Shock injuries, fiery derbies and a season on the brink as La Liga explodes back into action
According to Xinhua, the first full round of league matches in the new year also serves as a prelude to next week’s Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia, giving added weight to every result across the table.
Madrid tension sets the tone
The restart begins on Friday night with a Madrid derby as Rayo Vallecano host Getafe. Both sides arrive searching for momentum after difficult stretches.
Rayo have not recorded a league win since late October. Getafe, meanwhile, have slipped to 11th place following three consecutive defeats and will be without leading striker Borja Mayoral, according to Xinhua.
Relegation worries and rising confidence
Saturday opens with Valencia travelling to Celta Vigo knowing that anything less than three points could pull them into the bottom three. Celta, in contrast, have climbed to seventh place and benefited from the recent break.
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Osasuna are looking to build on home form as they welcome Athletic Club Bilbao. Xinhua reports that Athletic remain hampered by injuries, including Yuri Berchiche and Aymeric Laporte, limiting their options once again.
Barcelona derby fuels the spotlight
The weekend’s headline fixture is the Barcelona derby between Espanyol and league leaders FC Barcelona, a clash expected to carry extra edge given Espanyol’s current run.
Espanyol sit fifth after five straight league wins and ended 2025 with a 2 to 1 victory in Bilbao. Confidence is high as they prepare to face their city rivals.
Barcelona will encounter a hostile atmosphere in Cornella. Coach Hansi Flick has Pedri back available, although Gavi, Andreas Christensen and Dani Olmo remain sidelined, according to Xinhua.
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Coaches, comebacks and growing pressure
Elche travel to Villarreal after closing the year with an emphatic 4 to 0 win over Rayo Vallecano. The match marks a return for coach Eder Sarabia to a club where he previously worked in youth development.
Elche will be without Hector Fort due to a shoulder injury. Villarreal face their own problems, with suspended Renato Veiga and Pape Gueye away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Xinhua said.
Sunday brings two managerial debuts. Luis Castro takes charge of bottom club Levante away to Sevilla, while Pellegrino Matarazzo begins his tenure at Real Sociedad against Atletico Madrid.
Real Sociedad hover just above the relegation zone after three defeats and a draw. Atletico arrive with attacking options including Antoine Griezmann, Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez, despite missing Alexander Baena and Nico Gonzalez.
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Injuries reshape the Bernabeu narrative
Real Madrid host Real Betis under mounting scrutiny, with coach Xabi Alonso seeking stability amid growing pressure.
The task is complicated by the absence of Kylian Mbappe, who injured his knee during the week. Trent Alexander Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are also unavailable, while Brahim Diaz is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, according to Xinhua.
The round concludes with Mallorca hosting Girona in a direct relegation battle and Alaves facing Oviedo, who recently parted ways with striker Salomon Rondon as new coach Guillermo Almada looks to revive a side that has struggled for goals all season.
Sources, Xinhua
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