Madrid, February 19 – Real Madrid took the lead in La Liga after defeating FC Barcelona last weekend, but Álvaro Arbeloa's team has a difficult away game on Saturday, travelling to Pamplona to face Osasuna at the hostile El Sadar stadium.
Real Madrid will travel after Tuesday's 1-0 victory away against Benfica in the Champions League, and Arbeloa will rotate his squad against a team that has won three and drawn two of its last five matches.
Attention will be focused on Osasuna forward Victor Muñoz, who has impressed since joining from Real Madrid's B-team last summer, while veteran striker Ante Budimir has scored 11 goals in La Liga this season.
Barcelona will play at home against Levante on Sunday, and coach Hansi Flick needs his team to improve their defense after last week's 3-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey and Monday's 2-1 defeat in Girona, where Barcelona's defense was repeatedly exposed.
The lack of midweek games will help Barcelona recover, but Marcus Rashford and Pedri are both doubtful for the match against a team that looks increasingly doomed to relegation, according to Xinhua.
Levante lost 1-0 to Villarreal on Wednesday night in a match postponed earlier in the year due to bad weather, and sit seven points from safety after three consecutive defeats.
Villarreal's win saw the club rise to third in the table, three points clear of Atlético Madrid, before Sunday's derby at home against Valencia, who will travel to the Estadio de la Ceramica two points above the drop zone after last weekend's win against Levante.
Valencia defender Jose Copete is suspended, while Arnaut Danjuma, Diego Lopez, and Eray Comert are all ruled out due to injury.
Atlético Madrid will play at home against Espanyol, who haven't won in 2026, but Atlético will have to rest key players after Wednesday's 3-3 Champions League playoff draw against Club Brugge, which leaves the club with plenty to do in next week's return leg.
Athletic Club and Elche will start the round of matches on Friday, with Athletic looking for a third consecutive win to end their relegation worries. Dani Vivian is back after injury for the home side, but Mikel Jauregizar and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta are added to a long list of absentees that includes Spain international Nico Williams.
Real Betis has the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Atlético Madrid with a home game against Rayo Vallecano, although Betis are still without Cucho Hernandez and Giovani Lo Celso.
Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda starts his seven-game ban as his side visits Getafe, desperately needing points in the relegation battle, while Mallorca will kick off their game away to Celta Vigo in the bottom three.
Celta has a Europa League game in Greece on Thursday, which won't help preparations as the home side looks to end a run of four La Liga matches without a win.
Vedat Muriqi is Mallorca's biggest threat, with the powerful striker scoring 16 goals this season – over half of Mallorca's total of 29 for the season.
The round of matches will end on Monday with Alaves at home against a Girona side boosted after a deserved win at home against Barcelona.
