Madrid, Oct 31 (NationPress) As Real Madrid strives to maintain pressure on FC Barcelona following their recent Clasico triumph, the Catalan giants are grappling with a series of injuries.

Real Madrid tops the standings after 10 matches, amassing 27 points, while Barcelona lags five points behind at 22. Villarreal CF sits third on the leaderboard with 20 points, followed closely by Atletico Madrid with 19 points.

Here are four key aspects to watch for this weekend in La Liga.

1. Injury woes at Barca open doors for Casado and Bernal

After falling 2-1 to Real Madrid, FC Barcelona faced more troubling news with Pedri suffering a torn muscle, sidelining him for approximately six weeks. Although he would have missed the upcoming match against Elche due to suspension, his absence until mid-December adds to the challenges for a struggling Barcelona team, as reported by Xinhua.

With Raphinha, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen, and Joan Garcia also unavailable, the silver lining is that young talents Marc Casado and Marc Bernal could see increased playing time, especially as Bernal seeks to regain form after a knee injury last season.

2. Sarabia's eager return to face Barcelona

Elche coach Eder Sarabia looks forward to his return to Barcelona after an unhappy tenure there five years ago. Serving as an assistant to Quique Setien during a tumultuous period, Sarabia witnessed the club's decline, including a staggering 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Despite rumored conflicts with key players, Sarabia has proven himself as a capable manager, achieving promotion with Andorra and steering Elche to mid-table stability with a possession-focused style that could challenge Barcelona's high press if the team isn’t at its best.

3. Vinicius Jr. presents a dilemma for Real Madrid

Vinicius Jr.'s reaction after being substituted in the Clasico sparked significant media attention, with opinions divided on whether his behavior warrants continued support or a potential exit. Although he has apologized to teammates and fans, coach Xabi Alonso now faces a tough decision: to start Vinicius against Valencia or opt for Rodrygo.

Starting Vinicius may appear weak, while benching him could ignite speculation about a rift between player and coach.

4. Pressure mounting on Carrion

Since taking over Oviedo for only three matches, Luis Carrion finds himself under intense scrutiny ahead of the Monday match against Osasuna. The unexpected dismissal of Veljko Paunovic following a promotion led to Carrion's surprising appointment, especially after he previously declined a new contract at Oviedo.

With fans skeptical of his return and after a disappointing Copa del Rey exit, Carrion desperately needs a victory against Osasuna, who has lost all five of their away games this season; otherwise, his tenure could be at risk.