Barcelona's Joao Cancelo (center) duels for the ball with Mallorca's Matija Nastasic (left) and Mallorca's Giovanni Gonzalez during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Mallorca at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 8, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)
MADRID - Matchday 28 will be another key date for the La Liga title race as three of the top-four play at home and Atletico Madrid have what should be a comfortable trip to play struggling Cadiz. Here are four things to look out for this weekend in Spain.
1. Friday night for injury hit Barcelona
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez admits that he will have to use some players out of position when his side entertains Mallorca on Friday night, in a game brought forward to help Barca prepare for Tuesday's vital Champions League return leg at home to Napoli.
Injuries to Pedri and Frenkie de Jong have robbed Xavi of two vital players at a moment when he needs all his squad available to be able to carry out squad rotations.
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De Jong and Pedri give balance and creativity to Barca and the importance of their loss can't be underestimated against a rival that may not create much from open play, but who are well-organized and dangerous from set pieces.
2. No Bellingham as Real Madrid need to improve
Jude Bellingham begins a two-game ban when his side entertains Celta Vigo on Sunday after a run of disappointing performances, which saw them held to a 2-2 draw in Valencia, and lucky to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League against RB Leipzig on Wednesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti opted for a conservative starting 11 against Leipzig, but brought on Rodrygo at halftime to try and spark some life into his side at halftime and Brahim Diaz looks likely to replace Bellingham on Sunday.
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Celta's 1-0 win at home to Almeria last weekend eased their relegation fears, but the pressure is still on coach Rafa Benitez, who returns to the ground where he had a difficult six months in charge in 2015.
3. Could Cadiz upset Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are another team with a big Champions League tie in midweek as they look to overcome a 1-0 first leg defeat away to Inter Milan.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone could be forgiven for asking why his side's game wasn't brought forward to Friday night, but his main worry will be whether Antoine Griezmann can shake off an ankle injury that saw him miss last week's Copa del Rey semi-final defeat to Athletic Club Bilbao.
READ MORE: Champions League: Real Madrid snatch draw to reach quarters
Atletico travel to Cadiz, who are third from bottom of La Liga and five points behind Celta after a run of 23 games without a win.
The arrival of Mauricio Pellegrini as coach hasn't changed Cadiz's fortunes, with six games without win and just three goals scored, so although Simeone may make changes, anything but an Atletico win would be a shock.
4. Make or break for Granada and Real Sociedad
Sunday's match between Granada and Real Sociedad looks as if it could be the last chance for Granada coach Alexander Medina to save his job after seven games, without a win, culminating in a 5-1 thrashing away to Villarreal last weekend.
Granada are second from bottom of the table, with just 14 points from 26 games and probably need seven wins from their last 12 matches to have any chance of survival - which given they have won just three games in their first 26 matches seems unlikely.
Real Sociedad have had a dreadful two weeks; losing in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey and knocked out of the Champions League, with league defeats to Sevilla and Villarreal seeing them drop to seventh, 10 points behind fifth place Athletic Club.
Imanol Alguacil's side look tired, but anything other than a win in Granada could end their top-five hopes.
