MADRID, March 27 (Xinhua) -- La Liga returns to action for the final 10 matches of the season with the 29th round kicking off this weekend.

The situation at the top of the table will be a lot clearer after FC Barcelona faces Osasuna on Thursday, which means the league leader will have played the same number of matches as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the title race.

If Barca wins on Thursday, it will open a three-point gap on Real Madrid and seven over Atletico.

Atletico is the first of the top-three into action this weekend, with no margin for error as it travels to play an Espanyol side that is just one point above the relegation zone.

Atletico and Barcelona play the return leg of their Copa del Rey final next Wednesday and with several players flying back late from South American World Cup qualifying matches, Atletico boss, Diego Simeone will probably rest Jose Gimenez and Julian Alvarez, although Angel Correa's suspension limits his options to rotate players in attack.

Real Madrid also plays on Saturday, with Carlo Ancelotti's side at home to Leganes, who slipped into the bottom three before the break.

This should be a routine match for Real Madrid and Ancelotti's task in the coming weeks will be to use his squad to ensure players are fresh for its forthcoming Copa del Rey and Champions League matches.

Barcelona is at home to Girona on Sunday afternoon, with less than 72 hours to rest and prepare the game after the end of Thursday's match against Osasuna.

Barca coach Hansi Flick has already confirmed that Raphinha and Ronald Araujo won't play on Thursday, while Pau Cubarsi is a doubt with an ankle problem, but all three should be available on Sunday, as the club also has to look to the Copa del Rey return leg against Atletico.

The round of matches kicks off on Saturday lunchtime as Real Sociedad plays at home against a Valladolid side that looks condemned to a rapid return to the second division.

Alaves climbed out of the bottom three before the break and with Leganes away to Real Madrid, the team from Vitoria has the chance to put some space between itself and the relegation zone with a home game against a Rayo Vallecano that has gone five games without a win.

Fifth place Villarreal visits Getafe on Sunday and Getafe coach Jose Bordalas has to decide whether impressive loan midfielder, Ramon Terrats, will face his parent club.

Athletic Club Bilbao hopes to have top scorer Oihan Sancet back to face Osasuna as it looks to strengthen its grip on fourth place. Osasuna has the disadvantage of playing on Thursday but did win in Bilbao in the Copa del Rey back in January.

An improving Valencia has a tough home game against Mallorca, while Sunday ends with a Seville derby between Betis and Sevilla.

Seville derbies are always tense affairs where the need to beat a bitter local rival is far more important than the need for flowing football and where controversy is nearly always assured.

The round of matches ends on Monday with an in-form Celta Vigo at home to struggling Las Palmas. Enditem

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