Sat 20 Sep 2008 (all times local)
20:00 At. Madrid - Recreativo
22:00 Espanyol - Getafe
Sun 21 Sep
17:00 Almería - Málaga
17:00 Athletic - Valladolid
17:00 Betis - Sevilla
17:00 Numancia - Villarreal
17:00 Deportivo - Mallorca
17:00 Valencia - Osasuna
19:00 Racing - Real Madrid
21:00 Sporting - Barcelona
Club Atlético de Madrid - Recreativo de Huelva
After thrashing PSV 3-0 away from home midweek, Atleti could scarcely be in higher spirits for the visit of Recreativo.
One problem, though, was an injury to Diego Forlán, which means that Sergio 'Kun' Agüero - who is in remarkable form - may himself be joined up front by Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
Sinama is a former Recreativo ace and as such may provide an unwelcome reminder to the visitors of the man they have lost - having scored just one so far this season they could use his goal-getting talents.
RCD Espanyol - Getafe CF
Table-topping Espanyol started last season in brilliant form and they are now doing the same this time - a reason for Getafe to worry, perhaps.
However, the Azulones are unbeaten in two and were a missed penalty away from beating Betis last week to make it six points from six: few would say that they're playing badly.
Still, the Perequitos are favourites as new boss Tíntin Márquez makes his talents known.
UD Almería - Málaga CF
Moving through to Sunday and Almería, with four points so far, welcome a Málaga side who are propping up the table along with Sporting.
If the rojiblancos are providing an example of how to be a useful and talented promoted side, the boquerones are doing the opposite after two poor performances
If they are unable to find their feet soon then they risk being this season's Murcia and going straight back down.
Athletic Club Bilbao - Real Valladolid CF
Valladolid were tipped by some for promotion, but a victory over an under-strength Atlético side last week has seen them move up to mid table.
However, it is difficult fixtures like this - away from home to tough sides - that could be their undoing, as they are less than strong away from home.
Athletic, for their part, drew away to Málaga as what has been a disappointing campaign so far continues. Without Aritz Aduriz, goals seem hard to come by.
Real Betis Balompié - Sevilla FC
It's the big one: the Seville Derby. World-famous for its city-splitting, and indeed Andalusia-cutting passion, this time around the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera plays host to the great occasion.
In recent matches, though, incidents of crowd violence have marred fixtures at the home of the verdiblancos, and as such it's not just the players who had better be aware tomorrow.
Paco Chaparro's Béticos have been largely luckless this season, while Sevilla have endured mixed form, albeit some that's been offset by that 2-0 win over Salzburg in the UEFA Cup.
CD Numancia - Villarreal CF
Speaking of European games, Villarreal return to Spain off the back of a credible 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, mirroring the achievements of years past.
On the domestic front, though, attacking injuries are still restricting access to those wins that seemed to come all too easily last season.
Meanwhile the Soria outfit are in high spirits after following up their 1-0 victory over Barcelona with a narrow 4-3 defeat to Real Madrid, proving that this rural outfit is not merely in the Primera to make up the numbers.
RC Deportivo de La Coruña - RCD Mallorca
Depor stuttered to a 2-0 loss to Brann in Bergen in the UEFA Cup midweek, leading Miguel Angel Lotina to castigate his players publicly.
One can hardly blame him: optimism had been so high around the Riazor until a loss that may yet prove insurmountable.
Mallorca, meanwhile, could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna in their last fixture, and as they tend to play badly on their travels they have their work cut out.
Valencia CF - CA Osasuna
Osasuna, then, have managed two consecutive draws, but as they visit a Valencia side still preening from their win at Maritimo midweek they know that a third is no foregone conclusion.
The rojillos have been lower-half fodder for the last couple of seasons and until a largely changable XI hits stride it's hard to see them changing this.
Meanwhile Los Che are still beset by goalkeeping problems and squad dramas: other than the UEFA Cup win, a small consolation is that David Silva came through his operation successfully. That said, he's still out for months.
Real Racing Club - Real Madrid CF
On Sunday evening, Racing Santander will celebrate their first ever European match - which ended in a 1-0 home win over Honka - by welcoming a team from the other end of the continental spectrum to the Sardinero.
Real Madrid also faced minnows midweek, putting "just" two goals past BATE Borisov in front of a mildly annoyed Bernabéu.
The big talk around the capital ahead of this match is that Raúl is set to beleft out of the Liga lineup for the second time in a row; last week it was due to impending European action, but this time it may be down to his form.
Sporting de Gijón - FC Barcelona
Finally Barcelona, fresh off the back of a decent 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon, face another Sporting - this time in Gijón.
The rojiblancos are the only side in the league to have failed to pick up a single point so far, meaning that it's hardly the most suitable time to meet a team like Barcelona.
That said the blaugrana haven't managed to win a game yet, hanging around in 15th place. This, though, is the sort of match that they need to win, even in a cauldron-like atmosphere like that of the Molinón.
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