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Sat 3 January 2009 (all times local)
20:00 Barcelona - Mallorca
22:00 Valencia - Atletico Madrid
Sun 4 January
17:00 Almeria - Real Betis
17:00 Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol
17:00 Real Madrid - Villarreal
17:00 Valladolid - Racing
17:00 Malaga - Sporting Gijon
17:00 Recreativo - Numancia
19:00 Sevilla - Osasuna
21:00 Getafe - Deportivo
FC Barcelona - RCD Mallorca
Appropriately enough, the Liga returns for 2009 with its league leaders - Barcelona - kicking off at home.
Mallorca are the visitors, and they have a mountain to climb: with just one away win all season, the Camp Nou could be a bridge too far.
Nonetheless coach Gregorio Manzano argues that his side will not be outclassed, despite Barcelona's unbeaten home record in the Liga.
Valencia - Atletico Madrid
Should Barça beat the Barralets they'll pull fourteen points clear of both Valencia and Atletico Madrid, both of whom square off at the Mestalla.
Whoever wins this match - if either - can leapfrog Sevilla and move second, but there's still a long way to top spot.
It's set to be a close one, although Los Che managed a 3-1 win in this fixture last season.
UD Almeria - Real Betis
Moving ahead to Sunday, struggling Almeria welcome Betis to their own corner of Andalucia.
The rojiblancos sit on the verge of the drop-zone after careering down the table in recent weeks: in fact they've won just one of their last eleven games.
As for the Béticos, it's been four matches since they picked up a victory, but their away record is more than respectable with three wins and a draw from seven.
Athletic Bilbao - RCD Espanyol
That's more than can be said for Espanyol, who have taken just one point from a possible 21 of late.
New coach Mané really has a struggle on his hands as he looks to salvage a dreadful season for the pericos so far, bearing in mind that San Mames is a tough place to go.
Indeed, Joaquin Caparros' Athletic side have clawed their way to the top half partially off the back of four recent home wins.
Real Madrid - Villarreal
It's unusual to see such a massive game on a Sunday afternoon, but Real Madrid against Villarreal at the Bernabeu is an occasion worthy of note.
The blancos, reinforced with two key signings in the form of the injured Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana 'Lass' Diarra, meet a Villarreal side who are also trying to push for the top four.
It's fair to say that both sides have underperformed in the Liga so far, but in the case of the capital giants it's that much more significant, given the high expectations in Madrid.
Valladolid - Real Racing Club
Meanwhile Valladolid are riding high. An incredible home record sees them as hot favourites to overcome Racing at the Jose Zorrilla.
Racing have had a difficult campaign thus far but are at least in with a fighting chance, having won out here last season.
Still, they are fast becoming the league's draw specialists and that might be a realistic outcome for them.
Malaga - Real Sporting de Gijon
That's something one can't play for with Sporting, who haven't shared the points with any side at all this season.
With seven wins and nine defeats they travel to meet a Malaga side with whom they came up last season.
The boquerones won both meetings between the sides last season, winning 1-0 away but absolutely thrashing Sporting by three goals without reply at the Rosaleda.
Recreativo de Huelva - CD Numancia
Three goals? Spare a thought for Recre, who have managed just eleven in sixteen games so far.
That's by far the worst record in the Primera, but it's proved enough to keep them within four points of visitors Numancia.
The Soriano outfit have the second leakiest defence in the top flight, so if the Huelva team are going to hit goalscoring form, now's the time.
Sevilla FC - CA Osasuna
The early evening match sees Sevilla look to keep up their title challenge against visitors Osasuna.
The Pamplonans remain bottom of the table, but with two wins in the last five matches - including an astounding tonking of Getafe - the sunshine is returning to Navarre at last.
Still, Sevilla are a side well worth looking at: despite dropped points of late they remain second heading into the weekend.
Getafe - RC Deportivo de La Coruna
Finally high-flying Deportivo travel to the capital to meet hit-and-miss Getafe.
The azulones have the most mixed of mixed records so far: five wins, six draws, and five losses, with a basically random array of teams in each column.
Depor, meanwhile, pride themselves on amazing home form: at the Coliseum, they could be in for a challenge...
