Spanish football fans will have to wait until Sunday for the three main courses of the weekend as the BBVA Primera Liga returns to action.

January 6 is a holiday in Spain and is traditionally the day that children in the country receive their presents from the "Three Kings". However, it is likely that the three "Kings" in the Primera Liga will be the same trio that ended the year capturing headlines: Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao.

Ronaldo will be first into action on Sunday when Real Madrid entertain an in-form Real Sociedad in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Madrid are without defenders, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Raul Albiol and Fabio Coentrao, while there is interest to see if Iker Casillas will return in goal after being surprisingly dropped for the defeat in Malaga.

Meanwhile Jose Mourinho will also be in the public eye after that decision and defeat and needs a win in order to maintain his diminishing credit with the Madrid fans.

Messi has all the credit in the world after scoring an incredible 91 goals in 2012. He will expect to kick off 2013 in style in the Barcelona derby at home to an improving Espanyol, but the best news for Barca is the likely presence of coach Tito Vilanova in the dugout less than three weeks after he underwent a cancer operation.

Vilanova directed Wednesday' s training session and his rapid return is the best possible way to start the New Year.

There is certain frustration among Atletico Madrid fans that their side is still mentioned after Real Madrid in the media and with Atletico eight points ahead of their neighbors in the league table, they have reason to feel aggrieved.

Falcao has been outstanding all season and will be optimistic of kicking off 2013 with a win against Mallorca, who are deep in trouble despite ending a run of 11 league matches without a victory away to Betis in the last game of 2012.

Mallorca are still in the battle against relegation and are in an institutional crisis following the resignation of club president, Jaume Cladera during the week.

The weekend kicks off of Friday night with Zaragoza, who ended 2012 with a surprise win in Bilbao, at home to Betis, who were shocked by Mallorca a fortnight ago.

Saturday sees Levante aim to continue with their impressive season against Athletic Club Bilbao, whose players insist they have recovered from the Zaragoza defeat and are looking to bounce back with a win.

That is followed by Granada - Valencia as Ernesto Valverde looks to continue with the Valencia revival before Domingos Paciencia makes his debut as Deportivo la Coruna coach as the side bottom of the table entertain high-flying Malaga. Deportivo sacked former coach Jose Luis Oltra last weekend in a slightly surprising move.

Saturday ends with Sevilla at home to second bottom Osasuna with Sevilla coach Michel Gonzalez still under pressure.

Sunday sees Valladolid travel to struggling Celta and after the top three are in action the round of matches ends on Monday as Rayo Vallecano entertain Getafe in a south Madrid derby.