LaLiga Matchday 14 Preview: Benitez takes Celta Vigo to Valencia; Barcelona must break Rayo Vallecano hoodoo

LALIGA EA SPORTS is back this weekend, following the November international break. During the pause, it's Girona FC who have stood tall at the top of the table, as the Catalan club currently have 34 points to the 32 of Real Madrid and the 30 of FC Barcelona.

Interestingly, Girona FC play in the final fixture of Matchday 14, on Monday night, so their title rivals will look to put the pressure on before the leaders are back in action.

The very first game of the matchday is an important one but at the opposite end of the table, as 15th-placed Deportivo Alavés host 19th-placed Granada CF. These are two of the teams who came up from LALIGA HYPERMOTION and they've had mixed starts to the new season, so will hope for victory in this direct duel, one which will see Samu Omorodion go up against his former club.

There are four matches on Saturday and three of them are taking place in Spain's capital, starting with Rayo Vallecano vs FC Barcelona. Xavi will take his squad to Vallecas aware of just how difficult a fixture this is, given that Barça haven't won any of their previous four meetings with Rayo Vallecano. In the past two seasons, Los Franjirrojos have won 1-0 and 2-1 at home against FC Barcelona and will hope to make it a third straight home victory against Los Blaugrana.

Next up is Valencia CF vs RC Celta and this will be a very special game for Rafa Benítez, who'll return to the stadium where he won two LALIGA EA SPORTS titles at the beginning of the century. In the opposite dugout, the current RC Celta boss will find one of his former players, Rubén Baraja, so all eyes will be on the sidelines at the start of this contest.

The action then returns to Madrid, specifically to Getafe CF's Coliseum for their duel with UD