Friday 10 March 2017 16:59, UK
Barcelona and Real Madrid will be hoping for more straight forward affairs when they return to La Liga action this weekend.
Barca are short-priced favourites to see off Deportivo after defying all odds in their historic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain. Real will also be expected to avoid a similar scare when they host Real Betis on Sunday, having responded impressively to going behind at Napoli.
With Luis Enrique's leaders just a point ahead of their great rivals, who have a game in hand, the title race could hardly be tighter, while Sevilla are far from out of contention despite falling four points behind.
We've also got a Basque derby to savour on Sunday morning, with fireworks almost certainly guaranteed as rivals and European hopefuls Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao go head to head.
Here's a look at this weekend's showdowns...
Deportivo face the unenviable task of hosting a Barca side on the back of producing one of the most remarkable comebacks ever seen.
Their 6-1 triumph over PSG means Luis Enrique's men have now scored 17 goals in their last three games, while they won the reverse fixture 4-0 and left the Riazor with an 8-0 victory on their last visit.
New Deportivo boss Pepe Mel will be hoping the Catalans suffer an emotional drop off following their historic comeback as he looks to extend a three-match unbeaten start to his reign.
However, Luis Enrique knows all too well that one thing you cannot do in Barcelona is rest on success, especially with such a slender lead on their side.
With Neymar back in the goals, boasting four from his last three starts, and Lionel Messi, who has only failed to score in four of his last 21 appearances, as prolific as ever, Depor face a gargantuan task in bring Barca back down with a bang.
Sky Bet prediction: Barcelona to win by three or more goals - 11/8
Real Madrid might have celebrated a less stunning triumph to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, but it was another step in the right direction after a rocky run of games.
Odds of 25/1 on Betis suggest it should be plain sailing for Zinedine Zidane's men on Sunday evening, with the Andalusian outfit succumbing to a 6-1 thumping in the reverse fixture.
Zidane will be keen to address his side's defensive vulnerabilities, having seen them concede in 11 of the last 13 games and rack up a mere seven La Liga clean sheets all season, while his forward line remains unsettled.
Gareth Bale remains absent as he serves the second of a two-match ban, while Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez, Lucas Vasquez, Isco and Alvaro Morata are all scrapping for starting spots.
The latter staked a claim for a place in the XI with Real's third goal on Tuesday, taking his ratio to a goal every 88 minutes on average, which is the best goals-per-minute ratio at the club.
Sergio Ramos might not quite have the same return but his strikes have been incredibly important, taking his tally to nine for the season with the crucial second away goal in Naples.
Sky Bet prediction: Morata to score first - 3/1
Bilbao will be desperate to put their woeful away from aside and a dent in their rivals' Champions League hopes in Sunday's early kick-off.
Ernesto Valverde's men have won just two away games all season and have failed to even score a goal on the road in La Liga since November 28, with their joint league high of 10 homes wins crucial in keeping their top-six hopes alive.
Heading into the weekend a point behind fourth-placed Atletico, Sociedad have even loftier aspirations and had gone unbeaten in eight Basque derbies before losing 3-2 at the San Mames in the reverse clash.
Bilbao are boosted by a return to fitness of Aritz Aduriz but, given their leading scorer has netted just once on the road this season, the hosts remain worthy favourites for an inevitably fiery affair.
Sky Bet prediction: Sociedad to win to nil - 11/4
Valencia will look to extend their impressive home form under Voro when they host struggling Sporting Gijon.
Los Che have won their last three games at the Mestalla but still have the third worst defensive home record, providing some hope for Sporting, who have won just one of their last 12.
Sky Bet prediction: Valencia to win and both teams to score - 15/8
Sevilla may have a Champions League trip to Leicester to prepare for but they can ill-afford another slip-up when they host lowly Leganes.
The visitors have upped their fight for survival in recent weeks, winning their last two home games, but are winless on the road since the start of October.
With a trip to Atletico to follow the Leicester game, Jorge Sampaoli will be keen to get the job done early and rest his key men in the second half, while the suspended Vitolo is sure to sit out the clash.
However, having dropped just two points from their last six home games and winning a thriller in Leganes 3-2, anything but meeting those expectations comfortably would be a surprise.
Sky Bet prediction: Sevilla HT/FT - evens
Michel will take charge of his first game as Malaga manager after swiftly replacing Marcelo Romero, who was relieved of his duties after just one win in 15 in all competitions.
Malaga will welcome back leading scorer Sandro Ramirez against a side who lost their last away game 2-1 at strugglers Granada, although they did hold Sevilla to a draw last time out.
Sky Bet prediction: Malaga to win by exactly one goal - 5/2
Diego Simeone's men visit favourable foes on Saturday evening, having dropped just two points from their last nine meetings, conceding only two goals in that run.
One of those goals was in a 7-1 thumping earlier this season, when neither Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gamiero nor Fernando Torres got on the scoresheet. That offers reassurance for travelling fans concerned over fitness doubts over the latter two.
More concerning is Granada's run of three successive home wins, an impressive upturn in form for a side which had previously won just one league game all season.
With Atletico recording sheets in 17 of their 24 victories in all competitions and having Jan Oblak back between the sticks, backing them for another win to nil at odds-against looks the way to go.
Sky Bet prediction: Atletico Madrid to win to nil - 5/4
One of La Liga's top entertainers host the best defence in the division in the toughest to call of this weekend's encounters.
Celta have won eight of their 10 home games after losing their first two but that hasn't prevented them from shipping goals, with only four sides conceding more this season, while Villarreal racked up a league high 12th clean sheet in beating Espanyol 2-0 last time out.
While a heart-breaking fourth ACL injury to Sergio Asenjo lessens their resilience, they do have the advantage of a week's break over Celta, who beat Krasnodar 2-1 in the Europa League on Thursday, while key defender Mateo Musacchio and leading scorer Nicola Sansone should be fit to return.
