Cup hangovers possible factor in Liga fixtures

King's Cup finalists Athletic Club Bilbao have minimal recovery time ahead of their La Liga game at home to Real Madrid on Saturday afternoon.

The Basque outfit qualified for the final at around midnight on Wednesday and have just 66 hours to prepare for the game against league leaders who have had all week to prepare, reports Xinhua.

Real Madrid know a win is vital if they are to retain their two-point lead over FC Barcelona at the top of the table, although they are still without injured Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric. However, Modric could possibly have a place on the subs' bench after over three months out of action.

Athletic Club have midfielder Ander Iturraspe injured while Mikel San Jose is suspended to leave them light of central midfielders.

Barcelona, who face Athletic in the Cup final, are at home to Rayo Vallecano in a rare mid-day kick-off in Camp Nou.

Games between the two sides tend to produce goals as Rayo are willing to attack their rivals, meaning that while they are more likely to score goals, they are also more likely to concede them as Barcelona's attacking trident may find more space to hurt them.

Barcelona will be without Sergio Busquets, who injured his ankle in their Cup win in Villarreal.

Perhaps the weekend's most interesting game sees Atletico Madrid entertain Valencia on Sunday night in what has suddenly become a battle for third and fourth place. Atletico's failure to win in Sevilla has seen them drop seven points behind Real Madrid and Valencia have moved to within one point of third place.

If Nuno Espiritu Santo's in-form Valencia can win at the Calderon, all of a sudden the league champions could be facing a play-off spot for next season's Champions League.

Fifth placed Sevilla will be hoping for an Atletico win and to take the points from their trip to play Deportivo la Coruna, who are a tougher prospect than earlier this season, but still not clear of the battle to avoid relegation.

Saturday also sees a relegation battle between Elche and Almeria, who have a sword of Damocles hanging over them of the threat of losing three points as a result of an outstanding debt and the day finishes with a derby between second bottom Granada and a Malaga side which still hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Real Sociedad's poor away form means they can't afford any slip-ups when they entertain Espanyol and they will also look to take advantage of any possible hangover from Espanyol's Cup defeat to Athletic on Wednesday.

Villarreal also suffered the disappointment of a semi-final defeat and are at home to Celta Vigo while the round of matches ends with a tie between rock-bottom Cordoba who will look to end a run of six consecutive defeats at home to Getafe.