Big weekend in La Liga as Real Madrid hope to close gap to leaders Barcelona

Lionel Messi was instrumental in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Sevilla earlier this season

Madrid, April 11 (IANS) The La Liga is heading for one of its most important weekends of the season as the sides prepare for the 31st round of games with hardly time to rest following the midweek fixtures.

Real Madrid will almost certainly have a red ring around Saturday in their calendar as they play at home against minnows SD Eibar, who on Tuesday won for the first time in 11 games, reports Xinhua.

FC Barcelona face what could be their most difficult away game of the season as they travel to play an in-form Sevilla.

Real kick off the weekend and will be without James Rodriguez and Tony Kroos due to their accumulation of yellow cards, while winger Gareth Bale is a doubt with a foot injury. One player able to play is Cristiano Ronaldo, who had the booking he was shown for diving in midweek lifted after TV replays showed he had in fact been the victim of a foul.

The suspensions limit Carlo Ancelotti's options in rotating his squad, although Isco will almost certainly come into the side for James while Jese Rodriguez could play if Bale doesn't recover.

Barcelona's trip to Sevilla will be a special game for midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who joined the Catalans from the Andalusian club last summer. The Catalans have a four-point cushion at the top of the table but will expect Real to have narrowed that gap to just one by the time they kick off.

Coach Luis Enrique will bring back Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Neymar into his side after resting them during the week.

But it will be interesting to see his treatment of Dani Alves, whose agent said the Brazilian full-back would leave the club at the end of the campaign. Alves' agent said he was unhappy with the contract offer that had been made to him.

Real and Barcelona's games will be played around Atletico Madrid's trip to face Malaga. Coach Diego Simeone has highlighted the game as one of the keys to his team finishing in third place this campaign.

But he must be tempted to try and rest stars ahead of next week's Champions League clash against neighbours Real.

Saturday ends with Celta against Rayo Vallecano in a mid-table game, while Sergio Barjuan makes his home debut as Almeria coach in a make or break game against fellow strugglers Granada.

Sunday starts with Getafe at home to a Villarreal side that has lost gas in recent matches, while Aritz Aduriz is suspended for Athletic club Bilbaowho return to Cornella el Prat to face Espanyol.

Victor Sanchez will make his debut as Deportivo la Coruna coach in a difficult away game against an in-form Real Sociedad while Cordoba entertain Elche. Cordoba have taken one point from the last 30 and unless they win they are almost certain to be relegated.

The round of matches ends on Monday with a Valencia derby with Valencia needing a win at home to city rivals Levante.