La Liga Week 2 Schedule, Fixtures & Stream: Barcelona, Real Madrid Face Must-Win Games

By Damon Salvadore First Posted: Aug 28, 2015 12:04 PM EDT

Another La Liga soccer weekend is here. There are 10 games scheduled to be played starting with Villarreal and Espanyol on Friday.

On Saturday the two best teams in the league (as well as players) will be in action. Real Madrid will be taking on Real Betis, while the defending champions Barcelona face Malaga. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are facing must-win games on Saturday.

Although we're only in Week 2, it almost feels like panic time for Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. Their Week 1 draw (0-0) against Sporting Gijón felt like a huge loss, especially considering the latter were in the secondary league last season. This weekend Real Madrid will once again be playing a squad that was in the secondary league last year, Real Betis. Rafael Benítez and his team will be at home against Real Betis, and they need all three points.

If Real Madrid can only walk out of Week 2 with one or two points, that would be a devastating blow. It's not going to get any easier from here.

Barcelona opened their title defense with a Week 1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, 1-0. Uruguayan great Luis Suárez was the only player to score in that game. Brazilian forward Neymar has been sidelined the last few weeks because of the mumps, but it appears as if he will make his return this weekend for Barcelona. The South American elite trio of Messi-Neymar-Suarez is back.

Barcelona will take on Málaga this week, and this won't be an easy game, despite the fact that it will be played at the Camp Nou. Last season Barcelona lost at home to Málaga, 1-0 in Week 24, and in Week 5 Barcelona drew a 0-0 tie with Málaga. In other words, Barcelona failed to score a single goal against Málaga in their two La Liga games last year. Barcelona has been listed as a two-goal favorite, but this won't be a walk in the park.

Another big game to keep an eye on will be Atlético Madrid against Sevilla on Sunday. Both teams placed in the top five of the final standings last season. Valencia, who placed a surprising fourth overall last season, will play a must-win game against Deportivo.

Unlike last week, there will be no games played on Monday. The final game of Week 2 will be between Getafe and Granada, both of whom lost last week.