Preview: Real Madrid vs Sociedad highlights three night-time kick-offs for La Liga top three

The top three teams in the La Liga Santander will headline the three late kick-offs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as we head into Matchday 27.

With so much at stake, drama should be expected under the floodlights, while there are several other fascinating battles to come elsewhere across the slate. 

It’s second-place Sevilla FC who are in action first as they visit Deportivo Alavés at 9 pm on Friday. After impressively winning El Gran Derbi last weekend, Julen Lopetegui’s charges will be full of confidence and looking to put pressure on league leaders Real Madrid.

Sevilla are only six points behind, so, could be just three points behind at least temporarily, but only if they find a way past the Basque defence. 

There are four matches on Saturday, starting with CA Osasuna vs Villarreal CF. The Yellow Submarine are in fine form, having won four and drawn one of their past five league matches.

As they visit El Sadar, where CA Osasuna have only won twice all season, Villarreal will look to put on a show, with the manager, Unai Emery, having a decision to make as it borders on who starts between Super Eagles' Samuel Chukwueze and the four-star Yéremy Pino, who will hope to build on last week’s four-goal performance.

Later on Saturday afternoon, RCD Espanyol host Getafe CF in a match which sees Geta coach Quique Sánchez Flores return to his former club. He’ll do so knowing that a victory would see Getafe CF leapfrog the Catalan club in the table, so he’ll hope Enes Ünal can outperform Raúl de Tomás in the battle of the 13-goal strikers.

Then, Valencia CF welcome Granada CF to Mestalla for what could be another evenly matched duel. It was a draw when they met earlier this campaign, but both sides need a victory for their respective causes. 

On Saturday night, the La Liga action returns to the Santiago Bernabéu when leaders Real Madrid host Real Sociedad.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos lead the way on the table, yet the Italian knows that every point is vital in the final third of the season.

La Real, the visitors, will make it difficult for the capital city outfit and they did win on their last visit to the Bernabéu, a seven-goal thriller in the Copa del Rey that ended 4-3 in favour of the former European Champions.

On Sunday, Cádiz CF vs Rayo Vallecano is the first game of the day and the Andalusian club will be aiming for their first home victory of the season. They have come close on a couple of occasions under new coach Sergio González, but are still chasing that final whistle cheer at the Nuevo Mirandilla.

Xavi Hernandez's in-form FC Barcelona side are in action next, at 4.15 pm on Sunday as they visit Elche CF.

With Barça having scored four goals in each of their past three matches across all competitions, including five from January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they’ll make the short trip south in high spirits. 

RCD Mallorca make a long trip to the far side of the Spanish mainland to pay a visit to RC Celta on Sunday evening.

They played out a goalless draw in blustery conditions in their first meeting this season, so they’ll be hoping for calmer weather this weekend so they can show off their football. 

Third-placed Real Betis welcome fifth-placed Atlético de Madrid in the match of the day Sunday. The Verdiblancos and Rojiblancos are separated by just one point coming into Matchday 27, so, there’s a lot at stake as they face off in Seville.

Manuel Pellegrini is looking to lead Real Betis into the Champions League for the first time in 17 years, while Diego Simeone is aiming for a 10th year in a row in UEFA’s top competition. Both sides will battle for that European ticket on the pitch.

There is one more game to come on Matchday 27 as Levante UD travel north to Bilbao to play Athletic Club on Monday night.

They do so in good form, with the bottom-placed side having taken seven of 18 points across their last three matches.

The Valencians are dreaming of an unlikely escape and the next task in that mission is to take a positive result away from San Mamés.