MADRID, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The 29th round of La Liga games comes on the eve of the final international break of the season and promises to be vital in both the race for the title and the struggle to avoid relegation.

The weekend promises four potentially decisive matches - two at either end of the league table.

League leader FC Barcelona is at home to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday lunchtime in a game that could see Hansi Flick's team temporarily open a seven-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Barcelona stunned Newcastle United on Wednesday night with a 7-2 win in the Champions League, although it did pay an injury price with goalkeeper Joan Garcia suffering a calf injury that could see Wojciech Szczesny play in goal. Eric Garcia also had to leave the game with a muscle problem and joins Jule Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong on the injury list.

The good news for Barcelona is that Gavi is likely to play some minutes as he completes his comeback from a knee operation last September.

If Barcelona wins, that would put the pressure on Real Madrid who brings the weekend to a close with a derby at home to Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid took a morale boosting 2-1 victory away to Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham could play some part in the game, although goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss out with a groin strain he suffered in Manchester, with Andriy Lunin stepping in.

Atletico also qualified for a Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona on Wednesday, and Juan Mussa will continue in goal as Jan Oblak has a muscle problem.

If Diego Simeone's side can take anything from the Bernabeu it would tilt the title race heavily in Barcelona's favor.

There are also two massive games in the relegation battle with second from bottom Levante at home to bottom of the table Oviedo, while Elche hosts Mallorca in a clash between the teams third and fourth from bottom.

Elche slipped into the relegation zone last weekend after a 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid extended its winless run to 12 games in all competitions, while Mallorca climbed above Elche with a controversial 2-1 win at home to Espanyol.

Another defeat for Elche would probably mean coach Eder Sarabia is the next coach to be sacked.

The weekend kicks off with fourth place Villarreal at home to in-form Real Sociedad who is seventh and is looking to qualify for Europe.

An Espanyol side in freefall needs to end an 11-game run without a win at home to a Getafe side that has climbed to ninth in the table, but loses defender Abdel Abkar through suspension.

Osasuna plays Girona in a mid-table clash, while a Sevilla without a win in three games tries to forget last weekend's 5-2 defeat in Barcelona with a game at home to Valencia with both teams still needing points to escape the danger zone.

Athletic Bilbao, still without Nico Williams, has to improve on its dreadful display in Girona when it entertains Betis, and Celta Vigo is at home to a Deportivo Alaves that has two draws since Quique Sanchez Flores arrived as coach, but is still battling to avoid relegation.

Both Betis and Celta have Europa League games on Thursday night that leave them little preparation ahead of the weekend. ■