MADRID, March 16 (Xinhua) -- This coming weekend is the last in Spain's La Liga before an international break which gives the sides in Spain's top-flight a week's rest before the final run in to the end of the season.
Here are some things to look out for in this weekend's matches.
1. Messi to twist the knife into Athletic Club
FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao had differing fortunes in Europe during the week as Lionel Messi inspired Barca to a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at home to Chelsea, while Athletic were knocked out of the Europa League at home to Olympique Marseille.
Messi has scored 12 goals in his last 14 matches against Athletic Club and expects to add to that total on Sunday afternoon. Barca will be without Sergio Busquets, while Andres Iniesta can expect to be rested. Messi is in fine form and anything but an easy win over the demoralized Basque side who have not won in the Camp Nou since 2001, would be a major surprise.
2. Ronaldo to star against Girona
March has been a good month for Cristiano Ronaldo who has scored two goals in each of Real Madrid's last three matches and who now has 18 league goals this season, 16 of which have come in the second half of the campaign.
Ronaldo will now lead the Madrid attack against Girona, who are this season's surprise package in Spain and have a great chance of qualifying for Europe in their first season among the elite. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said a week ago that his side had been lucky to win away to Eibar and a compact and hard-working Girona will pose many similar challenges to Real Madrid.
3. Villarreal to test Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid travel to Villarreal eight points behind Barcelona and that gap will probably have been opened to 11 by the time they kick off on Sunday.
Atletico have seven wins in their last 8 league matches, with just their 1-0 defeat in the Camp Nou to blot their copybook. Villarreal promise to be another tough test for Diego Simeone's side.
Villarreal have been irregular of late, but their win in Las Palmas last weekend left them sixth on the table, just a point past fifth place Sevilla.
4. Life of death in Riazor
Deportivo La Caruna have no wins in their last 13 games, while Las Palmas have two wins in their last 16.
Last weekend saw Las Palmas coach Paco Jemez launch a bitter attack on his players following their 2-0 defeat to Villarreal. Whether Jemez's criticism will have an effect is debatable, but it's obvious that defeat for either of the two will mean almost certain relegation, while a draw will probably condemn both.
