MADRID, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- As the second half of the Liga Santander season begins this weekend the title race hangs in the balance, while the battle to avoid relegation for the moment appears to be much clearer. Here are some things to look out for during Matchday 20 in Spain.
1) How deep is Real Madrid's 'crisis?"
With a club as important as Real Madrid every defeat or setback is magnified, but following their exit from the King's Cup on Wednesday the word 'crisis' is being floated by sectors of the press. Whether two defeats, a win and a draw on the back of a 40-match unbeaten run merits the term 'crisis' is open to debate, but the fact is Zinedine Zidane's side are going through a slight dip in form (although it would be wrong to fault the attitude of the majority of their players.)
Sunday's visit of Real Sociedad should provide a litmus test of Real Madrid's true positon: a win against the Basque side, who are currently fifth in the table, would help clear the horizon and a week off following their Cup exit would allow some tired legs to recover, a draw or a defeat against a rival that lost 5-2 to Barcelona on Thursday would set alarm bells ringing.
One further factor, with Dani Carvajal and Marcelo injured, Zidane will again have to adapt a defense which has been less than convincing at times this campaign.
2) Betis to test Barca's powers of recovery
Such is the reality of life in Spain and the perceived bipolarity of La Liga that if Real Madrid are in crisis, there is usually good news in the camp of their bitter rivals, FC Barcelona.
Barca qualified for their seventh successive Cup semifinal in style on Thursday with a 6-2 aggregate triumph over Real Sociedad and now travel to Betis, two points behind Madrid and knowing a win away to Betis on Sunday lunchtime would make them leaders, all be it for a question of hours.
The issue is whether Barca have time to recover as they play at midday on Sunday after finishing at 11pm on Thursday. The league have done them few favors with their scheduling, while injuries to Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano present a further problem for Barca boss Luis Enrique.
Betis are unbeaten at home since Victor Sanchez replaced Gus Poyet as coach and the Benito Villamarin Stadium will be a hostile stage for Barca to continue their pursuit of the title.
3) Leganes need to take advantage of Celta's Cup run
Leganes have made a solid start to their first ever season in the Primera Liga ending the first half of the campaign with 18 points, five above the relegation zone.
Asier Garitano has built a side that is hard-working and organized, but with only 15 goals in favor, they are the lowest scorers in the completion and have just one home win in their Butarque Stadium.
Although on paper Celta Vigo may not look like the easiest of rivals, Saturday sees them travel to the south of Madrid on a wave of emotion after knocking Real Madrid out of the quarter-finals of the King's Cup and will rest players ahead of next week's semifinal first leg. Celta are packed with talent, but for the moment the Cup is clearly their priority and that could give Leganes the chance to rack up three vital points to make their cushion over the drop zone that bit more comfortable.
4) Yeray to give the weekend 'feelgood' factor as old boys return to Bilbao
It is just over a month since Athletic Club Bilbao's 21-year-old defender Yeray Alvarez underwent an operation for testicular cancer. Subsequent tests showed he needed no further treatment and the youngster, who was arguably Athletic's best player until his diagnosis, returned to training.
He was on the verge of being called into the squad ahead of last weekend's 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid, and will certainly get the nod when Ernesto Valverde names his squad to entertain Sporting Gijon.
Expect an emotional ovation from the fans in the San Mames Stadium when Yeray steps onto the pitch this Sunday, be it as part of the starting 11 or as a substitute: his return is quite remarkable.
Meanwhile Sporting travel to Bilbao after securing a loan deal for Athletic midfielder Mikel Vesga until the end of the season. Vesga joins other Athletic 'old boys' Borja Viguera, Fernando Amorebieta and Ismael Lopez at the club: as Sporting look to escape the relegation zone, they will at least be on familiar ground.
