and Real Madrid in European Champions League action next week, there is hardly time to draw breath before continuing their title challenge.
Second placed Atletico will briefly go top of the table on Saturday if they win at home against a Malaga side which is in a comfortable midtable position with no chance of either qualifying for Europe nor of being relegated.
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone recovered midfielder Gabi Fernandez who was suspended for Wednesday's hard-fought win in Athletic Bilbao, but loses central defender Diego Godin with a hamstring injury, which he suffered in the same game.
Meanwhile Real's Welsh forward Gareth Bale should be fit, but there is a doubt over Cristiano Ronaldo as the Los Blancos travel to the south of the Spanish capital to take on Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon.
Barcelona could well be in third place when they kick off against Sporting Gijon, but have regained confidence following their 8-0 win away over Deportivo la Coruna during the week. With Barcelona out of European Champions League and defender Gerard Pique back after suspension, chief coach Luis Enrique will field his strongest side against a spirited but limited Sporting, who slipped back into the bottom three on Thursday despite a heroic 2-1 win at home against Sevilla.
The weekend's other games see Eibar at home against Deportivo. Levante have to pick themselves up from a 1-5 thrashing in the hands of Granada and defeat fifth placed Bilbao to have any chance of avoiding relegation, while the Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis promises fireworks, especially after Sevilla defender Adil Rami posted a 'tweet' mocking their rivals on Thursday.