The weekend in preview:

Saturday December 20
19:00 Real Madrid v Valencia
21:00 Espanyol v Atletico Madrid

Sunday December 21

16:00 Mallorca v Sevilla
16:00 Osasuna v Getafe
16:00 Deportivo la Coruna v Recreativo Huelva
16:00 C.D Numancia v Valladolid
16:00 Racing Santander v Málaga
16:00 Sporting de Gijón v Almeria
18:00 Villarreal v Barcelona - Game of the Round
20:00 Real Betis Balompié v Athletic Bilbao

A couple of real stand-out games in La Liga this weekend which could have a significant impact on the European placings going into the winter break. Barcelona’s place at the top is assured, and if they beat Villarreal on Sunday evening they are guaranteed at the very least an 8 point lead over the chasing pack. Pep Guardiola has a nice selection headache as Andres Iniesta is likely to be in contention for a starting berth following six weeks out with injury. Manuel Pellegrini is undergoing a rough spell in Castellon and things aren’t going to get any easier with the league leaders visiting.

Atletico Madrid, unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions, have the chance to make further inroads into the top four with their trip to the Montjuic to face an Espanyol side who have not won since November 2nd. Also on Saturday. Real Madrid, themselves on a horrible run, host Valencia at the Bernabau hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s Classico defeat. Marcelo, Robben and Torres are all expected to return to the side but Diarra, De La Red and Van Nistelrooy remain long-term absentees.

On Sunday, rock-bottom Osasuna face a Getafe side unbeaten in four and who have lost just once away from home. There are several lower-mid-table scraps as Racing host Malaga, Almeria (who have taken just 5 points from 21 recently) visit Sporting Gijon and Real Betis find themselves on telly again, this time playing Athletic Bilbao. Sevilla will look to cement their position in second place with a win at Mallorca, who themselves are loitering dangerously in the bottom three. Valladolid, unbeaten in five, travel to Numancia and finally, a win for Deportivo at the Riazor over Recreativo could see them leapfrog Real Madrid if results go their way.

Diarra isn't one of the best in the world like Gattuso or De Rossi and they aren't worth that.

valencia are bigger than 3/1 to beat madrid this weekend!!
expect girona-castelló to be a low scoring affair. the pitch is a mudbath

Gattuso's well past it, I'd pay double figures for Diarra, he's quality.

I know it was years ago, but what was the reason of Cambiasso leaving?

Real Madrid were imbeciles (typically) and didn't renew his contract. He moved to Inter on a free and matured into one of the world's best midfielders.

Goes against the grain insofar as players usually move to Inter wit big reputations and quickly lose all their quality. Ever since 2004 that seems to have stopped happening.

Real are still imbecile's now. How the hell did they let Mata go? On a free as well!

Just looking around the league, some of the better prospects around are former Madrid players.

Eto'o, Mata, Negredo, Granero and Borja Valero at West Brom to name but a few.

Arbeloa, Diego Lopez...

Real Madrid are apparently willing to pay £20 million plus Rafael Van Der Vaart to capture winger Ashley Young. Although Aston Villa have put a £30 million price tag on his head.

If I were Villa I'd take that deal Young ain't worth that. Van der Vaart is top quality.

Aye it is a very good deal for Villa. van der Vaart is quality and started off at Real really well scoring 4 goals in the first month. But since the team has been out of form, it has affected his own form also. Juande Ramos has been playing him off the bench also. Which he isn't happy about either.