体坛英语资讯：Primera Liga clubs face hectic period of midweek matches

Spain's BBVA Primera Liga clubs continue a hectic period of football with a round of midweek matches.

Spain's matchday four kicks off on Tuesday with three games: Athletic Club Bilbao, buoyed by a fightback from 2-0 down to draw away to Sporting Gijon on Saturday night, entertain Mallorca.

Athletic fans will be looking for Fernando Llorente to keep up his run of scoring in his last four appearances.

Tuesday also sees a return to the derby match between Osasuna and Real Sociedad. Both sides lost at the weekend, but Real Sociedad can take comfort in a good performance that saw them unlucky to lose 2-1 against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid meanwhile entertains Espanyol. Espanyol traditionally fails to perform in the Santiago Bernabeu, where Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will hope his side can continue the improvement it has shown over the past week.

It will be interesting how the coach is received by the fans in the Bernabeu after expressing his desire to become temporary coach of Portugal at the weekend.

Wednesday sees four matches: FC Barcelona begins life without the injured Leo Messi with a game at home to Sporting Gijon.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola could hand another start to Javier Mascherano, while Bojan has a chance of replacing Messi in attack.

Zaragoza looks for its win of the season against Hercules, failure to defeat the recently promoted side could make Jose Aurelio Gay the first managerial casualty of the season. Hercules meanwhile travel without the injured Nelson Valdez.

Levante is another side that has struggled at the start of the season and the team from Valencia will hope to pick up its first points against an Almeria side that has managed only two draws and a defeat in its first three matches.

The side coached by Juanma Lillo plays nice football but looks to lack punch in attack.

Valencia entertains Atletico Madrid in the most interesting game of the week. Valencia is the only side that has won its first three matches, while Atletico suffered its first defeat of the season at home to Barcelona on Sunday.

David Navarro is suspended for Valencia, while Ujfalusi is sanctioned for the visitors as a result of his challenge on Leo Messi.

Matchday four ends on Thursday: Getafe will hope the supporters turn out in force for the visit of Malaga after only 2,000 fans were at the Alfonso Perez Coliseum for a Europa League match a week ago.

Villarreal will hope to continue an impressive start to the campaign against a rather dull Deportivo la Coruna side while finally Sevilla, buoyed by Sunday's win in Malaga but without the injured Jesus Navas, entertains Racing Santander.