La Liga preview: Barcelona hosts Girona in Catalan Derby

Table-topper Barcelona hosts newly-promoted Girona in the first Catalan Derby on Saturday in the La Liga.

Barcelona could potentially set a new club record of a 32-game unbeaten streak if it defeats Girona on Saturday.

In a first derby of its kind, Girona visits neighbour Barcelona to compete in the Catalan derby, while the La Liga weekend will also witness fierce clashes in the battle for European qualification places and against relegation.

New-comer Girona is having an excellent debut season in La Liga and sits eighth in the table after three wins and two draws in its last six games. However, table-topper Barca will still be favourite and could potentially set a new club record of a 32-game unbeaten streak if it wins on Saturday.

Real hosts Alaves, Atletico takes on Sevilla

Title-holder Real Madrid hosts Alaves on Saturday afternoon with Zinedine Zidane’s side having scored 23 times in their last five La Liga outings. Alaves has won at the Bernabeu just once [back in 2000], but victories in its last three games mean the Basques will travel with confidence.

READ: Zidane stands by selfless Benzema

Second-placed Atletico Madrid will take on Sevilla on Sunday evening with Diego Simeone’s side looking for revenge after its Copa del Rey exit. It promises to be an exciting game as Atletico has lost just once in the La Liga all season, while Sevilla has suffered only one defeat at home.

Seedorf looking to avoid relegation

The weekend kicks off Friday night with Deportivo La Coruna hoping for a first three points under new boss Clarence Seedorf when it hosts Espanyol, which needs a boost to avoid slipping towards the relegation struggle.

Other fixtures to look out for include in-form Getafe visiting Villarreal on Sunday with both teams chasing a Europa League spot, and Valencia looking to maintain its Champions League position when it plays Real Sociedad at home later that afternoon.

The gameweek continues until Monday evening when in-form Real Betis, with 10 goals scored and three wins in its last four away fixtures, visits a Levante side that has slipped in recent weeks but managed to earn a battling 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid in its previous home fixture.