La Liga preview: Real Madrid look to consolidate top spot

Bengaluru, March 7: El Clasico winners Real Madrid are aiming to stay clear atop La Liga during a weekend schedule full of exciting match-ups and potential surprises.
Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Barcelona moved Zinedine Zidane's side one point clear at the head of the table, the leaders now face a tricky trip to Real Betis on Sunday as they look to maintain or even build on that advantage.
Real Madrid have only won two of their last five meetings with a Betis team who often save their best performances for the big occasion.
Fixtures | Results | Points Table
However, Los Verdiblancos' recent form has been mixed; a run of just one victory in their last 10 LaLiga outings has seen them drop to 14th in the table.
With MSL Media inputs, myKhel.com looks at some of the important fixtures of the La Liga weekend.

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona will look to bounce back from their ElClasico disappointment when they host Real Sociedad on Saturday, with Lionel Messi and company having won 12 and drawn one of 13 La Liga games at the Camp Nou this term.
However, sixth-placed Sociedad will travel confidently having drawn 2-2 in the reverse fixture in December, and with starlets Alexander Isak and Martin Odegaard in excellent recent form.

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla
Champions League qualification spots are on the line when fifth placed Atletico Madrid host third placed Sevilla FC on Saturday with just two points between the teams ahead of the game.
This is one of La Liga's most historic traditional fixtures and extra spice comes from the fact that Atletico coach Diego Simeone having represented Sevilla as a player in the early 1990s.

Osasuna vs Espanyol
Sunday starts in Pamplona as CA Osasuna host bottom side RCD Espanyol.
The visitors need the points badly and will also remember losing the reverse game 2-4 despite Osasuna playing most of the second half with just 10 men.

Villarreal vs Leganes
La Liga's most unpredictable team Villarreal CF host 19th placed CD Leganes on Sunday.
The Los Pepineros have lost all four previous La Liga visits to the Estadio de la Ceramica, but their need for three points bigger than ever now.


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