Another win would confirm that Barca are heading in the right direction after pushing the reset button following the loss of Lionel Messi in the close season due to their financial problems.
Barcelona made a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign by losing 2-1 to AS Monaco on Thursday.
Atletico celebrate anniversary with 3-1 comeback win over Mallorca
Real Madrid's Rodrygo struck twice and Jude Bellingham was also on target as the visitors enjoyed a 3-0 win at lowly Cadiz.
'Yesterday, he trained normally, and today he's taken this decision. We have accepted it. I spoke to him this morning, and he said he was leaving, and I understood.'
Barcelona to sign Gundogan on free transfer from Man City
Real Madrid are comfortably perched on top of the La Liga standings with 66 points while Barca are now third on 54 points with a game in hand, three points behind second-placed Sevilla.
IMAGES from football matches played across Europe on Wednesday.
Barcelona sacked coach Ronald Koeman after Wednesday's 1-0 LaLiga defeat at Rayo Vallecano, the Catalan club said on Wednesday.
Factbox on Barcelona, who were crowned Spanish champions for the 22nd time after second-placed Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Saturday left them with an unassailable lead.
The Liverpool striker said that Spain's La Liga was stronger than the EPL despite the presence of three English teams in the Champions League semi-finals.
New Atletico striker Diego Costa, whose transfer from Chelsea was agreed this week, watched on from the stands as both sides hit the woodwork in the opening 20 minutes of an even first period.
Barca had been trying to sign the 21-year-old right back for $6.5 million in a deal
Atletico Madrid demonstrated their remarkable team spirit to come roaring back from two goals and a man down to draw 2-2 at Liga debutants Girona on Saturday, after Antoine Griezmann had been sent off for the first time in his career.
Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat Real Madrid 3-2 on Monday with the champions failing to reclaim top spot in the standings after two consecutive games without a win.
Photos from soccer matches played across top European Leagues on Saturday.
Seven times reigning winner Lionel Messi was not nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or for the first time since 2005 and nor was his Paris Saint-Germain team mate Neymar.
La Liga champions Barcelona slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Leganes and Real Madrid were resoundingly beaten 3-0 by Sevilla on Wednesday as Spain's two biggest clubs lost on the same day for the first time since January, 2015.
Messi's contract with Barcelona is set to come to an end this season
Pele scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos.
Sevilla maintained their incredible record in the competition after an otherwise difficult season.
Given a contract until 2024, the 41-year-old made a winning start on Saturday with a victory over Espanyol that put Barcelona sixth in LaLiga on 20 points after 13 matches.
Arsenal took the race to the final day last season and are strongly tipped to end Manchester City's dominance this time.
Sevilla last week lost a crucial game 1-0 at home to Valencia, who are fifth, but fared better this time as Mesa gave them the lead with an exquisite first-time finish into the far top corner in the 41st minute.
Barcelona signing Robert Lewandowski is relishing a new challenge after joining the Catalan club and the 33-year-old said he was ready to play in their upcoming pre-season game against rivals Real Madrid in the United States.
Paris St Germain closed out the year on a high as they maintained their five-point advantage at the top of the table.
Rohit Sharma stated that India has a lot of football fans and they watch La Liga. The cricketer is hopeful of the same intensity in the sport after it resumes.
Alves joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2008 and made 391 appearances, becoming a regular under ex-managers Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, Tata Martino and Luis Enrique before leaving for Juventus in 2016.
Claudio Ranieri resigned as coach of AS Roma following their shock 4-3 loss at Genoa on Sunday in a game they had led 3-0.
Barca said the move was part of their efforts to bring soccer and music together.
The players of the first staff of football of the FC Barcelona made the medical examinations on Wednesday and according to the information, all have been given negative and are 'clean' of the illness.
A round-up of Sunday's matches in LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Serie A
Ronaldo said the quality of the Saudi competition had improved even in his short time in it.
Holders Manchester City will take on RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys in Group G.
Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona 4-2 at home to knock them out of the Copa del Rey
'Messi's departure is a move that helps Florentino. Imagine that (Kylian) Mbappe now signs for Real Madrid.'
Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski struck just before halftime to give the league leaders a 2-0 home win over lowly Cadiz on Sunday in their pursuit of a 27th Spanish title.
The Argentine striker had hosted a team meeting on Monday to kick start preparations for the clash against Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona extended their LaLiga lead to eight points thanks to second-half goals by Jordi Alba, Gavi and Raphinha that gave them a 3-0 home win against Sevilla
An insatiable Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona hammered Espanyol 5-0 in a local derby on Saturday to make it three wins from three and take full advantage after Liga champions Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Levante.
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