Real Madrid aims for the top spot as Real Sociedad visits Bernabau
From Tanko Bauka
The Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A would take the centre stage as the English Barclays Premier League will pave the way for the FA Cup competition third round matches and would only resume on 22 February 2026 at various centres.
In the Spanish La Liga Real Madrid chasing the defending Champions and the league leader FC Barcelona have a herculean task ahead of them as they welcome Real Sociedad to the Bernabeu stadium in the capital city to build on the little success they have been able to achieve since the appointment of the head coach Alvaro Albeloa who dramatically succeeded Xabi Alonso and is finding it difficult to turn things around for good to the satisfaction of the thousands of supporters who throng the stadium to express their displeasure on match day.
Real Sociedad are silent killers and always constitute nuisance to any opponent’s home or away bringing down the so-called big boys in their tracks to show how formidable a force they are as a spoiler.
Real Madrid have earlier at the beginning of the season been topping the league with as many as 5 points ahead of FC Barcelona but poor results caused them the top spot and were dethroned by the defending Champions, FC Barcelona who are now dictating the pace even though the gap at the top is just one point but with the way things are going Real Madrid need to up their game to stand a chance of hunting down FC Barcelona.
The defending Champions and the league leader FC Barcelona would not be in action as they were scheduled to take on Atletico Madrid in the COPA DEL REY Cup on Thursday before the weekend fixtures.
So Real Madrid has the opportunity to leapfrog them to the top of the league with two points lead if they beat Real Sociedad.
Elche would take on Osasuna while Celta Vigo visit Espanyol to seek the three points at stake as Sevilla host Deportivo Alaves.
Rayo Vallecano battling relegation have Atletico Madrid to contend with for their survival in the Spanish La Liga while Real Oviedo entertain Athletic Bilbao and Getafe take on Villarreal.
Lavente host Valencia with Mallorca tackling Real Betis and Girona welcome the league leader FC Barcelona on a Monday night football.
In the Italian Serie A, Udinese welcome struggling Sassuolo while Pisa SC host AC Milan with Napoli having a bigger task ahead of them as they welcome AS Roma.
The standout weekend fixtures are the match between the league leaders Inter Milan and Juventus as Lazio take on Atalanta with Parma welcoming relegation-bound Hellas Verona, and Torino trade tackle with Bologna.
Cremonese battle Genoa while Cesc Fabregas’ Como host Fiorentina and Cagliari entertain Lacce.
In the German Bundesliga Burussia Dortmund tackle Mainz while Hoffenheim entertain SC Freiburg with Hamburger taking on Union Berlin.
Werder Bremen engage the league leader Bayern Munich, who are enjoying life in the German Bundesliga crushing every opponent that crosses their path as they seek to dethrone the league defending Champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Eintrach Frankfurt host Monchenglabach as Bayer Leverkusen entertain FC St Pauli while Stuttgart tackle KolN.
In the English FA Cup Hull City welcome Chelsea to see if they can navigate their way to the next round while Manchester City host Salford City with Aston Villa engaging Newcastle United, and Liverpool and Brighton meet at Anfield Stadium.
Arsenal host Wigan Athletic as they still fight on four fronts while Birmingham entertain Leeds United, Grimsby Town welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers and Oxford United engage Sunderland with Stoke City taking on Fulham.
Fixtures across Europe
Spanish La Liga
Friday
Elche Vs Osasuna
Saturday
Espanyol Vs Celta Vigo
Rayo Vallecano Vs Atletico Madrid
Sevilla Vs Deportivo Alaves
Real Madrid Vs Real Sociedad
Sunday
Real Oviedo Vs Athletic Bilbao
Gatafe Vs Villarreal
Lavente Vs Valencia
Mallorca Vs Real Betis
Monday
Girona Vs FC Barcelona
Italian Serie A
Saturday
Udinese Vs Sassaulo
Pisa SC Vs AC Milan
Torino Vs Bologna
Napoli Vs AS Roma
Parma Vs Hellas Verona
Lazio Vs Atalanta
Inter Milan Vs Juventus
Cremonese Vs Genoa
Como Vs Fiorentina
Cagliari Vs Lacce
German Bundesliga
Saturday
Hoffenheim Vs SC Freiburg
Hamburger Vs Union Berlin
Werder Bremen Vs Bayern Munich
Frankfurt Vs Monchenglabach
Bayer Leverkusen Vs FC St Pauli
Stuttgart vs. Koln
Sunday
FC Augsburg Vs Heidenheim
RB Leipzig Vs Wolfsburg
FA Cup fixtures
Friday
Hull City Vs Chelsea
Saturday
Manchester City Vs Salford City
Aston Villa Vs Newcastle United
Liverpool Vs Brighton Albion
Sunday
Arsenal Vs Wigan Athletic
Birmingham Vs Leeds United
Grimsby Town Vs Wolves
Oxford United Vs Sunderland
Stoke City Vs Fulham
