MADRID, April 17 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona once again defends its leadership of La Liga as it and second place Real Madrid both play difficult rivals in front of their home fans.

Barca is at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday night after qualifying for the semi-final of the Champions League despite a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Barca looked tired in that game and coach Hansi Flick will have to consider resting Lamine Yamal after the youngster seemed to play nearly every game.

Inigo Martinez should be fresh after resting on Tuesday, while Gerard Martin continues at left back for the injured Alejandro Balde.

Real Madrid entertains Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday night, after Madrid's Champions League exit (5-1 on aggregate) against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Madrid was outplayed by Arsenal in both games and the verdict in the Spanish press is that Carlo Ancelotti will lose his job at the end of the season.

Kylian Mbappe is suspended for the game, but midfielder Dani Ceballos returns after a long layoff.

Fourth placed Athletic travels to Madrid after a Europa League tie at home to Rangers on Thursday.

Fifth placed Villarreal's hopes of playing in the Champions League got a boost with last weekend's 2-1 win over Betis and Marcelino Garcia Toral's side can take another step towards that goal at home to an inconsistent Real Sociedad.

Betis travels to Girona on Monday night, with Girona needing to end a run of nine games without a win that has seen it drop worryingly close to the bottom three.

Espanyol plays at home to Getafe on Saturday, with a home win probably being enough to assure the home side's survival in the top-flight following wins away to Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo.

Rayo coach Inigo Perez signed a contract extension until 2026 in midweek and his team is at home to an in-form Valencia.

Valencia's win at home to Sevilla last weekend also lifted it towards safety and the club's form under Carlos Corberan would put it into the top-four if it continued through a whole season.

Sevilla sacked Xavier Garcia Pimienta in the wake of last week's defeat to Valencia, with veteran Joaquin Caparros returning for a fourth spell in charge, which starts with a home game against Alaves. Alaves is currently fourth from bottom, but could kick off the match in the bottom three if Leganes wins its visit to a Mallorca side looking to qualify for Europe.

Las Palmas could also move out of the bottom three and above Alaves after shocking Getafe a week ago. That win probably saved Diego Martinez's job as Las Palmas coach, but he has a difficult task on Saturday with a home game against third place Atletico Madrid.

Atletico eased past Valladolid on Monday with Julien Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Alexander Sorloth in excellent form and looks to have too much firepower. Enditem

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