20:00 Barcelona - Mallorca
22:00 Valencia - Atletico Madrid
Sun 4 January
17:00 Almeria - Real Betis
17:00 Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol
17:00 Real Madrid - Villarreal
17:00 Valladolid - Racing
17:00 Malaga - Sporting Gijon
17:00 Recreativo - Numancia
19:00 Sevilla - Osasuna
21:00 Getafe - Deportivo
FC Barcelona - RCD Mallorca
Appropriately enough, the Liga returns for 2009 with its league leaders - Barcelona - kicking off at home.
Mallorca are the visitors, and they have a mountain to climb: with just one away win all season, the Camp Nou could be a bridge too far.
Nonetheless coach Gregorio Manzano argues that his side will not be outclassed, despite Barcelona's unbeaten home record in the Liga.
Valencia - Atletico Madrid
Should Barça beat the Barralets they'll pull fourteen points clear of both Valencia and Atletico Madrid, both of whom square off at the Mestalla.
Whoever wins this match - if either - can leapfrog Sevilla and move second, but there's still a long way to top spot.
It's set to be a close one, although Los Che managed a 3-1 win in this fixture last season.
UD Almeria - Real Betis
Moving ahead to Sunday, struggling Almeria welcome Betis to their own corner of Andalucia.
The rojiblancos sit on the verge of the drop-zone after careering down the table in recent weeks: in fact they've won just one of their last eleven games.
As for the Béticos, it's been four matches since they picked up a victory, but their away record is more than respectable with three wins and a draw from seven.
Athletic Bilbao - RCD Espanyol
That's more than can be said for Espanyol, who have taken just one point from a possible 21 of late.
New coach Mané really has a struggle on his hands as he looks to salvage a dreadful season for the pericos so far, bearing in mind that San Mames is a tough place to go.
Indeed, Joaquin Caparros' Athletic side have clawed their way to the top half partially off the back of four recent home wins.
Real Madrid - Villarreal
It's unusual to see such a massive game on a Sunday afternoon, but Real Madrid against Villarreal at the Bernabeu is an occasion worthy of note.
The blancos, reinforced with two key signings in the form of the injured Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana 'Lass' Diarra, meet a Villarreal side who are also trying to push for the top four.
It's fair to say that both sides have underperformed in the Liga so far, but in the case of the capital giants it's that much more significant, given the high expectations in Madrid.
Valladolid - Real Racing Club
Meanwhile Valladolid are riding high. An incredible home record sees them as hot favourites to overcome Racing at the Jose Zorrilla.
Racing have had a difficult campaign thus far but are at least in with a fighting chance, having won out here last season.
Still, they are fast becoming the league's draw specialists and that might be a realistic outcome for them.
Malaga - Real Sporting de Gijon
That's something one can't play for with Sporting, who haven't shared the points with any side at all this season.
With seven wins and nine defeats they travel to meet a Malaga side with whom they came up last season.
The boquerones won both meetings between the sides last season, winning 1-0 away but absolutely thrashing Sporting by three goals without reply at the Rosaleda.
Recreativo de Huelva - CD Numancia
Three goals? Spare a thought for Recre, who have managed just eleven in sixteen games so far.
That's by far the worst record in the Primera, but it's proved enough to keep them within four points of visitors Numancia.
The Soriano outfit have the second leakiest defence in the top flight, so if the Huelva team are going to hit goalscoring form, now's the time.
Sevilla FC - CA Osasuna
The early evening match sees Sevilla look to keep up their title challenge against visitors Osasuna.
The Pamplonans remain bottom of the table, but with two wins in the last five matches - including an astounding tonking of Getafe - the sunshine is returning to Navarre at last.
Still, Sevilla are a side well worth looking at: despite dropped points of late they remain second heading into the weekend.
Getafe - RC Deportivo de La Coruna
Finally high-flying Deportivo travel to the capital to meet hit-and-miss Getafe.
The azulones have the most mixed of mixed records so far: five wins, six draws, and five losses, with a basically random array of teams in each column.
Depor, meanwhile, pride themselves on amazing home form: at the Coliseum, they could be in for a challenge...
