Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to write a fresh chapter this weekend as La Liga Santander takes center stage, presenting two demanding fixtures before Sevilla and Athletic Club take their turn in a high-stakes duel. Betis welcome Atlético de Madrid in another marquee match, a clash that promises intense action and a clear statement about the league’s current hierarchy.
Sevilla faces a tricky moment as they seek to part ways with Argentinian coach Jorge Sampaoli, while Athletic Club arrives in better form, often producing solid performances in Europe even though they have encountered a hiccup with three winless results in a row.
Both teams drew previous week, Valencia and Getafe sharing spoils with their rivals, while Madrid and Barcelona also settled for draws in different fashion. Real Madrid used a productive weekend to extend their three-point cushion after a classic victory, and Barcelona regained momentum with a convincing win over Villarreal, who now look to rebound despite a heavy title-chasing schedule and a tough Champions League knockout stage ahead following that setback against Inter.
Valverde, Rodrygo Goes, and Karim Benzema spearheaded a collective performance that solidified Madrid’s order ahead of a home match against Sevilla, a fixture Sevilla historically finds challenging in Madrid. Sevilla had only drawn once in their last fifteen visits to the Bernabéu, underscoring the difficulty of that away assignment. [Cita: Marca, match previews]
Meanwhile, Sampaoli received another setback with the loss of young French defender Tanguy Nianzou to a fibrillar rupture. Brazilian Marcos Aoás Corrêa, commonly known as Marquinhos, sat out Valencia’s clash due to a muscle issue, and every hour matters as his readiness for the Bernabéu showdown is weighed carefully. [Cita: club medical updates]
Barcelona steadied their course against Villarreal, receiving a lift from Ansu Fati as he rejoined Robert Lewandowski and Xavi Hernández’s starting lineup with a few tactical tweaks compared to the classic. The Catalan side will want to repeat a stronger performance, especially after a difficult showing against Athletic at Camp Nou on the upcoming Sunday schedule. [Cita: club press notes]
Ernesto Valverde will return to coach his old club Barcelona, where he steered the team from 2017 to 2020 and captured multiple titles. Athletic Club remains a potent threat for the Catalans, even though results have included two draws and one defeat in their latest meetings. [Cita: historical context]
Betis and Atlético de Madrid are preparing for another star match. At the Benito Villamarín Stadium, they will face fourth-placed Diego Pablo Simeone and fifth-placed Chilean Manuel Pellegrini. The clash of styles has tilted in favor of the rojiblancos in recent seasons, suggesting an intriguing tactical chess match. [Cita: season previews]
Sevilla’s lineup will miss key players like Sergio Canales, who was sent off against Cádiz, and French winger Nabil Fekir due to ongoing physical issues. Atlético Madrid will also be without Koke Resurrección, Thomas Lemar, Felipe Monteiro, Marcos Llorente, and Sergio Reguilón for various reasons. [Cita: team injury reports]
Real Sociedad extended their winning run to eight consecutive league victories with a five-goal win over Mallorca, climbing to third place and closing the gap on Atlético Madrid and Betis. Imanol Alguacil’s squad travels to Valladolid, bolstered by their midweek triumph over Celta. [Cita: La Liga standings]
Mestalla hosts an engaging duel in Valencia against Mallorca as two charismatic coaches, Italian Gennaro Gattuso and Mexican Javier Aguirre, shape two distinct tactical approaches. Depending on results, Valencia could climb into European qualification zones—a target also pursued by Osasuna, who will visit Girona while riding a five-game winning streak themselves. [Cita: match previews]
Villarreal will press on against Almería as a tribute to José Manuel Llaneza, a key figure of the last three decades. On the field, both teams recognize the importance of points to secure a place in the upper tier and the privilege zone as the season progresses. [Cita: club statements]
Argentina’s Jorge Almirón sends Elche to face Espanyol, while Cádiz hosts Rayo Vallecano and Getafe, hovering near relegation, confronts another tough set of results under Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet. Celta de Vigo remains closer to safety than the top spots, giving a sense of the league’s fluctuating battles. [Cita: season updates]
Program of the 11th day:
Saturday:
- 14.00 Rayo Vallecano-Cádiz
- 16.15 Valladolid-Real Sociedad
- 18.30 Valencia-Mayorca
- 21.00 Real Madrid-Seville
Sunday:
- 14.00 Spanish-Elche
- 16.15 Betis – Atlético Madrid
- 18.30 Girona-Osasuna
- 18.30 Villarreal-Almeria
- 21.00 Barcelona-Athletic
Monday:
- 21.00 Celta-Getafe
[Cita: Liga de España – calendario y resultados]