La Liga preview: Espanyol continue to climb

Getafe will aim to get back on the winner’s list on Sunday when they host fifth-placed Espanyol in the pick of the weekend’s La Liga action.

The eighth-placed side will do battle with Espanyol at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday, coming off a four game winless streak in all competitions, in which they have shipped 10 goals.

Conversely, Espanyol have racked up back to back wins in the league, including a 4-0 thrashing of Real Zaragoza and a 2-1 away win over Sevilla, to leave them three points shy of the fourth-placed Valencia.

Barcelona will be out to avenge their first loss in 29 games in all competitions when they welcome Racing Santander on Saturday.

While the Catalans still advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey in their two-leg quarter-final with Real Betis 6-3 on aggregate on Wednesday, they lost the second leg 3-1, their first loss since September 11.

Racing are without a win in the league since they beat Mallorca 1-0 away in December, drawing three and losing one fixture since.

Valencia can extend their four-game winning streak in the league with victory over lowly Malaga at home, while Sevilla can ensure Levante lose their fifth on the trot when the two teams meet on Saturday.

In Sunday games, Sporting Gijon can continue its winning form when they host Atletico Madrid.

Sporting broke a 13-game winless streak last week with a 2-0 win over Hercules, while Atletico come into the match off a 1-0 loss in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final to Real Madrid in mid-week.

Real Madrid can stay in sight of league-leaders Barcelona with victory over Mallorca on Sunday at the Bernabeu.

Relegation candidates Real Zaragoza host Deportivo La Coruna, with the 18th-placed side in a position to string rare consecutive wins together in the league.

Almeria welcome Osasuna and Villarreal play host to Real Sociedad in other Sunday fixtures.

Athletic Bilbao take on Hercules at Estadio San Mames in Monday’s only game.