MADRID, Nov 17 (Xinhua) -- League football returns once again following the international break and here are four things to look out for in Spain's Liga Santander.
1. Family feud in the Wanda?
The Madrid derby has a lot at stake. Local bragging rights, the need to keep pace with FC Barcelona and also the form of Antoine Griezmann and Cristiano Ronaldo after poor starts to their respective seasons, however, it could also be the first time the Hernandez brothers go head to head against each other.
Lucas and Theo both progressed through the Atletico youth system after their father played for the club, but while Lucas broke into the Atletico first team last season, Theo went on loan to Alaves where he was one of the revelations of the season.
His form prompted Real Madrid to break a gentlemens' agreement with Atletico to buy him this summer to offer an alternative to Marcelo at left back, making him a hero for Real fans and persona non-grata with Atletico supporters.
Now Theo could face his former club and his brother in an encounter that looks sure to ramp up the tension and had their mother asking the pair to "not kick each other." Given the duo are hot headed at the best of times, it could be fun.
2. Valverde to rest stars ahead of big week
If Barcelona win in Leganes on Saturday afternoon it would open up an 11 point gap over Atletico and Real Madrid and coach Ernesto Valverde may be tempted to field his strongest side.
However, with a Champions League visit to play Juventus and a trip to Valencia in the coming week, Valverde may be tempted to rest players, especially following Javier Mascherano's hamstring injury which leaves him with just three central defenders and with Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti just a booking each from suspension.
So far Thomas Vermalen has not played a minute of league football for Barca this season, but he did play 90 minutes in each of Belgium' s recent friendlies, could this be the moment for Valverde to place his faith in the former Arsenal stopper?
3. Coaches still in danger
Any coach who has lost his first five games in charge of his team, even if two of them were against Barca and Real Madrid, is in danger of losing their job and that is the case with Las Palmas' Paco Ayestaran, whose side entertain Levante on Sunday.
Levante have also slipped after a good start to the season and their 2-0 home defeat to Girona before the international break means they have now gone six games without a win. It may still be too early to call, but defeat in the Canary Islands could also spell their end for their coach Juan Muniz.
Meanwhile Michel Gonzalez desperately needs a win as Malaga entertain Las Palmas and all eyes will be on Kuko Ziganda as Athletic club go into a week which sees them play in-form Villarreal and also Hertha Berlin in a game where their European future is on the line.
They may have survived the international break, but none of the above are out of the woods yet.
4. Can Valencia march on?
Valencia will no doubt watch Saturday's games with interest as they prepare for their trip to face Espanyol on Sunday afternoon. A win in Cornella-El Prat would make it eight wins from eight games from Marcelino Garcia's side and keep them in touch with Barcelona a week before the league leader's visit to the Mestalla Stadium.
Marcelino would probably have preferred to have kept on playing in the international break given his side's form in October and will hope the week off doesn't cause his side to lose its strike.
Sunday's rivals are led by former Valencia player and coach Quique Sanchez Flores and are a much tougher rival at home than on the road. It is a big ask for Valencia, but if they get past Espanyol the expectation for Barca's visit will be sky high.
