LA LIGA PREVIEW: Battle to avoid the drop heats up

DEPORTIVO host Las Palmas in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday as the fight to avoid relegation from La Liga heats up.

A win for either side would come as a welcome boost with both only managing to pick up just three points each in their last 10 games.

Both sides are without a win in six and now find themselves four and five points adrift of safety, with Las Palmas in 18th position and Deportivo 19th.

Elsewhere, Barcelona’s march towards the title continues against 12th placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The league leaders strolled to a 2-0 win over bottom side Malaga as they enjoyed more than 75 per cent of possession to give Malaga their seventh consecutive defeat.

Malaga, who have not won in over three months, are now 11 points from safety and will need a result against Celta Vigo on Saturday if they are to have any chance of survival.

 Real Madrid will look to close the gap on Atletico Madrid as they host Girona on Saturday, but will need to be at their best to get past their opposition.

Girona continued their push for European football as they secured their third win in a row last time out thanks to a 2-0 win over Deportivo on Friday.

They now sit just a point behind six placed Villarreal, who face a tough tie against second placed Atletico on Sunday.

Atletico got back to winning ways after their disappointing defeat to Barcelona with a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo thanks to goals from Vitolo, Correa and Antoine Griezmann.

That result leaves Diego Simeone’s side eight points behind Barcelona at the top but only seven ahead of Real.

In the weekend’s other matches, Levante host Eibar, Valencia take on Alaves, Real Sociedad play Getafe, travel to Real Betis and Leganes are against Sevilla.

Weekend fixtures in full: