Mallorca beat Almeria 3-1 and a 92nd minute Fernando Llorente equaliser denied Osasuna. The second legs are played next week.

Preview

Deportivo v Sevilla
Valencia v Villarreal match of the week

Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca v Real Madrid
Numancia v Getafe
Racing Santander v Recreativo Huelva
Real Betis v Malaga
Sporting Gijon v Valladolid
Espanyol v Almeria
Osasuna v Barcelona

Bottom faces top in La Liga this weekend as Barcelona, unbeaten in La Liga in 16 outings, travel to Navarra to face Jose Antonio Camacho’s Osasuna. The hosts will be boosted following their last-minute equalizer at Sevilla last week but this still has the makings of a horrific mismatch. Pep Guardiola’s men beat Atletico Madrid in midweek and have scored three times as many goals as their opponents.

Second place Valencia, buoyed by the return of the brilliant David Silva, welcome Villarreal to the Mestalla. The yellow submarine are undergoing a wretched run of form whereas Unai Emery’s men are super confident following their demolition of Atletico Madrid last weekend. Nevertheless, Pellegrini will want his side to regain their European spot. Elsewhere on Saturday its an intriguing game in prospect in Galicia as Manolo Jiminez, the subject of white-hanky waving at the Pizjuan last week (harsh) takes his Sevilla side to the Riazor to face a Deportivo team who will be looking to remain in the UEFA cup spots. Lotina’s men are in good form and are a force to be reckoned with at home.

On Sunday, Javier Aguirre will be anxious to put a bad week behind him by leading his side to a victory over Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid visit Mallorca, who remain deeply in relegation trouble while fellow strugglers Espanyol, still searching for their first win under Mané host Almeria, with whom Hugo Sanchez got off to a somewhat better start last weekend. Numancia face Getafe, Sporting Gijon host Valladolid, Malaga visit Andalucian neighbours Betis and Racing clash with Recreativo Huelva in what promises to be the weekend’s ugliest match.

Just watched Barca vs Atletico.

Messi was brilliant, as was Alves. The first goal was world class.

Atletico's defence is so poor you can't defend them, they can't tackle, the organisation, the discipline and the just general quality of the defence is absolutely shocking. Heitinga is so poor.

You definitely got that bit right.

Something for other Athletic fans to ponder. Where once we relied on yeste and Etxeberria, are we now so reliant on Llorente? Awful amount of pressure to heap on the shoulders of one so young.

He is a bit special, isn't he?

Just a bit...

His first goal with Alves was brilliant, they've only been playing together for a few months, but this was like a classic strike partnership link up, you wouldn't believe he was linking with his full back. Saying that, Alves isn't your average full back, is he?

Brazil don't do full-backs.

Fabio Aurelio

But if they did...



Really looking forward to the Valencian derby tonight.

Valencia, 2-0; Villa and Mata bagging two either side of half time.

Point proved beyond any doubt whatsoever.