Preview: Real Madrid and Real Sociedad face-off as Barcelona get busy in Catalan derby

Real Madrid and Real Sociedad face-off, as Barcelona get busy in Catalan derby

LALIGA Preview: Real Madrid and Real Sociedad face-off as Barcelona get busy in Catalan derby

Faruq Ibrahim 00:21 - 27.01.2023

Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad headlines a game week packed with many mouth-watering fixtures including a Catalan derby, and a difficult trip for Atletico Madrid to El Sadar.

LaLiga action resumes this weekend after some teams were involved in midweek Copa del Rey showdowns.

We are officially at the halfway point of the season, with each game becoming more charged as the table starts to take shape for its final look. 

There is no match that better defines that than the top-three clash between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad; a win for the Basque team would announce them as title contenders, while for Madrid a victory is crucial to keep up with league leaders Barcelona.

Barcelona have a unique brand of difficulty to face in the way of a Catalan derby against Girona.

Sevilla also host Elche in what is at this point a relegation dogfight.

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Friday night football 

This round of LaLiga action starts off on Friday night with 14th-place Almeria hosting 13th-place Espanyol at the Power Horse Stadium. 

Espanyol, led by the in-form Joselu, would look to continue the unbeaten run that has seen them win back-to-back games. 

Joselu is the star man for in form Espanyol
Joselu is the star man for in form Espanyol

Almeria, with only one win in their last five matches, would look to leap-frog an Espanyol team only one point above them in front of their home crowd.

The Catalan derby 

After 19th place Cadiz host the 'YoYo' Mallorca who have alternated between winning and losing in their last five league games, the Catalan derby between Girona and Barcelona takes centre stage.  

Barcelona are on a twelve-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with eleven of those games being wins for the Blaugrana. The only blip was a draw in another Catalan derby against Espanyol.

Girona are on a tidy run of form themselves with two wins and a draw in their last five games. 

Barcelona have dominated this fixture in the past as expected, but the last time Girona faced Barcelona at Camp Nou, they managed to get a draw.

A Girona player was sent off the last time Barcelona and Girona faced-off in the league.
A Girona player was sent off the last time Barcelona and Girona faced-off in the league.

The fixture is also never lacking a derby atmosphere, with the last two league games between these clubs seeing a player get sent off.

Sevilla host Elche at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan later on Saturday evening. Sevilla are only one point away from the relegation places, and Elche are dead-last with no wins in the season so far.

A win for Sevilla would start their climb towards a more respectable mid-table position, while Elche would be hoping to get their first win on the board.

The final game on Saturday is between Getafe and Real Betis.

Both sides are in a rut at the moment, with only one win in five for each. 

Betis have seen themselves retrogressively fall down the table after earlier season form had them pegged as a potential top-four team.

The Heliopolitans would look to get back on the horse against Quique Sanchez Flores' men, who have lost each of their last three league games. 

Real vs Real headlines Sunday LaLiga action. 

Valencia, who are 12th on the log, go away to 18th-placed Real Valladolid, who are only 3 points behind them in the first game on Sunday. 

The home side are in terrible form, having lost their last five league games, and they face Valencia jaded by a midweek cup defeat.

Atletico Madrid would look to string a couple of league victories together for the first time since October against a well-drilled Osasuna.

Griezmann in stellar form for Atletico Madrid
Griezmann in stellar form for Atletico Madrid

Celta Vigo would host Athletic Club at the Abanca Balaidos before we are served with the main course of the day.

Second-placed Real Madrid host third-place Real Sociedad in a fixture crucial to the title race.

A win for Imanol Alguacil's men would see them go level on points with the defending champions.

Monday night football

The newly renovated La Ceramica would host Rayo Vallecano in a match expected to be entertaining as both teams play on the front foot. 

Chukwueze has been on stellar form for Villarreal since the arrival of Quique Setien
Chukwueze has been on stellar form for Villarreal since the arrival of Quique Setien

Villarreal would be looking to break into the top four, while Rayo would see the 6th place guaranteeing conference league football that Betis currently holds as attainable, as they are only two points