MADRID, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- La Liga draws 2025 to a close with the 17th round of matches in the season this weekend. Here are four things to look out for.

1. AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL TEAMS

The African Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco on December 21 and runs until January 18, meaning several sides will be without key players for almost a month, starting this weekend.

Fifteen players from La Liga, including Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, will miss this weekend's games, with Betis the most affected team as Ez Abde, Sofyan Amrabat and Cedric Bakambu all fly off.

Villarreal is without Pape Gueye and Ilias Akhomach, with Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke swapping Sevilla duty for Nigeria. Randy Nteka and Pathe Ciss will leave Rayo Vallecano short-staffed, although Ciss will be able to play Rayo's visit to Elche after his club reached agreement with Senegal allowing him to play.

2. NO LET-UP FOR ALONSO

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso seems to be in a dangerous position, with his job seemingly dependent on his side's next result.

If Alonso gained some credit after last weekend's win away to Deportivo Alaves, that credit was lost with another poor display as Kylian Mbappe carried Real Madrid almost single-handedly into the fourth round of the Copa del Rey after a tepid performance away to third tier Talavera.

Real Madrid ends 2025 with a home game against a Sevilla side that is missing key players and Alonso not only needs a win, but a convincing one. The demanding supporters in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium are unlikely to settle for less, and club president Florentino Perez will be closely watching their reaction as he considers his next move.

3. VILLARREAL TO PLAY BARCELONA AT HOME

If La Liga had got its way, Villarreal and FC Barcelona would be jetting off to Miami now to play their week 17 match at the Hard Rock Stadium. However, opposition from the players' union means the game will be played in Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica in front of stands filled with Villarreal supporters.

Although Villarreal has probably taken a financial hit by the change of plan, with Marcelino Garcia Toral's side third in the table and in the title hunt, it's clearly much better for them to be playing in front of home support than in a ground where 95 percent of the fans would likely have backed Barcelona.

Whether that will be enough to take three points remains to be seen, but players such as Ayoze Perez have got the speed to cause problems for Barcelona's high defensive line.

4. TOUGH DEBUT FOR ALMADA

Guillermo Almada was named as Oviedo's third coach of the season during the week and makes his debut at home to Celta Vigo this weekend.

The appointment of the man who had led Valladolid to 10th place in the Segunda Division (second division) hasn't exactly excited Oviedo fans, although the experienced Uruguayan organized Valladolid well, only to be hampered by the lack of a goalscorer.

The problem is that Oviedo also lacks consistent finisher, with the team failing to score in seven of its last eight games. How Almada will change that against Celta Vigo remains to be seen. ■