Liga General Preview: Atletico After Centenary Victory

Atletico Madrid are celebrating their centenary and the best thing they could for their supporters to cap 100 years is to beat Real Madrid in the Bernabeu this weekend.

Despite the derby being downplayed in some quarters as not as fervent as the Real versus Barca encounter, the hatred between the two sets of fans could not be stronger. Atletico will be desperate to get one over on their free-spending rivals and put a dent in their championship challenge this season. The last time the two teams met in the league at the Bernabeu, the visitors stormed to a 3-1 victory with two goals from Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. But times have changed and since that day Real have gone on to win two European Cups, while Atletico have just returned to the top flight after two years in the Spanish second division.

Barcelona will be looking to prove that they are still in with a shout of qualifying for Europe as reigning league champions Valencia visit Camp Nou. Louis Van Gaal's team are only six points behind their third-placed visitors and a win for the Catalans would propel them towards the Champions League places. Despite making the worst ever start to a domestic campaign, Barcelona are not out of the running to make the top four come June. Valencia will be loking to put their season back on track after falling away from the title race. A defeat by Real Madrid was followed by a draw at home to Real Sociedad last weekend leaving Rafa Bernitez's side with a mountain to climb if they are to retain their crown.

Real Sociedad will see the visit of an injury-ravaged Celta Vigo side to the Balaidos on Saturday as the perfect chance to open up a four gap between themselves and Real Madrid. Raynald Denoueix has transformed the fortunes of the San Sebastian-based side this term and he will be confident that his charges can maintain their unbeaten run which reached 17 games last weekend. Vigo are without key players such as Alexander Mostovoi, Eduardo Berizzo and Peter Luccin for the match and are set to drop Catanha as coach Miguel Angel Lotina looks to field a five-man defence.

Espanyol's Javier Clemente will demand that his players display the same form that has seen them win their last two games at the Olimpic Stadium away from home. The Catalan outfit travel to Villarreal this weekend and Clemente will know that they must earn at least a point from this type of game if they are to pull themselves out of the relegation mire. After making a dismal start to the season the ex-Spain boss became the third coach at the club this term after Juande Ramos and Ramon Moya were forced out. Villarreal though have been inspired by the arrival of on-loan midfielder Javier Farinos from Internazionale. The former Valencia player netted his first goal for the club last Sunday to earn them three vital points in a 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao's fall from grace this season has left fans mystified and a heavy defeat at Deportivo La Coruna this weekend could see calls for the coach to go. After starting last term with bang, the end of season run-in saw them collapse and eventually finish in mid-table. But Jupp Heynckes failed to address a number of problems over the summer and cited the club's Basque-only policy as the reason for his failure to reignite the club's fortunes. Bilbao are only three points above the drop zone and their inconsistent form is set to see them endure a hard five month survival battle. Depor will be looking to bounce back from a 3-1 trouncing at the hands of Atletico Madrid last Sunday. Jabo Irureta's side are still in fourth spot and will be confident that a win here will boost their chances of a tilt at the title.

In this weekend's other encounters Sevilla entertain Malaga in the Andalucian derby at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, while Alaves meet Osasuna for the Basque derby in the Mendizorroza. Racing Santander will be confident of moving clear of the relegation zone with a win over visitors Real Betis and Mallorca will be clear favourites to beat bottom-of-the-table side Recreativo in Son Moix. Rayo Vallecano welcome Valladolid to the Teresa Rivero Stadium.