Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona go head-to-head in La Liga on Sunday in a game that is vital for both sides' hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League, ahead of the international break.

Jules Kounde (R) of Barcelona vies with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between FC Barcelona and Napoli in Barcelona, Spain, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

Both sides qualified for the quarterfinals of this season's competition this week, with Barca impressing with a 3-1 win at home to Napoli, while Atletico showed their fighting spirit to edge Inter Milan out on penalties on Wednesday and end the Italian side's 13-game winning run.

Barca may have a slight advantage when they travel to the Metropolitano Stadium, as the effects of the titanic effort that Atletico players put in on Wednesday take a toll on their legs.

Ferran Torres could be available for Barcelona, who also seems to have found a new hero in 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi, while Antoine Griezmann's return on Wednesday was vital for Atletico and both he and Memphis Depay will be keen to impress against their former club.

Atletico could go into the game in fifth place in the table if Athletic Bilbao wins at home to Alaves on Saturday night.

Athletic has won 10 and drawn one of their last 11 home games, and with Gorka Guruzeta, Benat Prados and Nico Williams in fine form, they will hope for another win against a side who has just about assured their survival for next season.

The weekend begins on Friday night with sixth-placed Real Sociedad at home to third-from-bottom Cadiz, with the visitors boosted by last weekend's 2-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid that ended a 23-game winless run and took them to within two points of safety.

A win in San Sebastian would take Cadiz above Celta Vigo, but Real Sociedad also needs points if they want to qualify for Europe next season.

League leaders Real Madrid visits Osasuna in the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday in what tends to be one of the most hostile atmospheres they face all season. Real Madrid has no new injuries, although Jude Bellingham is still suspended, while Osasuna is without defenders Ruben Pena and David Garcia, and winger Kike Barja.

Second-placed Girona visits Getafe aiming to take another step towards assuring a place in next season's Champions League. Getafe has lost top scorer Borja Mayoral to a knee injury that will sideline him for the rest of the campaign, while Girona is missing winger Viktor Tsygankov and midfielder Yangel Herrera.

Mallorca plays at home to Granada, with visiting coach Alexander Medina probably one defeat away from losing his job.

Celta Vigo sacked Rafael Benitez in midweek and if Cadiz wins they could be in the relegation zone when Claudio Giraldez makes his debut in the dugout for their visit to an ever-improving Sevilla on Sunday.

Celta's main task will be to stop Sevilla forwards Isaac Romero and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Almeria was another team that changed coach during the week and the experienced Pepe Mel will be in charge as they continue searching for their first win of the season, away to Las Palmas.

Villarreal entertains Valencia in the east-coast derby between two sides that have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe next season, while Rayo Vallecano needs to beat Real Betis to lift their own relegation worries after a run of nine games without a win has left them dangerously close to the bottom three.

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