La Liga preview: Giants seek to continue golden form

Barcelona and Real Madrid should both register convincing wins on Sunday in their respective La Liga fixtures.

The two powerhouses of Spanish football can continue their sterling form this season, with Barcelona hosting the 16th-placed Malaga, following Real Madrid’s trip to relegation-placed Almeria.

The Catalans tore apart Segunda Division leaders Real Betis 5-0 in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg on Wednesday, with Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi celebrating his award win with a hat-trick.

Jose Mourinho’s side are breathing down the Spanish champions’ necks, two points in arrears in second place, but Almeria will be boosted by their three goals in two games against Real in the league last season, despite losing both matches.

Prolific goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was on the scoresheet on both occasions in 4-2 and 2-1 victories when the two sides met last term.

Valencia will aim for their fourth straight win in the league when they host Deportivo La Coruna in Sunday’s other fixture.

Villarreal can get back to winning ways when they welcome Osasuna to the Camp El Madrigal, after they lost their last league encounter to Real 4-2 despite leading the match on two separate occasions.

Getafe can further Real Sociedad’s decline down the league table when the two teams clash at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, with the visiting Sociedad carrying a four-match losing streak into the encounter.

Real Zaragoza can not only climb off bottom, but out of the drop zone, with the three points against 17th-placed Levante in their relegation six-pointer.

Sporting Gijon (18th) are up against Hercules (11th), Athletic Bilbao (ninth) host Racing Santander (14th) and Sevilla (10th) welcome Espanyol (fifth) in the remaining Saturday fixtures.