La Liga preview: Barca, Real return to domestic duties

After ending their Champions League group campaigns on a high, Barcelona and Real Madrid turn their attention back to La Liga this weekend.

Barca beat Rubin Kazan 2-0 with a second-string side on Tuesday to finish top of Group D, a sign of their depth ahead of Sunday’s fixture with in-form Real Sociedad, who have won back-to-back league games and sit sixth in the standings.

Pep Guardiola fielded just two regular starters, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets, against the Russian champions, but will no doubt name his regular 11 as they aim to maintain their two-point buffer over Real at the top of the league.

Sociedad, who have netted five times in their last two games, will be hard pressed to continue their goal-scoring exploits against a Barca defence which has not conceded a goal in the past 514 minutes in all competitions.

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, meanwhile, will take on minnows Real Zaragoza, who are anchored to the bottom of the standings.

Real dispatched Auxerre 4-0 in the Champions League earlier this week, and there were plenty of ominous signs for Zaragoza ahead of the clash at Estadio de la Romareda on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, 11th-placed Athletic Bilbao host Espanyol, with the visitors heading into the match on a six-game unbeaten streak.

In other fixtures involving relegation-threatened sides, Sporting Gijon and Levante go head to head, while Hercules host Malaga at Estadio Jose Rico Perez.

Seventh-placed Mallorca welcome Racing Santander and will hope to bounce back from their 3-0 thrashing at Getafe last time out.

Saturday’s fixtures are highlighted by the clash between in-form Getafe and third-placed Villarreal, with both sides coming off consecutive league victories.

Elsewhere, Sevilla will be aiming to get back onto the winners’ list after four straight losses in all competitions when they face 19th-placed Almeria, while Atletico Madrid host the resurgent Deportivo La Coruna.

Valencia’s home clash against Osasuna will round out round 15 on Monday.