MADRID, Jan. 19 -- The second half of the Spanish Liga Santander season begins this weekend with Barcelona nine points clear but lots of questioned still to be answered in the 20th round of matches.

1. Can Betis test Barca's ability to bounce back?

Wednesday saw FC Barcelona fall to their first defeat in 30 games when they were beaten 1-0 away to local rivals, Espanyol in the King's Cup, meaning that Ernesto Valverde's side need to bounce back away to Betis.

Barca travel with a nine-point lead at the top of the table, but without the injured Ousmane Dembele, Paco Alcacer and Phillipe Coutinho, while Paulinho and Andres Iniesta are both doubtful.

Betis meanwhile are on a high after two consecutive wins and the confidence has returned to their attacking football under Quique Setien.

60,000 fans will be in the Benito Villamarin Stadium hoping to see Betis take the game to their rivals and Sunday will see a real test of Barca's character.

2. Real Madrid's crisis to continue?

Real Madrid took a big step towards the semi-finals of the King's Cup on Thursday, but it took several moments of luck and a moment of magic from Marco Asensio to give them a 1-0 win away to Leganes and the press are unanimous in stating the win was by no means a return to form for Zinedine Zidane's men.

Real Madrid now entertain third from bottom Deportivo la Coruna on Sunday afternoon with the aim of ending a run of two consecutive home defeats. Zidane will welcome Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema back into his side, but the fact is he not only needs a win, he needs his side to convince in order to lift the pressure.

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