Saturday 29 March 2008 (all times local)20:00 Betis - Barcelona
22:00 Villarreal - Atlético Madrid
Sunday 30 March
17:00 Almería - Levante
17:00 Valladolid - Zaragoza
17:00 Getafe - Osasuna
17:00 Recreativo - Athletic
17:00 Espanyol - Racing
17:00 Valencia - Mallorca
19:00 Deportivo - Murcia
21:00 R. Madrid - Sevilla
Real Betis Balompié - FC Barcelona
It seemed as if the weekend's opening match will be played at the Vicente Calderon in distant Madrid, but now it may in fact take place at the Ruiz de Lopera.
Betis are operating under a temporary home stadium ban after a bottle was launched at Athletic keeper Armando a fortnight ago, but so voiciferous (and in many ways valid) were their complaints to the Spanish FA over being moved that it seems like the game will be played at home for now.
The blaugrana travel to Seville with captain Carles Puyol fit and ready to play, but Gaby Milito is now out of action. Of Ronaldinho, there is no sign,a dding further credence to the idea that this is his last season in Catalunya.
Villarreal CF - Club Atlético de Madrid
Next up is a real European challenge match as the rojiblancos travel to Vila-Real.
The Yellow Submarine look to have a Champions League place all but sewn up, but they will have learned from Espanyol that one bad run is all it takes to end top four dreams, and Atleti will be eager to be the ones to dish it out.
The rojiblancos themselves are still preening after that victory over Sevilla in what was the first of two vital European clashes for the capital side; a win here, or even a draw, will put them in a commanding position heading into the run-in.
Diego Forlan will travel to come up against his old side away from home for the first time and will be sure of a great reception.
UD Almería - Levante UD
Almeria won't quite be able to be the ones to send Levante down, but they can all but confirm relegation for the granota side with a home win.
Still, they'll be more concerned with their own fortunes than those of the Valencians. They're in tenth place and six points off the Intertoto Cup place, and it looks as if that'll be a bridge too far for them.
But they're inching ever closer to the magical safety cut-off point of 42/43, which they could wrap up with a home win.
Real Valladolid - Real Zaragoza
Two sides still with some way left to go in the battle for survival go head-to-head at the Zorilla.
Zaragoza were held to a draw by Almeria last week, while the Pucela found themselves roundly thrashed by Barcelona, but it is the immediate concern of this game that will dominate all thoughts, not what's in the past.
At the moment the lions are one point ahead of their Sunday hosts, who are in turn only out of the dropzone on mere goal difference.
It's been three seasons since the two sides met in the top flight, but in that campaign Zaragoza prevailed twice to force the Pucela towards the drop...
Getafe CF - CA Osasuna
On-form Getafe stumbled last week with an uninspiring 1-0 loss at Athletic, but now have a second victory over Osasuna firmly in mind.
The Azulones are preparing for an epic UEFA Cup showdown with Bayern Munich, but just as important is Liga survival: four more points should all but guarantee it, but this season's close enough that it may take more.
Osasuna will know that only too well. They're five points behind the boys from suburban Madrid and need to start climbing up the table, but their poor away form - and eight goals on their travels all season - won't help.
Recreativo de Huelva - Athletic Club Bilbao
Recre occupy the third relegation spot and are in real danger of joining Murcia and Levante in the fall if they don't get their act together quickly.
These two clubs are two of the more historical entities in the Spanish game, but it is the visiting side that has the more successful history. Still, the Decano will feel that they are also good enough to stay up, although they need to start proving it with results.
Athletic are commonly regarded as being too big to go down, but they too need to set about proving it. Thankfully for them, they've largely done so this season, and a win here could well see them safe.
RCD Espanyol - Real Racing Club
Two of the unfancied sides that sit on the brink of European football go head to head here, but one is far happier than the other.
Marcelino's Racing picked up a routine win over Recre last week to leapfrog the Pericos, who in turn lost out 4-0 to Murcia in what was a dire match.
It now looks as if Espanyol, who were at one stage set for a top four ending, will now do well to finish 7th: they must show their fans here that they have what it takes to continue the challenge.
Valencia CF - Real Mallorca
So too must Los Che. They're almost clear of the relegation threat, but it now looks as if their only path to Europe is via the Copa del Rey.
Not that this makse this game any less important. Coach Ronald Koeman is in some ways fighting for his job, while he is also eager to impress the hard-to-please home support at the Mestalla.
Mallorca are two points behind the Valencians but will nonetheless fancy their chances of picking up at least a point, given that they've drawn on the road eight times this season.
Deportivo La Coruña - Real Murcia
Murcia's stunning 4-0 win over Espanyol was, incredibly, their first win since January 6th and their first point since February 3rd, but it smacks of being too little, too late.
Javier Clemente's men need to go unbeaten between now and the end of the season to really stand a chance of remaining in the top flight, and a trip to the Riazor is vital.
Depor are themselves keen to avoid relegation, and indeed have done well to claw clear of the dropzone since New Year, although last week's loss at Mallorca has set hearts racing in Galicia.
Real Madrid CF - Sevilla FC
Finally, Madrid welcome Sevilla to the capital as they seek both revenge for defeats in both the Supercopa and the Liga earlier in the season.
The blancos have incredibly won just two of their last eight games in all competitions, losing all others, and as such a visit from the Seville side comes at just the wrong time.
The Andalucians, meanwhile, have their own sorrows: last week's defeat to Atletico sees them five points off a Champions League place, and defeat here could even put their UEFA Cup plans in jeopardy.
