LaLiga Matchday 28: Real target victory against Villarreal

Real Madrid must continue to pick up maximum points if they are to have any chance of closing the gap to league leaders Barcelona and a visit from European hopefuls Villarreal is their next challenge. 

The Blaugrana, meanwhile, host mid-table Girona in an effort to maintain their substantial cushion at the top. 

Atletico Madrid are close behind their city rivals and travel to face an out-of-form Rayo Vallecano outfit in the hope of securing three points, while top four-chasing Real Betis will expect to keep the pressure on Real Sociedad by beating lowly Cadiz. 

At the other end of the table, Valencia are set for a crucial showdown with fellow relegation candidates Almeria in what could prove a decisive game in the race for survival.

Game of the weekend: Real Madrid vs Villarreal (Saturday, 8pm)

Real Madrid are riding the crest of a wave, having followed up their massive 6-0 dismantling of Real Valladolid with a scintillating 4-0 Copa del Rey victory over Barca to seal a place in the final against Osasuna. 

Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick in both games and is now within one goal of Hugo Sanchez as LaLiga’s fourth-highest scorer of all time. 

Los Blancos have lost just one of their last 42 home LaLiga games (29 wins, 12 draws) and are unbeaten in their last 17 in the competition at the Bernabeu (12 wins, five draws). 

Villarreal will hope the attacking talents of Yeremy Pino — who has scored twice in five league appearances against Madrid — will be enough to bring Carlo Ancelotti's side crashing back down to earth. 

Visiting manager Quique Setien has won three of his last six LaLiga games against Madrid — a record only Diego Simeone (five), Ernesto Valverde (four) and Luis Enrique (four) can better in the last decade.

Barcelona vs Girona (Monday, 8pm)

Despite being dumped out of the Copa del Rey in dramatic fashion by Real Madrid, Barca remain 12 points ahead of their rivals in the LaLiga title race and will hope to take another step closer to the trophy when they host Girona. 

In the five LaLiga meetings between the two, the Blaugrana have never lost (four wins, one draw), racking up an aggregate scoreline of 14-3. 

Both sides have been clinical in front of goal this season, however, with only Xavi’s side boasting a better shot conversion rate (13.3%) than Michel’s men (12.7%) — largely thanks to the goalscoring exploits of Robert Lewandowski, who leads the competition’s scoring charts with 17 going into Matchday 28. 

The visitors will hope Cristhian Stuani can continue that clinical streak and add to his record of two goals for the club in three league meetings with Barca.

Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid (Sunday, 8pm)

Atletico Madrid will be keen to capitalise on any potential slip-ups from Real Madrid as they visit a Rayo side who are beginning to drift away from the European places. 

The hosts have not won any of their last 11 league games against the Colchoneros (two draws, nine defeats), failing to score in each of the last four at home. 

However, the second of those two draws came in the reverse fixture earlier this season — though Rayo have only taken points off Atletico in both games of a single campaign once (1999-2000). 

Andoni Iraola will hope a reunion with his former club will inspire veteran forward Radamel Falcao, who has netted just twice in LaLiga this term.

Real Betis vs Cadiz (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Real Betis find themselves just three points off the Champions League places going into Matchday 28, though their next opponents, Cadiz, are just one point clear of the drop zone and will be equally desperate for a win. 

The Verdiblancos have never lost a home LaLiga game against their next visitors (eight wins, three draws), losing only twice on their own patch in their 29 meetings across all competitions (18 wins, nine draws). 

Furthermore, Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini has overseen more LaLiga games without defeat against Cadiz (seven) than any other opponent in his career. 

Winger Juanmi, who has been eased back into the fray after suffering a serious ankle injury, will hope to add to his personal tally of netting in two of his three meetings with Cadiz.

Almeria vs Valencia (Sunday, 5.30pm)

Valencia and Almeria come into this game separated only by goal difference — relegation is a very real prospect for both clubs this season. 

The reverse fixture at the Mestalla ended in a 2-2 draw, giving Almeria the opportunity to avoid defeat in both league meetings with Los Che in a single season for only the second time in their history (2013-14). 

Both sides have developed a bad habit of conceding game-changing goals in the second halves of games — Almeria have lost the most points from such goals (14), with Valencia close behind in second (13). 

The visitors will hope their manager, Ruben Baraja, can add to his joint-personal best of four wins against Almeria in all competitions (level with Gimnastic de Tarragona and Alcorcon).

The weekend's other games

Sevilla vs Celta Vigo (Friday, 8pm) 

Osasuna vs Elche (Saturday, 1pm) 

Espanyol vs Athletic Bilbao (Saturday, 3.15pm) 

Real Sociedad vs Getafe (Saturday, 5.30pm) 

Real Valladolid vs Mallorca (Sunday, 1pm)

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