Tuesday 2 May 2017 10:53, UK
Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their Clasico heartache but face a tricky task in doing so as they travel to Deportivo on Wednesday night.
There is little time to catch a breath in the La Liga title race, which was blown wide open by Lionel Messi's last-gasp strike at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with a full round of midweek action.
Barca have the perfect chance to maintain momentum when they host bottom side Osasuna while Zinedine Zidane's men head to the Riazor. Here's what to look out for...
Deportivo v Real Madrid (Wednesday 8.30pm, live on Sky Sports 2HD)
Fifteenth-placed Depor have fallen some way since their turn-of-the-century title triumph but still pose a threat, as shown when they beat Barca last month, while they have won more than they have lost at home this season.
They also almost left the Bernabeu with three points earlier this season, having lead after 84 minutes before the European champions produced a textbook smash-and-grab win.
Sergio Ramos was typically the last-gasp hero that day but will be missing after being sent off in El Clasico.
While the 10-goal centre-back has salvaged some crucial points in Real's campaign, plenty will debate the influence of his absence, having helped the capital club keep just three clean sheets in his 36 appearances in all competitions this season.
That has seen them keep just one clean sheet in 14 and the return to fitness of Rafael Varane could be crucial in improving that record.
While their defensive options are worryingly short, the potential to change the forward line gives Zidane interesting options.
Isco and Alvaro Morata will be itching to prove their worth after being left on the bench against Barca and, with Gareth Bale injured again and Karim Benzema failing to score again, should get their chances to do so.
Barcelona v Osasuna (Wednesday 6.30pm, live on Sky Sports 2HD)
All the cliches will be coming out for the ultimate mismatch as new league leaders host rock-bottom Osasuna, with the longest of odds stacked against the visitors.
Sky Bet give them a 33/1 chance to upset a side which have just overcome the ultimate test in leaving the Bernabeu with three points.
Osasuna were thumped 7-0 in their last trip to the Nou Camp back in 2014 but did put up some resistance when Barca visited back in December despite enjoying just 20 per of possession, holding out until the hour mark when Luis Suarez broke the floodgates for a 3-0 win.
Neymar remains suspended but that should be of little consequence for a Barca side boasting nine successive home wins against a team with just two victories in 23.
Atletico Madrid v Villarreal (Tuesday 8.30pm, live on Sky Sports 3HD)
A goal fest looks unlikely as La Liga's two best defences clash on Tuesday night at the Vicente Calderon.
Diego Simeone's men have reasserted their place at the head of the clean sheet charts after failing to concede in six of their last eight league matches.
They have also won seven of those games to climb up to third, whereas their visitors have lost two of their last three away games to lesser sides, netting just twice in those trips.
Cedric Bakambu's form has been a boost, with the pacey striker netting four goals in his last three run outs, but expect his chances to be at a premium against this miserly backline.
Sporting Gijon v Espanyol (Tuesday 6.30pm, live on Sky Sports 3HD)
Sporting Gijon desperately need a win on Tuesday night to keep their survival fight alive as they sit four points adrift of safety with games quickly running out.
Four of their five victories this season have come El Molinon but, since winning their first two home games, only the two teams below them in the league, Granada and Osasuna, have left the north coast empty-handed.
They are also facing a difficult task in eighth-placed Espanyol, who boast more points on the road than their hosts have picked up at home, while they also won the reverse fixture 2-1.
Sporting's desperation has seen them concede eight goals in their last three games, although they did almost shock Real Madrid 10 days ago when they fell to a last-minute 3-2 loss.
Sevilla v Celta Vigo (Thursday 7.30pm, Sky Sports Mix)
Having arrested concerns of dropping out of the Champions League place, Sevilla can set their sights on regaining third place.
The Andalucian outfit endured a six-match winless league run and crashed out of the Champions League before picking up seven points from their last three games.
That upturn in form makes them clear favourites against a Celta side struggling to balance their own European aspirations, having lost three of their last four whilst booking a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
On the red button…
There's also another five midweek games behind the red button, including Leganes looking to pull away from the drop zone when they host troubled travellers Las Palmes, while Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad are battling it out for European places as they face Betis and Valencia respectively.
