LaLiga GW17 Preview: Barcelona host Celta Vigo in crunch fixture, Espanyol visit Wanda Metropolitano

Real Madrid and Villarreal are not in LaLiga action this weekend, with the reigning Champions League holders in Abu Dhabi defending their Club World Cup trophy.

The last LaLiga Santander weekend of 2018 sees Barcelona looking to stay ahead of chasing Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, with opportunities also for teams towards the bottom to send their fans happily into the winter break.

Leaders Barça are at home to Celta on Saturday, with five goals in his last two LaLiga games having pushed Blaugrana captain Lionel Messi to the top of the league goalscoring charts. Celta are unbeaten in their last three games under new coach Miguel Cardoso and have won one and drawn another of their last four LaLiga visits to the Camp Nou.

Second-placed Atletico de Madrid are too in action on Saturday as they host Espanyol, with red-hot Antoine Griezmann and company out for three points which would continue their LaLiga-leading home record so far. Espanyol are something of a ‘bogey’ side for Simeone’s men, however, having won both their most recent LaLiga meetings including a 2-0 victory for the Catalans at the Wanda Metropolitano last season.

Third-placed Sevilla will also aim to stay right in the mix at the top when they visit Leganes on Sunday. A tight game is likely as Pablo Machin’s side have drawn their last three on the road, while in-form ‘Lega’ are now unbeaten in their last six league outings.

The weekend this time begins early on Friday with Girona hosting Getafe at Montilivi in a meeting of two teams who have both had excellent 2018s and will want a result to stay in the top half over the break. Friday’s late game is a Basque derby which sees Real Sociedad host Alaves. The visitors from Vitoria will be looking for a first LaLiga Santander win at Anoeta in over a decade.

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Saturday will see a resurgent Real Betis aiming for a fourth straight LaLiga victory to ensure they spend the winter break in fifth spot, although visitors Eibar will remember their 4-0 victory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin just two years’ back.

The late game on Saturday sees new Athletic Club coach Gaizka Garitano look to stretch his unbeaten run to three games. Visitors Real Valladolid travel to San Mames aiming for a win which would be an excellent end to a great last 12 months for the Castilian club.

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Sunday’s matches starts with Valencia looking to end the year on a high at Mestalla against bottom team Huesca, whose performances have improved in recent weeks. The final LaLiga Santander game of 2018 has Rayo Vallecano aiming for a second straight win at their Estadio de Vallecas, but visitors Levante can go into the winter break having stretched their unbeaten away run to six games.

Real Madrid and Villarreal are not in LaLiga action this weekend, with the reigning Champions League holders in Abu Dhabi defending their Club World Cup trophy. Their meeting will now be LaLiga Santander’s first action of 2019, at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica on Thursday, January 3rd.