体坛英语新闻：Athletic Club, Barca the highlight of an interesting matchday 15 in Spain

MADRID, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid may be without Cristiano Ronaldo for their game in matchday 15 of the BBVA Primera Liga while FC Barcelona will have to look for solutions in one of the most difficult grounds in la Liga.

Ronaldo missed Madrid's 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday night and failed to train with his team-mates of Thursday as the result of a muscle injury.

The ease of Madrid's win without the striker may tempt coach Carlo Ancelotti to err on the side of caution and again rest his star player on Saturday at home to a Valladolid side which on paper should offer little resistance to Real Madrid.

If Ronaldo doesn't play, Gareth Bale will look to repeat his excellent display from Wednesday night while Karim Benzema remains in good form, along with the impressive Xabi Alonso in midfield.

Barca have to wait until Sunday and following their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, they would probably not have chosen to visit the new San Mames Stadium where Athletic Club Bilbao have yet to lose a game.

Barca could still be hampered by a long list of injuries, including Dani Alves, Victor Valdes, Leo Messi and Jordi Alba, although there is a chance that Alves and Alba could make the squad if they are able to train with their companions in the coming days.

Athletic hope to have striker Aritz Aduriz available if their last appeal against a two game suspension is upheld, otherwise youngster, Guillermo will lead the line in what would be only his third first team appearance.

The round of matches kicks off on Friday night with two games as Getafe look to forget last week's 7-0 thrashing in the Vicente Calderon at home to Levante, who have only lost two away games all season.

There is an exciting game in Villarreal as the fourth-placed side entertain Malaga, whose coach Berndt Schuster is under pressure after Monday's defeat at home to Athletic Club, which left his side just one point above the relegation zone.

Saturday kicks off with second place Atletico Madrid looking to make life tough for Barca with a win away to Elche, whose morale is sky high after beating Valencia 2-1 last weekend.

Celta Vigo need to overcome their 4-3 defeat away to Real Sociedad last Saturday, tighten up in defense and look for their first home win of the campaign. Struggling Almeria could well be perfect victims for that to happen.

Saturday ends with Espanyol taking on Real Sociedad, who crashed out of Europe as the result of their 4-0 thrashing away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Tiredness could be a factor for the visiters, who have been improving in their domestic games over the last month.

The clash in San Mames is the highlight of Sunday and indeed the weekend, but the day will start with high drama in the Benito Villamarin Stadium as bottom of the table Betis are at home to second bottom Rayo.

Defeat for Betis could spell the end for coach Pepe Mel and leave his side 6 points adrift in last place.

Miroslav Djukic is another man looking at losing his job if Valencia fail to win at home to an always combative Osasuna and he can expect little support from the ever demanding home fans.

A poor run of form and the arrival of a new sporting director look to have weakened Djukic's position at Valencia and failure to win would spark massive protest from the stands.

Finally Granada entertain Sevilla in an Andalusian derby, where Sevilla will look to build on two wins in two games and edge closer to the top six.