Madrid (AFP)
Villarreal (5th) opens Friday (20h00 GMT) the 18th day of the Spanish Championship by moving to Vigo (8th) with the ambition of staying on board the "European" train.
Villarreal have lost only one of their last fourteen matches and would temporarily climb to the third step of the podium in the event of victory over Celta behind the two Madrid giants, Atletico and Real respectively leader and second, and ahead Barcelona, 3rd before this day.
The team led by ex-PSG and Arsenal coach Unai Emery have good attacking arguments, with center forward Gerard Moreno aka "Gerard", La Liga co-top scorer with 9 goals.
Among the members of the top trio, Barça seems the most threatened by going on Saturday (17:30 GMT) to Granada (7th).
The game of the Blaugrana, who experienced a complicated start to the season, however, seems to be gradually establishing itself: Lionel Messi's teammates remain on two victories, including that obtained on Tuesday on the field of Athletic Bilbao which allowed them to get on the podium.
The two Madrid giants will a priori have easier tasks, at home in front of Athletic Bilbao (9th) on Saturday (15:15 GMT) for Atlético, at Osasuna Pamplona, penultimate, for Real on Saturday evening (20:00 GMT) ).
Diego Simeone's players will quickly want to forget their elimination in the 32nd final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday by a 3rd division club, Cornella, 1-0 winner of a La Liga leader admittedly reduced to ten in the last half hour.
Since November 27 and their last defeat at home against Alavès, Real Madrid have only lost two points, those of a draw at Elche on Matchday 15, in six games.
Zinedine Zidane's players will be arch-favorites in Pamplona, where they have little to fear from a side that have only won 3 of their first 16 league games.
One of the summits of this day will take place early Saturday afternoon (13:00 GMT) at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan stadium, where Sevilla FC (6th) host Real Sociedad (4th).
One of the best attacks in La Liga, that of Real Sociedad (4th with 27 goals scored) will challenge one of the most hermetic defenses of the Spanish elite, that of Sevilla (2nd behind that of Atletico with only 11 goals conceded).
Program of the 18th day (in GMT hours):
.
Friday
(8:00 p.m.) Celta Vigo - Racing Villarreal
.
Saturday
(1:00 p.m.) Sevilla FC - Real Sociedad
(3.15 p.m.) Atlético Madrid - Athletic Bilbao
(5.30 p.m.) Granada - FC Barcelona
(8:00 p.m.) Osasuna Pamplona - Real Madrid
.
Sunday
(1:00 p.m.) Levante - Eibar
(3.15 p.m.) Cadiz - Alavés
(5.30 p.m.) Elche - Getafe
(8:00 p.m.) Valladolid - Valencia
.
On Monday
(8:00 p.m.) Huesca - Real Betis
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