The marquee games in this weekend's Spanish footballing fiesta inevitably include Barcelona and Real Madrid but also two teams that are on the peripheral of the top four, Villarreal and Deportivo.

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Barcelona

When the Blaugrana host their guests from Galicia, it will be first versus sixth and it is a game, we think, that has the potential to entertain with an abundance of attacking nous and a special pedigree of goal scoring architecture - and this not only from Barcelona.

The goal scoring ferocity of Barca has, this season, etched itself into a footballing theater of legendary dimensions. Suarez, Neymar and Messi have, between them, scored 31 of their team's 34 goals this campaign thus far. Quite remarkable. However, one component of the Catalan's terrifying trifecta may be absent on Saturday as Neymar, it appears, will be sidelined with a groin strain. He missed the mid-week Champion's League encounter with Leverkusen but Messi, who caused further concern amongst Barca fans by missing training on Thursday, will be playing. All this, at least, according to Señor Enrique. The home side will be anxious to rectify their slightly flawed performance last weekend when they were only able to secure a 1-1 draw against a vulnerable Valencia side and given this slight rupture, Deportivo may fancy getting away from Camp Nou with perhaps a point in hand. The Galicians themselves are on an impressive run of form and, having started the season in stellar form, are now unbeaten in six games and additionally they have in striker Lucas Perez, who has scored 13 times in his last 14 matches, a player in absolutely clinical form. Deportivo's last visit to Barcelona was on the final day of last season wherein they secured a breathtaking 2-2 draw to avoid relegation and we think they will offer a contentious bout again this weekend against a Barca side that continues to play wizardly football but are prone to lose focus at the back, often at critical times. Nevertheless, we expect the home side to get the upper hand in what should be a highly entertaining game, defined by attacking football and splattered with plenty of goal scoring chances.

Real Madrid

On Sunday, Villarreal host Real Madrid and although this is 5th against 3rd, we feel that Madrid may actually have an easier time in Villarreal than Barca do at home. Firstly, the home side will have to negotiate a quick turnaround from their Europa league exploits in the Czech Republic and, more importantly, the home side's performances have, to say the least, been streaky. Their inconsistency has seen them accrue only 5 points in their last 7 games and they haven't beaten Real in ten games, going all the way back to May 2009. However, at home Villarreal have only lost one game so far this year but we feel that Real's recent resurgence - winning 8 and losing 2 of their last 10 and scoring an average of 3 goals a game - may just prove too much for their guests to overcome. After their hammering in El Classico, Los Blancos underwent, it seems, a thorough self examination of character and attitude and Benitez has, for now at least, managed to quell the rumors of strife between Ronaldo and Bale as well as the incessant transfer speculation that has clouded them both. Their 8-0 destruction of Malmo in the Champions League during the week, was further evidence really that they seem to found their edge and sharpness once more, and we would expect them to take all three points on Sunday afternoon.

Atletico & Valencia

Second place Atletico Madrid will put their unbeaten run of form on the line against seventh place Athletic Bilbao at the Vicente Calderón Stadium also on Sunday. The home side are coming off their fifth win in their last six matches, having beaten Granada 2-0 last time out making it four wins in a row now for Diego Simeone's charges. Bilbao, meanwhile, only managed to eek out a mediocre 0-0 draw against a beleaguered Malaga team last weekend but the point, at least, kept the team from the Basque country only one point behind Deportivo. However, Griezmann seems to have found his nose for goal and we think, playing at home, Atletico should claim the spoils.

Gary Neville will be hoping to inject his managerial stint at Valencia with a win as he takes charge for his first league game against Eibar as they head to the Basque Country and the tiny stadium that Eibar call home. Both top-flight matches between these two have been won by Valencia and given that Eibar have lost their last three games in all competitions, Neville will be hoping to catch them at a weak spot in their season. Valencia's impressive 1-1 draw against Barcelona last weekend and the addition of new managerial blood and experience will, we think, give Valencia that extra fillip that they need and we think they will edge this one on Sunday.

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