La Liga round 11: Atletico Madrid eye top spot, Barcelona seek Clasico recovery
Synopsis
Atlético Madrid can go top of La Liga for at least a few hours on Saturday — but the weekend's emotional centrepiece is a Barcelona side in crisis, nursing consecutive defeats, a long injury list, and a Basque derby at San Mamés that needs no extra motivation. Round 11 packs in a coaching sacking, a record-chasing winless run and a top-of-the-table opportunity all in four days.
Key Takeaways
Atlético Madrid can move to the top of La Liga with a win away to Levante on Saturday.
Barcelona are on consecutive defeats after El Clásico and carry a lengthy injury list into Saturday's home game against Alavés ; Jules Koundé may return from ankle injury.
Espanyol sacked coach Manolo González on Tuesday; B-team coach Sergio García will take charge for Friday's game at Villarreal before Eder Sarabia officially steps in.
Athletic Bilbao welcome back Aymeric Laporte (suspension) and potentially Oihan Sancet (muscle injury) for Sunday's Basque derby against Real Sociedad at San Mamés .
Málaga remain winless in all 11 La Liga matches since promotion; Valencia are second from bottom without a win in three games under Javier Aguirre .
Getafe have conceded nine goals in their last two games and face high-flying Sevilla on the weekend.
Barcelona face an urgent mission to arrest a slide when they host Alavés on Saturday, 29 October, just days after a bruising El Clásico defeat — while Atlético Madrid have a fleeting chance to climb to the summit of La Liga with a win at Levante. The 11th round of fixtures is one of the busiest and most compelling of the season so far, rounding off on Monday when Deportivo La Coruña host Osasuna.
Atlético Madrid's push for top spot
Diego Simeone's side travel to Levante on Saturday knowing that a victory would temporarily lift them to the top of the table. Argentine forward Julián Álvarez is expected to lead the attacking charge, though Atlético cannot afford complacency against a Levante outfit that has already beaten both Betis and Athletic Bilbao at home this season — evidence of a well-organised, hard-working unit capable of an upset.
Barcelona's injury concerns and bounce-back bid
Hansi Flick's Barcelona arrive at the weekend on the back of consecutive defeats, the most recent of which was the high-profile El Clásico reverse. Their situation is compounded by a lengthy injury list: Xavi Espart is the latest player ruled out, joining several others on the sidelines. However, there is a potential silver lining — Jules Koundé could return from an ankle injury in time to face Alavés, giving Flick a boost at the back. Alavés, for their part, have endured a dramatic drop in form: after a bright start to the campaign, they have collected just two draws in their last six matches since a win on 6 September.
The Basque Derby — Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad
Sunday's standout match brings together the two great Basque rivals at San Mamés in Bilbao, where tradition and local pride amplify every tackle. Athletic Bilbao could welcome midfielder Oihan Sancet back to contention after a muscle injury. Spain international Aymeric Laporte also returns for Athletic after serving a suspension that forced him to miss the club's 4–0 home win over Getafe last weekend.
Other key fixtures and storylines
The round opens on Friday night as Villarreal host a turbulent Espanyol side. Espanyol sacked coach Manolo González on Tuesday following a Copa del Rey exit, with Eder Sarabia confirmed as replacement — but it is B-team coach Sergio García who will take charge for Friday's fixture while formalities are completed.
Betis host Málaga on Saturday aiming to end a run that includes a defeat to Barcelona and a goalless draw at Celta Vigo. Málaga remain winless in 11 games since winning promotion back to La Liga, though they came close to a breakthrough last weekend before being denied late on away to Alavés. Rayo Vallecano also play on Saturday, taking on Celta Vigo.
Getafe must urgently shore up their defensive frailties after conceding nine goals in their last two fixtures. They face Sevilla, who have made a positive start under Luis García Plaza — a manager who knows Getafe well from a previous spell in charge. Elsewhere, Valencia — second from bottom and without a win in their last three under new coach Javier Aguirre — host Elche without teenage winger David Otorbi, who has suffered a right hamstring injury. Racing Santander play at home on Sunday. The round concludes on Monday when Deportivo La Coruña host Osasuna.
Point of View
A depleted squad and a visit from an Alavés side with nothing to lose is precisely the fixture that can derail a title campaign before November. Atlético's genuine title credentials will be tested at Levante, a side that has already shown it can beat top-half opponents at home. The more revealing subplot, however, is Valencia: three games in, Javier Aguirre has yet to pick up a win, and a second-from-bottom side without its best young attacker is in danger of the kind of early-season drift that becomes very hard to reverse.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Atlético Madrid go top of La Liga this weekend?
Yes — Atlético Madrid will move to the top of the La Liga table if they beat Levante away on Saturday. However, the lead could be temporary depending on other results across the round.
Why is Barcelona missing so many players for the Alavés game?
Barcelona have accumulated a lengthy injury list, with Xavi Espart the latest addition. Hansi Flick's squad has been hit hard at a difficult moment, coming off consecutive defeats including the El Clásico loss. Jules Koundé is a doubt but may return from an ankle injury.
Why did Espanyol sack coach Manolo González?
Espanyol dismissed Manolo González on Tuesday following the club's exit from the Copa del Rey. Eder Sarabia has been named as the new permanent coach, but B-team coach Sergio García will oversee Friday's La Liga fixture against Villarreal.
When and where is the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad?
The Basque derby takes place on Sunday at San Mamés in Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao could have Oihan Sancet available after a muscle injury, and Aymeric Laporte returns from suspension.
How is Valencia performing under Javier Aguirre?
Valencia are struggling under new coach Javier Aguirre, sitting second from bottom with only two draws and a defeat in their three games since he took charge. They face Elche without teenage winger David Otorbi, who has a right hamstring injury.
