La Liga returns from winter break with Barcelona and Madrid derbies

Bengaluru, January 3: La Liga returns this weekend with city derbies in both Barcelona and Madrid, with teams up and down the division eager to get started again after the winter break. Leaders Barcelona are two points ahead of second placed Real Madrid going into the final round of games before La Liga 2019-20 reaches its midway point and crowns its unofficial winter champions.

Ernesto Valverde’s side visit city neighbors RCD Espanyol – whose new coach Abelardo will be making his debut after Pablo Machin was sacked -, as the new year begins with another ‘derbi barcelones’. La Liga Fixtures | Results | Points Table Recent history is with the blaugrana, whose last defeat in this fixture came in 2007, when Valverde was Espanyol boss. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi usually enjoys meeting the neighbors, having 22 goals in his 25 La Liga city derbies – including three long-range free kicks last season.