MADRID, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Super Cup with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club Bilbao and Mallorca in Saudi Arabia means there is a reduced fixture list in La Liga this weekend, with eight games to be played rather than the usual 10.

That gives Atletico Madrid the chance to go back to the top as Los Colchoneros entertain Osasuna after winning the last seven matches in La Liga and the last 13 in all competitions.

Atletico may have made slightly hard work of Marbella in the Copa del Rey last weekend, but will be optimistic against a rival that has a potent threat in attack with striker Ante Budimir, but whose last league win was at the start of November.

The round of matches kicks off on Friday night when Rayo Vallecano hosts Celta Vigo, Rayo will be looking to stretch an unbeaten run to five matches, while Celta needs to improve on some irregular form away from home, but will be without talismanic striker and captain Iago Aspas, sidelined for a month with a muscle injury.

Alaves plays at home to Girona in Saturday's first game, with the Basque side starting to look more solid since the arrival of coach Eduardo Coudet. The Vitoria side has drawn its last four games but kicks off this weekend just two points above the relegation zone.

Alaves' position is much better than that of Real Valladolid, who sits rock bottom of La Liga ahead of a home tie with Real Betis, and after having been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier Ourense.

The arrival of new coach Diego Cocca, who has no experience of coaching in Europe, hasn't brought a change of fortune for Valladolid, and the visit offers Betis the chance to climb towards the top six.

There is another relegation battle in Cornella as Espanyol entertain Leganes in a relegation six-pointer. Espanyol has two draws and two defeats from the last four league matches, but a win could lift the club out of the bottom three.

This will be the first game of 2025 for Manolo Gonzalez's side, after having been knocked out of the Copa del Rey before Christmas, and it remains to be seen whether that will be an advantage or not for what will be a vital game.

Valencia looks to have improved under new coach Carlos Corberan, pushing Real Madrid in La Liga and qualifying for the fourth round of the Copa del Rey. However, Los Che still only have 12 points in La Liga, and now visit a Sevilla side that owes something to its fans after capitulating 4-1 away to second-tier Almeria in the Copa.

Las Palmas also crashed out of the Copa del Rey to second division rivals, but has three wins and a draw from the last four league matches ahead of a game at home to Getafe, who could kick off Sunday's game in the bottom three if Espanyol beats Leganes.

The last game of the weekend on Monday is arguably the most attractive, with seventh-placed Real Sociedad at home to fifth-placed Villarreal. This will also be Villarreal's first match of 2025 as the Yellow Submarine looks to close in on the top four and take advantage of Athletic Bilbao playing in the Super Cup. Enditem

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