La Liga Week 17 Schedule & Preview: Lionel Messi and Barcelona Look to Avenge Loss Against Real Sociedad

By Damon Salvadore Jan 02 2015, 12:30 PM EST

After a week off, the 2014-15 La Liga season is ready to resume play.

Week 17 kicks off Saturday, Jan. 3, with the defending champions Athletico Madrid taking on Levante. Atletico Madrid is currently in third place in the standings behind Real Madrid and Barcelona with an 11-2-3 record giving them 35 points.

Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann each have a team-leading six goals this season. Atletico Madrid has a tough task of winning back-to-back Spanish League titles, but manager Diego Simeone is up for the challenge.

Come Sunday, the two best teams and players will be showcasing their talents.

Barcelona will be playing Real Sociedad in a critical road game. Last season, Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad in Week 6, 4-1. In that game, Lionel Messi and Neymar each scored a goal. However, in Week 25, Real Sociedad returned the favor winning at home, 3-1. Even though Real Sociedad has won just three wins this season, they are a very dangerous squad.

Barcelona is currently in second place with 38 points. A loss this week would be devastating.

First place Real Madrid looks to stay on top this week against Valencia. Real Madrid has won their last 12 consecutive games giving them a league-high 13 wins and 39 points. Cristiano Ronaldo has been on a historic scoring pace this season with 25 goals, 10 more than any other player. At the scoring rate he is going on, Ronaldo will break Messi's 2011-12 50 goal record.

Valencia is presently the No. 4 team in La Liga with 31 points. Valencia doesn't have a very powerful offense, but Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves has been fantastic this season allowing just 10 goals in 15 starts.

A loss by Real Madrid and a victory by Barcelona would put Barcelona in first place in the standings.

Real Madrid has by far the best offense in the league, but Barcelona's defensive is No. 1. Barcelona has allowed just seven total goals in 16 games of play. Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has been nothing short of brilliant between the pipes for Barcelona this year. Barcelona has only allowed just two goals in their last four games.

This could be a great week for Messi and Barcelona. Facing a three-win team, and Real Madrid playing a nine-win team, could play out great for them in the standings. Barcelona has to make a move in the standings soon because they received some unfortunate news from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They will not be allowed to make any transfers until 2016.