After the brief hiatus, welcome back to football games in La Liga where the destination of the top prize is all but known.
That is, unless Atletico Madrid can repeat the sports betting surprise of 2014 when they stunned the giants of Barca and Real to take the crown.
Betting odds on the clubs at the other end of the table remain delicately poised, however.
WEEK 18 SATURDAY:
Atletico Madrid vs Getafe
Atletico know exactly what they need to do and that is go on another unbeaten run in the second half of the season.
Their impressive record finally came to an end just days before Christmas when they surprisingly went down to a late goal at Espanyol.
That first away defeat for a year may just have cost them a title bid and they can ill afford further slip ups.
Diego Costa is set for his first league start since re-joining.
Valencia vs Girona
Valencia are third and, like Atletico, face opponents achieving against the odds.
Like Atletico, they also slipped up just before Christmas and cannot afford a repeat.
Valencia, with new signing Luciano Vietto, will be desperate to maintain their three point advantage over reigning champions Real Madrid.
WEEK 18 SUNDAY:
Las Palmas vs Eibar
They may be bottom but where there is a chance, there is hope.
Las Palmas need to win matches like this to reduce the arrears at the foot of the table.
The Canary Island club will take heart from holding Valencia in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
Sevilla vs Real Betis
It’s the Seville city derby and everyone involved will be told what that means.
New home boss Vincenzo Montella certainly knows as he prepares for his first experience of La Liga action.
A baptism of fire for the Italian and an immediate chance to become popular on the terraces.
Leganes vs Real Sociedad
A meeting of two clubs with differing degrees of success so far.
Leganes have enough about them to build up a cushion between themselves and the strugglers.
Sociedad, fresh from a 3-1 success over Sevilla, are comfortable but realistically too far adrift to break into the top six.
Barcelona vs Levante
It was the perfect Christmas gift.
A convincing win in the backyard of their arch rivals and their nearest challengers both slipping up.
No wonder Barcelona – nine points clear – are overwhelming favourites to reclaim the title.
They even have their record signing Ousmane Dembele easing back into action.
WEEK 18 MONDAY:
Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves
If Bilbao are to embark on a charge for a European place in the second half of the season, they need to hit the ground running.
Not that they can take Alaves, battling for survival, lightly.
After going through December unbeaten, Bilbao will start as favourites.
Villarreal vs Deportivo La Coruna
Deportivo are in the drop zone on goal difference; Villarreal are clinging onto sixth spot and the final certain European berth.
The Yellow Submarine upset the Valencia roll with a fine victory in the Mestalla just before Christmas.
Deportivo went down at home to Celta Vigo in a match they would have targeted for three points.
It will be interesting to see if the mini break has affected momentum.
Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid
They may be the top team in Europe and on the planet but Real Madrid will surely need to win every match in the second half of the season to have any chance of retaining their La Liga crown.
Their 3-0 reverse to Barcelona two days before Christmas has left Los Blancos 14 points off the pace and highly unlikely to repeat their success.
It’s a key week for Vigo with this match sandwiched between a two-legged cup tie with Barcelona who the Galicians held to a 1-1 draw in midweek.
WEEK 18 TUESDAY:
Malaga vs RCD Espanyol
This is a welcome return to the Estadio la Rosaleda for Manuel Iturra.
He is back at Malaga hoping to steer them to safety.
The second bottom club host Espanyol who have given themselves some breathing space after defeating Atletico.
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