The euphoria of Real Madrid after their triumph at the Etihad will face its first test against Osasuna at El Sadar, where the white team’s lead will be at stake once again. They hold a one-point advantage over Atlético de Madrid, who will host Celta de Vigo, and a two-point lead over Barcelona, who will welcome Rayo Vallecano.

LaLiga enters Matchday 24 this weekend, featuring clashes between clubs fighting for European spots and those battling to avoid relegation, such as Espanyol-Athletic Club, Villarreal-Valencia, and a direct duel between Leganés and Alavés, with the Basque side sitting second-to-last, just two points behind the Madrid-based team.
Valencia (22 points), Alavés (21), and Valladolid (15) currently occupy the relegation zone, trailing Leganés, Espanyol, and Las Palmas, who have just one more point than Carlos Corberán’s squad.

This will be the first matchday following Real Madrid's crucial 2-3 victory against Manchester City on Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. It also comes after the confirmation that Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid will face off for a spot in the Copa del Rey final, while Real Sociedad and Los Blancos will do the same.

Ancelotti Looking to Secure the Lead

After a 1-1 draw in the last matchday's Madrid derby and ahead of their Champions League return leg at the Bernabéu against the English side on the 19th, Carlo Ancelotti's squad will test their resilience as league leaders in Pamplona. Some rotations might be expected from the Italian coach.

Osasuna, with six home wins, four draws, and two defeats, rescued a last-minute point in Mallorca thanks to a goal by Cameroonian Enzo Boyomo, who will miss the match due to suspension. Vicente Moreno’s team will attempt to end a 14-year winless streak against Real Madrid.

Once the match at El Sadar concludes, Atlético de Madrid will take on Celta de Vigo at the Metropolitano, where the Colchoneros remain unbeaten after 12 home games. Diego Pablo "Cholo" Simeone’s squad will focus on their usual "one match at a time" approach but will be mindful of the league leader’s result.

Celta is coming off a thrilling comeback victory against Betis, overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 and climb to 12th place. Claudio Giráldez will be without U-21 international Hugo Álvarez, who suffered a knee sprain, adding to the absence of Argentine Franco Cervi.

Barcelona will be the last of the top teams to play, hosting Rayo Vallecano at home. After a convincing victory in Sevilla and capitalizing on the Madrid derby draw, the Catalans are closing the gap at the top. Their German coach, Hansi Flick, will be without Fermín López, who is suspended. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha continue their excellent form, aiming to challenge the surging Rayo Vallecano, who are sixth in the European spots and riding a three-game winning streak against Girona, Leganés, and Valladolid.

Athletic Club will retain their fourth-place position regardless of their result after Oihan Sancet’s hat-trick against Girona. They will visit Espanyol, who are facing relegation danger but have won six of their 12 home matches while only losing three. Ernesto Valverde will still be without Álvaro Djaló, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury.

To defend their European qualification spot, Villarreal will host Valencia, having secured back-to-back league wins for the first time in three months—against Valladolid and Las Palmas—to extend their unbeaten run to four games. For Valencia, this will be another must-win game, as despite winning three of their last four matches, Carlos Corberán’s side remains in the relegation battle.

Betis and Real Sociedad, both dealing with the usual wear and tear from their UEFA Europa League and Conference League commitments, will clash in one of the weekend's most evenly matched encounters. The Basque side returned to winning ways against Espanyol after three consecutive losses, while the Sevillians suffered their eighth defeat of the season at Balaídos, sitting 11th with 29 points.

Real Sociedad currently has 31 points, the same as Girona, Osasuna, and Mallorca, who will play a key role in the relegation battle with their match against Las Palmas. Jagoba Arrasate’s team has only won four of their 12 home games, while Diego Martínez’s side, who will be without key player Sandro Ramírez due to suspension, has managed just three away victories.

Valladolid will host Sevilla, desperate to escape the bottom of the table, where they are now on the verge of losing control over their own fate. Xavier García Pimienta’s squad will be affected by several absences. French defender Tanguy Nianzou, Belgian midfielder Sambi Lokonga, and Nigerian forward Akor Adams are all out with long-term injuries, while French center-back Loïc Badé and midfielder Saúl Ñíguez are suspended.

The matchweek kicks off this Friday with Girona facing Getafe, two teams with contrasting aspirations. Míchel Sánchez’s side remains in the fight for European qualification, sitting eighth with the same 31 points as Real Sociedad, Osasuna, and Mallorca. Meanwhile, José Bordalás’s team secured a crucial win in Vitoria, moving five points clear of the relegation zone and leaving their opponent trailing eight points behind safety.