MADRID, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Barcelona derby between Espanyol and FC Barcelona will capture most of the headlines in the 22nd round of Spain's La Liga this weekend.
The two rivals play in Espanyol's RCDE stadium at a moment when relations between the two clubs can hardly be worse after Barcelona knocked Espanyol out of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and Espanyol reported Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique for comments they made after the game.
Expect an extremely hostile atmosphere as Espanyol look to repeat the 1-0 defeat they inflicted on Bar?a in the first leg of that cup tie, although the loss of Javi Fuego to Villarreal has weakened Quique Sanchez Flores' side.
Bar?a have little time to recover from Thursday night's cup semi-final first leg against Valencia and might have one eye on next Wednesday's return leg. Manager Ernesto Valverde will have to try and juggle his squad to ensure his players are in the best possible condition for a demanding seven days ahead.
The round of matches kicks off on Friday night as Real Sociedad host Deportivo la Coruna. Both sides go into the game with just one win in their last 10 matches and while a win for 'La Real' would lift them clear of the relegation zone, defeat to the side third from bottom would mean they are in a relegation dogfight.
Eibar versus Sevilla kicks off Saturday's round of fixtures with Sevilla given a minimal amount of time to recover from their Wednesday night cup tie away to Leganes. Eibar meanwhile have their sights set on a top-six finish after an excellent couple of months.
Villarreal can pressure Real Madrid and momentarily move into fourth place with a win away to Betis, who could hand a debut to new signing Marc Bartra. There is also an interesting game in Vitoria as an improving Alaves entertain a Celta Vigo side that is slowly but surely climbing the table.
Iago Aspas will look to add to his tally of 14 league goals, while Alaves have gained confidence from their excellent display in the Camp Nou last weekend.
Saturday draws to a close with Real Madrid's second visit to the city of Valencia in a week. "Los Blancos" will look to repeat last weekend's 4-1 win in Mestalla when they play Levante in the Ciudad de Valencia stadium.
11 league goals in two games has seen the confidence return to Real Madrid and they are clear favorites against a rival with just one win in 16 games.
Sunday starts with the alternative Madrid derby between Getafe and Leganes.
Athletic Club Bilbao's record signing, Inigo Martinez is in line for a debut as his side visits Girona, while Valencia play hosts to Atletico Madrid.
Atletico will hope to have Diego Costa back after a groin injury, but Valencia's squad is being stretched by injuries and their cup run.
The round of matches ends on Monday with a dramatic affair in the Canary Islands as second from bottom Las Palmas entertain bottom of the table Malaga; a game both sides simply have to win.
