Madrid: A midweek round of games in La Liga means there is no break in the action this week, with six teams quickly back in action on Tuesday night.
Alaves claimed just their second win of the season away to Cadiz on Saturday afternoon and the team from Vitoria would climb out of the relegation zone if they can follow that up with another three points at home to Elche.
Joselu, who scored twice on Saturday, will be Alaves’ main threat, while Lucas Boye will carry the danger for Elche.
Raul de Tomas has netted for Espanyol in each of his side’s last three games as the team from Barcelona has put together a three-game unbeaten run. Espanyol has a tough game at home to Athletic Club Bilbao, who travel to Cornella after Saturday’s 2-1 win at home to Villarreal.
Athletic’s only defeat this season came after coach Marcelino Garcia Toral made sweeping changes for the midweek game against Rayo Vallecano in September and it will be interesting to see if he repeats the same tactic or sticks with his more regular starting 11.
Despite playing attractive football Villarreal can’t seem to get going in LaLiga this season, with the defeat in Bilbao the second consecutive setback for Unai Emery’s men.
Emery also lost Gerard Moreno and Juan Foyth to injury in San Mames and they will both miss Tuesday’s game to a struggling Cadiz.
Wednesday sees Barcelona look to recover from their defeat in the Clasico with a difficult trip to face Rayo Vallecano, while Real Madrid play an in-form Osasuna, league leaders, Real Sociedad travel to face Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid visit winless Levante on Thursday.
