Osasuna vs. Elche (Saturday, 1.00pm)
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Fresh from booking their spot in the Copa del Rey final, Osasuna will resume their La Liga campaign with a home match against bottom-of-the-table Elche on Saturday afternoon.
The home side are currently ninth in the division, two points behind seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao, while Elche are 20th, some 14 points from the safety of 17th position.
We say: Osasuna 2-1 Elche
Elche won at Mallorca last month, so it would not be a complete shock to see the visitors triumph here, but we are finding it difficult to back an away success. Osasuna will be full of confidence following their Copa del Rey triumph and should be able to claim all three points here.
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Espanyol vs. Athletic Bilbao (Saturday, 3.15pm)
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Espanyol will be looking to halt a four-game winless run in La Liga when they continue their campaign at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon.
The home side's recent struggles have seen them drop into 18th spot in the table, while Athletic sit seventh, seven points behind sixth-placed Villarreal ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.
We say: Espanyol 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
This has all of the makings of an entertaining contest, and we are expecting goals in Saturday's affair. Espanyol have the second-worst home record in the league this season, but Athletic have won just four times on their travels, so we are backing a draw here.
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Real Sociedad vs. Getafe (Saturday, 5.30pm)
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Real Sociedad will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome Getafe to San Sebastian on Saturday evening.
The home side are currently fourth in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis, while Getafe sit 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the next set of fixtures.
We say: Real Sociedad 1-0 Getafe
Getafe's recent form deserves a lot of respect, and they will continue battling away in a bid to move further clear of the relegation zone. Real Sociedad need the points to aid their top-four hopes, though, and we are backing the Basque outfit to navigate their way to an important win.
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Real Madrid vs. Villarreal (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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Arguably the pick of the La Liga matches in the next game week will take place at Bernabeu on Saturday evening, with the champions Real Madrid welcoming Villarreal to Bernabeu.
Los Blancos are currently second in the table, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona on the same number of games (27), while Villarreal sit sixth, four points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad in the race for a top-four finish.
We say: Real Madrid 1-1 Villarreal
Ancelotti will certainly be thinking about next week's trip to Chelsea, with Real Madrid so far behind when it comes to the top of the La Liga table. Los Blancos were excellent against Barcelona on Wednesday, but it would not be a surprise to see them drop some points against an impressive Villarreal outfit on Saturday.
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> How Real Madrid could line up against Villarreal
> Real Madrid injury, suspension list vs. Villarreal
Barney Corkhill
