• Third-placed Villarreal can boost their Champions League qualification chances with a home win over Alaves on Saturday

• Espanyol travel to lowly Levante on Sunday

• Barca, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are not playing due to their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup

There are eight matches in LaLiga this weekend, starting with Real Sociedad's trip to Getafe on Friday evening and culminating in Sevilla's home game against Celta Vigo on Monday.

Bottom club Real Oviedo face another testing fixture at home to Real Betis on Saturday and third-placed Villarreal are chasing a 13th win from 18 games when they take on Alaves.

Getafe vs Real Sociedad (Friday, 8pm)

Real Sociedad start this round of fixtures just two points above the relegation zone although they claimed a creditable 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid last time out.

Four of their nine away matches also ended 1-1 and they look set for another tight contest when they travel to mid-table Getafe.

Score prediction: Getafe 1-1 Real Sociedad

Real Oviedo vs Real Betis (Saturday, 1pm)

Bottom club Real Oviedo have scored only eight goals in 18 games this term and, remarkably, their last four home matches all finished 0-0. 

Real Betis were thumped 5-1 at Real Madrid last weekend but this looks a great opportunity for them to claim only their third away win of the season.

Score prediction: Real Oviedo 0-2 Real Betis

Villarreal vs Alaves (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Villarreal have won seven of their last eight league games and the only blot on their recent record was a 2-0 home defeat against leaders Barcelona. They should be too slick for visitors Alaves, who have won only one of their 10 away games.

Score prediction: Villarreal 2-0 Alaves

Girona vs Osasuna (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Osasuna have picked up just two points from nine away fixtures in LaLiga and they look set for another disappointing trip to Girona, whose four wins this term include three 2-1 victories.

Score prediction: Girona 2-1 Osasuna

Valencia vs Elche (Saturday, 8pm)

Relegation-threatened Valencia have won one of their last 13 matches although they picked up decent 1-1 draws with Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla and Mallorca in the last couple of months.

Opponents Elche are winless on the road but should avoid defeat this weekend.

Score prediction: Valencia 1-1 Elche

Rayo Vallecano vs Mallorca (Sunday, 1pm)

Rayo Vallecano's eight home league matches have produced only 10 goals while Mallorca have won once on the road this term. A low-quality encounter looks likely on Sunday and Rayo could play out a fourth goalless stalemate in their last eight games. 

Score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Mallorca

Levante vs Espanyol (Sunday, 3.15pm)

Espanyol's five-match winning streak was ended by derby rivals Barcelona last time out but they can bounce back with a victory at Levante, whose 3-0 win at Sevilla may prove to be a false dawn. 

Score prediction: Levante 0-1 Espanyol

Sevilla vs Celta Vigo (Monday, 8pm)

It has been feast or famine for Sevilla in LaLiga this season as only two of their 18 matches have ended in draws. Another tough night is on the cards when they host Celta Vigo, whose excellent run of form includes 2-0 wins over Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.  

Score prediction: Sevilla 0-2 Celta Vigo