Two teams at opposite ends of the La Liga table will lock horns for a huge match on Saturday evening, with relegation-threatened Valencia welcoming title-challenging Atletico Madrid to Mestalla.

preview

Valencia are facing a first relegation from Spain's top flight since 1986, and there is no question that it would be one of the biggest shocks in La Liga history if the six-time Spanish champions dropped into the second tier.

Los Che have a record of five wins, eight draws and 11 defeats from their 24 league matches this season to collect 23 points, which has left them in 18th spot in the table, level on points with 17th-placed Las Palmas.

Carlos Corberan's side are actually unbeaten in their last three league matches, picking up seven points in the process, beating Celta Vigo and Leganes at home before drawing 1-1 away to Villarreal last time out.

Valencia have just one defeat from their last six, meanwhile, so there are encouraging signs in their battle against the drop, and they recorded a 3-0 victory over Atletico in the corresponding game between the two sides last term.

Atletico have since beaten Valencia twice, though, including a 3-0 success in the reverse game at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this season, and Diego Simeone's side will be determined to return to winning ways on Saturday.

Atletico picked up a strong point away to Real Madrid in the Madrid derby on February 8, but they certainly dropped two points against Celta Vigo last time out, being held to a 1-1 draw at Wanda Metropolitano.

The Red and Whites actually had Pablo Barrios sent off in just the seventh minute of that contest before Iago Aspas sent Celta ahead from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, but Alexander Sorloth came off the bench to level nine minutes from time.

Atletico have a record of 14 wins, eight draws and two defeats from their 24 league matches this season, with 50 points leaving them third in the table, one point behind both second-placed Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona.

Simeone's side are in action before the top two this weekend, so they will have the chance to move to the summit on Saturday evening, before Barcelona take on Las Palmas, while Real Madrid will be in action on Sunday against Girona.

Atletico have only won five of their 11 away league matches this season, and that record will need to improve if they are to finish at the top of the pile this season; Valencia, on the other hand, have picked up 18 points from their 12 games on home soil.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gaya; D Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Pepelu, Almeida; Duro

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez