MADRID, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The 27th round of La Liga games will be affected by this week's Copa del Rey semifinals and the return of UEFA Champions League next week. Here are some things to look out for this weekend.

1. Tension in Valencia

The racist abuse suffered by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr in Valencia's Mestalla Stadium last season was one of the ugliest incidents seen in the Spanish game for a long time.

This weekend sees the Brazilian return to Valencia, where some hold the player responsible for the partial ground closure which the club received as a punishment.

Saturday's game is surrounded in tension and it will need a cool head from players and supporters.

2. Barca to continue recovery in Bilbao?

FC Barcelona produced arguably their best display of the season last weekend to beat Getafe 4-0 and Xavi Hernandez's side looks to maintain that form away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.

The home side beat Barca 4-2 in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal in January, when Barca didn't live with their intensity, but Athletic's Copa del Rey semifinal win against Atletico Madrid on Thursday will leave its mark on the legs of the home players. Suspensions to defender Daniel Vivian and winger Nico Williams, along with a muscle injury for Yuri Berchiche, rob the home side of three key players, and all of these should make Barca's task considerably easier than a month ago.

3. Copa del Rey to influence again

As well as Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Mallorca and Atletico Madrid were all in midweek Cup action, with Real Sociedad and Mallorca playing 120 minutes on Tuesday night.

That is likely to have a bigger effect on Real Sociedad's visit to Sevilla on Saturday than Mallorca's home match against Girona on Sunday, with injuries and next week's Champions League tie at home to Paris Saint-Germain affecting Imanol Alguacil's team selection.

Real Betis' win at home to Athletic Bilbao last weekend left them seven points behind the Basque side in the battle for Europe, and Sunday could give them a chance to close that further when they visit Atletico Madrid, who lost 3-0 in Bilbao on Thursday to end their Cup dream.

4. Crunch time for Benitez

55 minutes into his side's 2-2 draw away to Cadiz last weekend, Celta coach Rafael Benitez must have thought things were looking up, as his side led 2-0 away to fellow relegation candidates and looked to be on track for a win that would lift them six points clear of the relegation zone.

45 minutes later the game ended 2-2, with Darwin Machis scoring a 100th-minute goal for the home side to leave Celta just three points ahead and put Benitez back under pressure.

Celta is at home to bottom side Almeria on Friday, and it is a must-win game for both the club and the coach. Failure to beat a side that has not won so far this season could see the fans in the Balaidos Stadium finally lose their patience with Benitez. Enditem

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