Two games matching teams at opposite ends of the table highlight this weekend’s La Liga action.

The first comes Saturday in the Madrid derby at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico de Madrid (18th place, 7 points) have improved in its first two games under Quique Sanchez Flores, as it was an unlucky 1-0 loser in Bilbao last weekend and drew 2-2 against Chelsea in the Champions League mid-week.

Defensive organization and the ability to hold leads (Kun Aguero had put Atletico ahead against Chelsea, only to have to bail his side out with a free kick after Didier Drogba scored twice in the 82nd and 88th minutes) remain a concern, but Atleti has looked better overall in the last week than it ever had under Abel Resino this season.

Even when he’s not playing, Cristiano Ronaldo dominates the headlines for Real Madrid (2nd place, 22 points). The latest news is that he’ll be out at least another month (and possibly three) with his ankle injury. As it stands, he will surely miss the Madrid derby and the Super Clasico in the Camp Nou in three weeks, not to mention Portugal’s World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia.

With that said, Manuel Pellegrini has righted the ship to some degree since the Copa del Rey disaster against Alcorcon. Madrid defeated Getafe at home last weekend with a brace from Gonzalo Higuain (who deserves to be starting regularly) and drew at the San Siro, 1-1 with AC Milan Tuesday in the Champions League. History is one Real’s side: they haven’t lost to Atletico since 1999.

On Sunday, third-place Sevilla (19 points) host 13th place Villarreal (9 points) at the Sanchez Pizjaun. The Andalucians are flying high these days, defeating Xerez 2-0 on the road last weekend and qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League with two matches to spare after drawing with Stuttgart, 1-1 Wednesday. Striker Frederic Kanoute could also return to the Sevilla lineup after missing the last two weeks of action with a calf injury.

After a horrendous start to the campaign (3 points in 7 games), Villarreal has appeared to turn it around. After home wins in the league over Malaga and Tenerife (not exactly the league’s heavyweights, mind you), the Yellow Submarine destroyed Lazio, 4-1 Thursday in Europa League action. Robert Pires is playing as well as ever, and Joseba Llorente and Giuseppe Rossi are leading a rejuvenated attack. Sevilla need a win to keep pace with Barcelona and Real, but will have its hands full in this one.

The full slate of games this weekend:

Saturday: Getafe-Deportive la Coruna, noon EST; Tenerife-Malaga, noon; Barcelona-Mallorca, 2 p.m.; Atletico-Real Madrid, 4 p.m.

Sunday: Almeria-Osasuna, 11 a.m.; Racing Santander-Athletic Bilbao, 11 a.m.; Sporting Gijon-Espanyol, 11 a.m.; Valladolid-Xerez, 11 a.m.; Valencia-Zaragoza, 1 p.m.; Sevilla-Villarreal, 3 p.m.

In other news…

For now, it appears the threat of a players strike in Spain has passed.

With a law going into effect at the turn of the year that would increase taxes on foreign workers making over 600,000 euros from 24 percent to 43 percent, there was talk in recent days that the LFP (professional football league) would go on strike.

Friday, Reuters reported that instead of a strike, the LFP will set up a commission and hold talks with the Spanish government. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reported to be part of the commission.

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano told Reuters the new law would hamper clubs’ ability to attract foreign talent.

“It’s clear that this would weaken our league compared to the English Premier League and we can’t resign ourselves to coming second,” Valdano said. “And you also can’t take action of this sort without consulting anyone in the football world…It’s an understanding political measure, but it seems very hasty.”

Jose Antonio Alonso, a spokesman for Spain’s Socialist government, told Reuters Wednesday the measure “is an exercise in tax justice, aimed at promoting tax equality at a time of serious economic crisis. Foreign footballers…have to pay their taxes just like everyone else.”

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