La Liga

A total of 82 players in La Liga played in the World Cup, with FC Barcelona supplying 17, Real Madrid 13, Atletico Madrid 12, Sevilla 10 and Betis and ...

That could offer a chance to other teams, who didn't have so many players in the World Cup, to spring a surprise or two, and although Barca and Madrid probably have too big a lead in La Liga for a major shock in the title race, we could be in for a very interesting second half of the season. It's very much a leap into the unknown. 27 (Xinhua) -- La Liga will return to action after a six-week break due to the World Cup in Qatar, and the big question to be answered is how that break will affect the remainder of the season.

There were several interesting games and there are 17 top-tier sides still remaining in the competition. RCD Espanyol and RC Celta will meet in the next round.

Argentine midfielder Lucas Robertone has been one of the best and most consistent performers at UD Almería so far this season, after helping them achieve promotion into LaLiga Santander last campaign. As Real Betis prepare for the return of LaLiga Santander, when they’ll face Athletic Club, the Andalusian club held an open training session at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Sevilla FC academy in the past few years and made his first-team debut in the Andalusian club’s Copa del Rey trip to Torremolinos. Yet, Spanish clubs were already playing competitive football again because of the Copa del Rey. There were several impressive performances during the midweek Copa del Rey action, such as that of Sevilla FC’s Carlos Álvarez. At this stage, the other 15 LaLiga Santander clubs are all paired with lower league opposition.

The games kick off with Girona, one of just two sides in La Liga who had no players at the World Cup, entertaining Rayo Vallecano and looking to forget their ...

Elche are the other La Liga side with no World Cup players and sit rock bottom of the league with just four points and no wins this campaign. The other two matches played on New Year's Eve are both derbies, with third place Real Sociedad, who should have Mikel Merino available but remain without Carlos Fernandez, Mikel Oyarzabal and Umar Sadiq, at home to Osasuna. The games kick off with Girona, one of just two sides in La Liga who had no players at the World Cup, entertaining Rayo Vallecano and looking to forget their exit from the Copa del Rey against third-tier Cacereno last week.