The eighth round of the EA Sports League kicks off with high stakes as several teams, including Real Sociedad and Valencia, face off at the Reale Arena at 18:30. Both clubs find themselves in a precarious position, tied on points and dangerously close to the relegation zone, making this match essential for their campaigns.

Saturday’s action begins at the Coliseum, where Getafe hosts Alavés at 14:00. After a recent defeat to FC Barcelona, Getafe struggles at the bottom of the table with only four points, desperately seeking their first win of the season. Borja Mayoral aims to make an impact, targeting his first start since recovering from injury.

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Alavés, on the other hand, enjoys a more favorable outlook, still in contention for European spots despite their recent loss at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Sociedad’s goal-scoring issues loom large, as they have netted just three times all season, going four matches without finding the back of the net. Valencia’s form has also suffered due to a challenging schedule that included encounters with teams like Barcelona and Atlético.

In the Madrid derby at 16:15, Rayo Vallecano hosts Leganés in contrasting situations. Rayo is riding a wave of momentum, remaining unbeaten in their last three matches, while Leganés struggles, having earned just one point from their last four games. With James Rodríguez possibly making his first start, Rayo aims to secure three points to bolster their European ambitions.

The day wraps up with the highly anticipated clash between Osasuna and Barcelona at 21:00, where Barcelona’s manager Flick has hinted at potential rotations within the squad.