LALIGA Preview: Rival clashes and heated title race — 5 essential talking points

LALIGA EA Sports returns for matchday 12, with what promises to be another round of excitement after last weekend’s enthralling El Clasico. 

Here is a look at the five (5) biggest talking points heading into this weekend’s round of matches, key focus on rival clashes and an intense title race. 

The LALIGA title race is heating up, with Real Madrid and surprise package, Girona FC, coming off crucial victories and tied at 28 points.

Real Madrid’s electrifying win against bitter rivals Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season, where Jude Bellingham shone like the star he is with a stunning brace, has added an extra layer of excitement to the race. 

Atletico Madrid are also in it after an excellent run, with the capital side just three points behind the top two, while defending champions, Barcelona, are a point behind.

Xavi Hernandez and his Barcelona team are looking to move on from the defeat in the El Clasico when they take on Sadid Umar's Real Sociedad.

Barcelona are the visitor at San Sebastian on Saturday and will be under pressure to avoid a second successive defeat in a bid to keep their title aspirations alive.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid remain one of the most in-form teams at the moment in Europe. Atletico are unbeaten in their last nine matches across competitions.

They will be looking to maintain that run when they face UD Las Palmas in the first match of the matchday slated for Friday night.

After winning six in a row in LALIGA, Simeone and his men have a chance to catch up with the leaders if they can make it seven in seven.

It’s been a fairytale start to the season so far for the surprise package, Girona. 

The joint-leaders are off to a remarkable start to the season after winning nine of their first 11 matches this season.

Girona are also joint-top scorers with 25 goals but face a challenging away match against CA Osasuna on matchday 12.

After the remarkable win against Barcelona in the Clasico, Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos are back to the Bernabeu. 

This particular fixture comes with a special significance for Fran Garcia, who faces his former club.

Last November, Rayo Vallecano defeated Real Madrid 3-2, adding extra intrigue to this encounter.