The title race in Spain is heating up again after Real Madrid were held at home by Celta Vigo last weekend.
Barcelona are now just a point behind their Clasico rivals with 14 games to go in a title race that could well be decided by the outcome of their meeting on March 1.
First, both teams have to navigate their way past Eibar and Levante this weekend before they meet at the Bernabeu in the next game week.
Elsewhere the race for the two remaining Champions League spots is gathering pace with three games featuring top four contenders.
Surprise package Getafe, third, host fifth-placed Sevilla while Villarreal (sixth) travel to Atletico Madrid (fourth) and Real Sociedad (eighth) face Valencia (seventh).
Sportsmail take a look at the weekend’s games that could have a big bearing on the rest of the season…
Antoine Griezmann was among the goals as Barcelona squeezed past Getafe last week
Barcelona v Eibar
Barca have caused a stir this week after dipping into the transfer market to acquire the emergency signing of Leganes’ Martin Braithwaite.
Following Ousmane Dembele’s season-ending injury, and the absence of Luis Suarez, Barca were given the green light by LaLiga to pursue another forward option.
And the new £16m man could make his debut when Eibar visit the Nou Camp on Saturday afternoon.
But it seems likely that he will have to settle for a place on the bench.
After a troubling start which included a 2-0 loss at Valencia and a shock Copa del Rey exit, Quique Setien appears to be settling in now at Barca after recording three straight league wins.
If they make it four in a row they will really be applying the pressure on Real Madrid and can go two points clear before their game later in the day.
Martin Braithwaite will likely have a place on the bench when Barcelona meet Eibar
Real Sociedad v Valencia
The first of three big clashes in the top half of the table sees Valencia go to San Sebastian.
Eighth meeting seventh hardly gets the juices flowing, but there is plenty at stake in a heavily congested league table with just five points separating Getafe in third and Sociedad.
The hosts are coming into form now after a run of three consecutive victories, including a remarkable Copa del Rey win over Real Madrid.
And the form book suggests that anything other than a home win would be a major surprise.
Valencia got thumped by Atalanta in midweek to stretch their winless streak to four games now.
And they will be without suspended duo Gabriel Paulista and Maxi Gomez, while Rodrigo Moreno is injured.
The hosts will be missing Portu and Asier Illarramendi, but have the in form Alexander Isak leading the line.
The 20-year-old is in fine fettle with eight goals in his last seven appearances.
Alexander Isak is in fine form for Real Sociedad with goals in his last seven appearances
Levante v Real Madrid
Real Madrid could find themselves off the top of the table for the first time in a month when they kick off at Levante.
After being pegged back by relegation-threatened Celta Vigo last weekend, there will be a fear that the same could happen again.
But surely lightning cannot strike twice for Zinedine Zidane’s men. Levante are enjoying another solid season in the Spanish top-flight with nine wins from 24 games so far.
Eden Hazard’s return to full fitness has been a boost for Real Madrid ahead of crucial week
They sit in 13th, eight points clear of the relegation zone and surely set for a fourth season in a row in LaLiga.
Despite losing only two of their last five against Madrid, this weekend’s clash may arrive at precisely the wrong time. The hosts are in rotten form and have lost five of their last six in the league.
Zidane’s men cannot afford a slip up ahead of a defining week in their season that sees Manchester City and Barca visit the Bernabeu in the space of four days.
Gareth Bale is not expected to play after coming down with gastroenteritis but Eden Hazard is likely to start as he continues to build his fitness back up.
Getafe v Sevilla
This season’s top four gatecrashers, Getafe, have another big test this weekend after their narrow defeat at the Nou Camp a week ago.
But recent results suggest they will be more than up to it. Their three consecutive wins before losing in Barcelona were over Real Betis, Athletic Bilbao and Valencia.
Sevilla, meanwhile, are in wretched form and without a victory since January 25 – their only league win of 2020 so far.
Getafe have 14 games left this season to show that they can stay the course and secure what would be the most unlikeliest Champions League qualification in recent history.
Getafe were beaten at the Nou Camp but remain in contention for a Champions League place
Last week they were only able to draw with 10-man bottom of the table Espanyol at home, a week after they were downed in the last minute by Celta Vigo.
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas will have been busy attempting to pick up his players after defeat by Barca.
Sevilla will be tough opponents but at a low ebb, they are probably arriving at the right time for Getafe.
Atletico Madrid v Villarreal
Could this be a case of after the lord mayor’s show for Atleti?
They were superb in defeating Liverpool in midweek, but they need to recreate that intensity and aggression that so characterised their performance.
It has been missing from so much of their season so far and leaves them in real danger of dropping out of the top four.
Diego Simeone inspired Atletico Madrid’s win over Liverpool but his side are off pace in Spain
Last week’s trip to the Mestalla was a collector’s item – a score draw with four goals in the game, but Diego Simeone was left frustrated at his side’s inability to twice hold onto a lead.
Atletico have just one win in their last five LaLiga games and have even lost to Eibar in that time. By contrast Villarreal are in much better shape with three wins from their last four in the league.
With just two points between the two, this one has a draw written all over it.
PS.
There is plenty going on at the bottom of the table too this weekend. Two points separate Celta Vigo in 17th and Leganes in 19th. They face each other in the midday game on Saturday.
Bottom of the table Espanyol go to Valladolid on Sunday in urgent need of three points. The hosts are five points clear of the bottom three but could still be dragged into a relegation scrap.
Espanyol, with two wins in their last five, have strengthened their chances of staying up in recent weeks and are now just two points from safety.
Real Betis host 18th placed Mallorca on Friday night, Osasuna face Granada while Alaves go up against Athletic Bilbao in the three remaining games.
Watch LaLiga Santander live this weekend on LaLigaTV