Barcelona returns to Camp Nou as La Liga returns to action

FC Barcelona returns to Camp Nou after two and a half years, while Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid faces a test of form when La Liga is back in action.

Around 46,000 fans will be in the Camp Nou when Barcelona ends its longer than expected exile in the former Olympic Stadium with a game against Athletic Club.

FC Barcelona's Raphinha (L) shoots during the LaLiga football match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves, in Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

Lamine Yamal could be available for Barcelona and Raphinha could be back, but the game will come too soon for coach Hansi Flick to risk Pedri.

Nico Williams looks set to start for Athletic after again rejecting a move to Barcelona over the summer, but the game could come too soon for Athletic's attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet as he recovers from a slight muscle problem.

Real Madrid went into the international break with some doubts over its form after defeat to Liverpool and a 0-0 draw away to Rayo Vallecano, which is enough for a club like Madrid to set alarm bells ringing ahead of its visit to Elche.

Alonso has lost defender Eder Militao to injury, while Dani Carvajal remains sidelined after a knee operation, but the coach's main concern will be to see Kylian Mbappe return to his best form.

Elche has run out of steam since a fine start, and coach Eder Sarabia hopes the weekend off will see some sharpness return to his side's passing game.

Four consecutive wins have kept Atletico Madrid in the title race, ahead of its short trip to play a Getafe side that has the talent of Luis Milla in midfield and Borja Mayoral in attack.

Villarreal remains in third place and with striker Gerard Moreno back to his best, Marcelino Garcia Toral's team is a clear favorite to win at home to Mallorca.

There is a Basque derby with Osasuna seeking three points at home to a Real Sociedad side that has found its feet under coach Sergio Francisco with two wins and two draws in its last four matches.

Osasuna has dropped close to the relegation zone after just one point from the last 12, and coach Alessio Lisci must decide whether to play with a flat back four or three central defenders.

In another derby of the weekend, Valencia is at home to Levante.

A draw against Real Betis was enough to lift Valencia out of the bottom three before the break, and coach Carlos Corberan needs a similar display against a rival that has slipped to 19th with three defeats in four matches.

Other games this weekend see Alaves at home to Celta Vigo, with the home side struggling to turn its improved football into goals. Bottom side Oviedo has become harder to beat since Luis Carrion returned as coach, but he is still looking for his first win as Oviedo entertains Rayo Vallecano.

Betis will provide a stiff test of Girona's slight recovery, and Espanyol looks to end a run of consecutive defeats at home to Sevilla.