La Liga Week 36 Schedule, Fixtures, Table & Stream: Real Madrid & Barcelona Look to Avenge Losses Against Valencia and Real Sociedad
Week 36 of the Spanish Premier League season is here, and we have 10 must-watch games for you.
The action kicks off Friday afternoon between Eibar and Espanyol at 2:45 p.m. EST. By far the two best clubs this season have been Barcelona and Real Madrid. Either Barcelona or Real Madrid have been in first place every week of the season except one, and that was Week 5.
This is a very interesting week in La Liga, because both Barcelona and Real Madrid are facing teams they previously lost to earlier in the year.
Barcelona is currently in first place with a 28-3-4 record, giving them 87 points. They've been in sole possession of first place since Week 26. Only, this week won't be easy. Barcelona is taking on Real Sociedad, who they lost to in Week 17, 1-0.
Good news for Barcelona though: That loss was on the road whereas this game will be played at the Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi leads Barcelona with 40 goals this year and an amazing 18 assists. His partners in crime, Neymar and Luis Suarez, have a combined 37 goals and 19 assists this La Liga season. This dynamic South American trio is also just one game away from a Champions League finals appearance. While Messi is breaking defenders' ankles, Neymar is making incredible passes, and Suarez is on a hot streak. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has also been stopping the opposing team.
Bravo leads the league in minutes played, goals against average and clean sheets this season.
Just two points behind Barcelona in the standings is Real Madrid with 85 points. Real Madrid also enters this weekend with a vengeance. Cristiano Ronaldo and club lost to Valencia in Week 17, 2-1. Just three games remain for Real Madrid, so time is running out for a chance to be named Spanish League Champions once again.
Ronaldo has a league-leading 42 goals for Real Madrid this year, and he will need nine more in order to break Messi's 50 goal record. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale set up a good duo, and with Colombian superstar James Rodriguez back in action, Real Madrid isn't out of this just yet. Just like Barcelona, Real Madrid will be playing at home this weekend. Keeping the similar theme going, Real Madrid is also one of the four teams still competing in the Champions League along with Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
If Barcelona falls to Real Sociedad and Real Madrid wins, Real Madrid will automatically take over first place.
La Liga Week 36 Schedule
Friday
Espanyol beat Eibar, 2-0.
Saturday
Granada beat Córdoba, 2-0.
Barcelona beat Real Sociedad, 2-0.
Real Madrid tied Valencia, 2-2.
Athletic Bilbao tied Deportivo, 1-1.
Sunday
Levante vs. Atlético Madrid 6 a.m.
Villarreal vs. Elche: 11 a.m.
Almería vs. Málaga: 1 p.m.
Celta Vigo vs. Sevilla: 3 p.m.
Monday
Rayo Vallecano vs. Getafe: 2:45 p.m.
All times listed above are Eastern American. You can watch a live game stream here.
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