The 31st round of games in the BBVA Primera Liga sees the big two take a back seat until Sunday, allowing other issues to be resolved beforehand.

Their Champions League exertions in midweek mean that league leaders, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid don't play their games until Sunday, with Barcelona visiting a Zaragoza side reeling from a 3-2 defeat away to Deportivo la Coruna last weekend and still without a win in 2013.

That run has seen Zaragoza drop to fourth from bottom of the table and they will be grateful for the fact that Leo Messi is almost certainly to be rested in a bid to ensure he is fit for the Champions League semi-final.

Barca could rest other players as well as the league title is theirs and the only question regarding that issue is when they will actually be able to celebrate in.

Real Madrid play away to Athletic Bilbao, whose side is ravaged by injuries and suspensions. Some Athletic fans are suspicious of the fact that all four of their players who started Monday's game in Sevilla just one booking away from suspension were booked in that game by referee Mateu Lahoz, who Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho has long said is his favorite referee.

Lahoz has left Athletic without Ariz Aduriz, Americ Laporte, Oscar de Marcos and Carlos Gurpegui for the game, while Andoni Iriola, Inigo Perez and Fernando Amorebieta are all injured.

Jose Mourinho will also make changes after playing in Europe and the big question again will be whether or not Iker Casillas returns in goal.

Malaga also played in Europe in midweek, but after their heartbreaking exit in Dortmund, they don't get an extra day's rest and have to entertain an Osasuna side battling to climb away from the relegation zone. The home fans will give Malaga the applause they deserve for their excellent Champions League campaign.

The round of games actually kicks off on Friday with a Seville derby between Betis and Sevilla. Betis are looking for a top 4 finish, which Sevilla have an outside chance of making it to the Europa League, but as always league positions don't matter in a game of tense and bitter local rivalry.

Saturday begins with Valladolid aiming to halt a slide down the table at home to an effective Getafe, while Deportivo la Coruna look for an incredible fourth consecutive win away to Levante.

A win for Deportivo would lift them out of the bottom four, something that appeared impossible just two weeks ago, when they were rock bottom of the table and looking doomed to relegation.

Espanyol are safe from the drop now, but have a tough game against Valencia, whose internal problems don't seem to have stopped their challenge for a top-four finish under coach, Ernesto Valverde, who has yet to renew his contract beyond the end of this season.

Sunday sees a thrilling game between Rayo and Real Sociedad, who are currently fourth and playing their best football in years thanks to Antoine Griezmann, Carlos Vela and Inigo Martinez among others.

Atletico Madrid can deepen Granada's relegation worries after the visitors to the Calderon have taken just two points from their last five games while the 'weekend' ends on Monday as Mallorca entertain Celta. This game between the bottom two could see one side take a stride towards safety, while condemning the other to almost certain relegation. Endi

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