The fifth round of matches in La Liga this weekend comes ahead of a set of midweek fixtures and after the first European games of the season, and will test the depth of recently completed squads.

Real Madrid looks to continue its 100 percent start to the season at home to an Espanyol side that has started well with three wins and a draw, but traditionally loses in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Kylian Mbappe (R) of Real Madrid vies with Leonardo Balerdi of Olympique Marseille during the first round match of UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid and Olympique Marseille in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 16, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Real Madrid will still be without Jude Bellingham, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is out with a hamstring injury and Dani Carvajal will start in his place, with Vinicius Jr also likely to return to the starting 11.

Real Betis and Real Sociedad begin the round of matches on Friday night in a clash between two sides that have started the season slowly. Betis has five points from four games, while Real Sociedad sits just above the bottom three with two consecutive defeats, although Mikel Oyarzabal is always reliable in attack.

Girona and Levante both picked up their first points last weekend, and both will look to build on that in Girona's Montilivi Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

New signing Vladislav Vanat and the return of winger Bryan Gil should give Girona more firepower in attack.

Villarreal's Champions League debut ended in a narrow defeat away to Tottenham on Tuesday, and Marcelino Garcia Toral will probably make some changes for his side's home game against a dependable Osasuna side.

Alaves entertains Sevilla fresh from a morale-boosting win away to Athletic Club last weekend, with Lucas Boye likely to lead the home side's attack against a rival whose fragile morale was exposed in last weekend's 2-2 draw at home to Elche.

Athletic needs to recover from a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal ahead of a trip to face a Valencia side looking to bounce back from last week's 6-0 thrashing to FC Barcelona, and which has Athletic keeper Julen Agirrezabala playing on loan.

Athletic is still without Nico Williams, while Benat Prados will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Rayo Vallecano hosts Celta Vigo in what should be an entertaining match on Sunday lunchtime, before Atletico Madrid visits Mallorca.

Atletico played much better last week at home to Villarreal and almost took a point from Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, but Diego Simeone needs his side to continue improving.

Elche has adapted well to life in the top flight, with Eder Sarabia's side using a possession-based game and with striker Rafa Mir hitting three goals in the opening four matches, including a stunning free kick against Sevilla.

FC Barcelona is back in the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium to play Getafe in the last match of the weekend on Sunday night, with little recovery time from Thursday's Champions League visit to Newcastle.

The big question Barca fans will be asking is if Lamine Yamal will have recovered from his injury problems to play a rival that is likely to sit deep and look to frustrate Hansi Flick's side.