Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will square off in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday when the two sides meet at the Vicente Calderon.
The clubs are level atop the La Liga table on 49 points apiece with both sides dropping points just twice this term.
It is plausible that Barcelona and Atletico get through the remainder of the season with identical records, meaning that the two meetings between the sides would determine the winner of the title.
And with Barcelona keen to retain its throne atop Spanish football, Xavi sees Saturday's monumental clash as an opportunity to get a slight edge over its strongest rival.
"The game against Atletico is vital for the outcome of the league - it might not turn out to decide things, but a win would lay down a marker," said Barcelona's midfield maestro. "We are coming into the game with some good form. We will try and take charge and let's hope we see a good performance."
The Catalans will be fortunate to have Lionel Messi at their disposal. The Argentine has been absent for much of the season with a hamstring injury, but he returned to action on Wednesday to net two goals in the span of three minutes in Barcelona's Copa del Rey defeat of Getafe.
Atletico, though, has fared well against Barcelona this term, as the two sides finished their home-and-away series in the Spanish Super Cup final level at a goal apiece. The silverware went to Barcelona on away goals, but Atletico proved that it is capable of stifling the mighty Catalan machine.
Athletic Bilbao has enjoyed a banner season through 18 games, entering the weekend in fourth place on 33 points. The club's impressive run of form was halted by a loss to Real Sociedad last time out, but it will look to bounce back on Saturday when it welcomes Almeria to San Mames.
Sevilla, meanwhile, is one of Spain's most in-form teams, taking 16 points from its last six La Liga contests. The club will test its six-match unbeaten run against Elche on Saturday, but only after Celta Vigo hosts Valencia at the Estadio Balaidos.
Real Madrid returns to action on Sunday to take on an Espanyol side that suffered a loss to Osasuna upon its return from Spain's winter break, while Rayo Vallecano will look to snap a three-game league slide when it heads to Getafe.
Also on Sunday, last-place Real Betis welcomes Osasuna to the Benito Villamarin and Malaga heads to the Ciudad de Valencia to take on Levante.
Monday's lone fixture will see Villarreal host Real Sociedad at El Madrigal while Friday's only match saw Granada smash Valladolid in a 4-0 win at Los Carmenes.
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