MADRID, April 20 (Xinhua) -- After a weekend pause for the Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, La Liga returns with a midweek round that, combined with next weekend's fixtures, brings seven consecutive days of top-flight action in Spain.

Tuesday's schedule features four matches with implications at both ends of the table, from the title race and European qualification to the battle against relegation.

Real Madrid returns to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since last week's Champions League exit to Bayern Munich. Madrid faces Deportivo Alaves nine points behind leader Barcelona with 21 points left to play for, and anything other than a win would all but end the club's slim title hopes.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa has almost a full squad available, with only Raul Asencio sidelined by a stomach problem. However, with little margin for error and an expectant home crowd, his side will need to show urgency and intent.

Alaves arrives one point and one place above the relegation zone and could drop into the bottom three if it fails to win and Elche beats Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. The Vitoria-based side is unbeaten in four matches since Quique Sanchez Flores took charge, including a 3-3 draw away to Real Sociedad, and forwards Toni Martinez and Lucas Boye pose a threat.

Earlier, Athletic Club will host Osasuna in a key match for the home side, which sits six points clear of the relegation zone. Club president Jon Uriarte returns to the directors' box after being re-elected unopposed for another four-year term, while Athletic looks to end a run of 15 league games without a clean sheet dating back to December 6 and to see Nico Williams return to form.

Mallorca faces Valencia in another meeting of sides near the bottom. Back-to-back wins have lifted Mallorca to 15th, two points above Elche, while Valencia is one point above its host after consecutive defeats. Mallorca will look to 21-goal striker Vedat Muriqi and winger Jan Virgili to provide attacking edge.

Girona hosts Real Betis in Tuesday's final match, with the home side aiming to secure the points needed to ease relegation concerns. Girona is without striker Vladislav Vanat for the rest of the season, while Abel Ruiz is also sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Betis arrives on a seven-match winless run in the league and after a shock Europa League exit to Sporting Braga, where it squandered a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at home. The result has put coach Manuel Pellegrini under scrutiny for the first time in nearly six years.

Barcelona hosts Celta Vigo on Wednesday, with three matches scheduled that day and another three on Thursday. ■