La Liga preview: Real look to bounce back from Clasico defeat

After losing 3-1 in El Clasico, Real Madrid travel to play fifth-placed Sevilla in La Liga this weekend while third-placed Valencia host Malaga.

With their 15-match winning streak snapped by Barcelona, Real, who slipped to second behind their Catalan rivals due to an inferior head-to-head record, will look to regain top spot as they go for the win against Sevilla on Saturday.

French striker Karim Benzema scored the fastest Clasico goal ever in 22 seconds last weekend and will look to add to his 13 goals this season as Real hope to spend Christmas at the top.

Sevilla had their two-game winning streak snapped after a scrappy 1-0 loss to fourth-placed Levante and will be looking to striker Manu Del Moral to lead the line.

After suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat to Real Betis, Valencia will be anxious to bounce back against sixth-placed Malaga on Sunday.

Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini has preferred struggling Salomon Rondon and Seba Fernandez upfront, but with Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench, Pellegrini might look to the Dutchman to play some part against Valencia.

Levante bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing against Barcelona with a 1-0 win over Sevilla and will look to close the gap further on Valencia against 15th-placed Granada, who ended their five game unbeaten streak a with a 1-0 away loss to Getafe.

After consecutive 1-1 draws against Racing Santander and Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao host last-placed Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Bilbao will be looking to take maximum points after winning only once in five games in a 2-1 victory against Sevilla.

Zaragoza have lost four straight games and have won just twice all season, with both wins at home.

After snapping their two-match losing streak with a 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid, Espanyol travel to take on relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon on Saturday as Mauricio Pochettino looks to take points off of Sporting.

With just three points separating the two sides, mid-table Atletico Madrid welcome 13th-placed Real Betis to the Estadio Vicente Calderon as the hosts try to shake off their 4-2 away loss to Espanyol.

Betis broke a 10-game winless streak with a 2-1 win over Valencia last weekend and will be hoping for a good result.

In Sunday’s other matches, Racing Santander host mid-table Real Sociedad, while seventh-placed Osasuna tackle struggling Villarreal and Getafe travel to Mallorca.