LaLiga Preview: A weekend of Direct Duels in The Relegation Battle And The Race For Europe

• LaLaiga EA Sports matchday 27 returns this weekend at the various league centres
• Real Madrid will travel to Mestalla to face Valencia in a cagey encounter on Sunday
• Sports Brief previews all the matches coming up this weekend

The first LALIGA EA SPORTS matchday of March could prove to be a very significant one when all is said and done at the end of the season.

That’s because there are several direct duels coming up, at the top and at the bottom of the table.

RC Celta vs UD Almería

The first game of the matchday is the Friday night meeting between RC Celta and UD Almería, which could be the latter’s best and final chance to give themselves hope of pulling off a great escape.

Los Rojiblancos are bottom of the table and 12 points from safety, and it’s RC Celta who currently occupy that crucial 17th position. A win on Friday would cut the deficit to single digits and allow UD Almería fans to dream of a miracle end to the season.

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Sevilla FC vs Real Sociedad

Sevilla FC vs Real Sociedad is the first of the four Saturday fixtures, and the crowd at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán will be right behind their team following the improvement in performances in recent weeks.

The Andalusians defeated Atlético de Madrid in their last home game, so La Real will have to be at their best.

Rayo Vallecano vs Cádiz CF

Another key game in the relegation battle follows as Rayo Vallecano host Cádiz CF.

The capital city side currently sit seven points above this weekend’s opponents, who mark the start of the bottom three, so there can be no room for complacency in Vallecas.

Getafe vs Las Palmas

The next match is just down the road, at Getafe CF’s Coliseum, as Los Azulones take on UD Las Palmas.

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This is another meeting of two clubs who are close in the standings, this time in mid-table, as Getafe CF are currently 10th on 34 points and UD Las Palmas eighth on 36 points.

Valencia vs Real Madrid

The final game of Saturday will see Valencia CF face off against Real Madrid, and this is a fixture that usually produces lots of goals.

Looking across the past 10 seasons, their meetings in LALIGA EA SPORTS have averaged 3.5 goals per game, with both sides getting on the scoresheet on all but five occasions. Both goalkeepers will surely be kept busy once again.

Villarreal vs Granada

On Sunday, Villarreal CF and Granada CF meet in the first game of the day.

El Submarino Amarillo are in good form, having gone unbeaten in six matches, with winter signing Gonçalo Guedes having made a difference in attack.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis

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Over the rest of Sunday, the focus turns to the race to qualify for Europe. Fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid and sixth-placed Real Betis both have a lot to play for when they meet in the capital, and Diego Simeone will be hoping to keep up his near-perfect record against Los Verdiblancos.

From his 24 matches coaching against the Andalusian outfit, the Argentinian has won 17, drawn six and lost just one.

Girona vs Mallorca

Second-placed Girona FC are in action next, travelling across the Mediterranean Sea to visit RCD Mallorca.

This will be the third meeting between these sides of the season, and the other two games produced a 5-3 league win for Girona FC and a 3-2 cup win for the islanders. More goals are, therefore, expected this weekend.

Athletic Club vs Barcelona

The Sunday night game could also have major implications in the European qualification spots, as Athletic Club host FC Barcelona in Bilbao.

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Led by former Barça coach Ernesto Valverde, the Basques enter this matchday in fifth and believe that they can challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Deportivo Alavés vs CA Osasuna

There is one final game on Monday, when Deportivo Alavés make the short trip to Pamplona to take on CA Osasuna.

Los Rojillos are set to be without the injured Ante Budimir, so it’ll be interesting to see what solutions coach Jagoba Arrasate comes up with for this final fixture of the round.