It's a strong Barcelona side on show tonight...

Welcome back to the second part of today's European football double bill.

Barca, with one game in hand on the others after their exploits in Japan two weeks ago, started the day top of the table level on points with Atletico Madrid. 

Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad put Rafael Benitez's side on top but in the last few minutes Atletico Madrid have beaten Rayo Vallecano to go two points clear.

Can Barca beat Real Betis to return to the top?

Image source, EPA

They are back on Spanish soil having been crowned Fifa Club World Cup champions - their fifth silverware of the calendar year. Can Barcelona finish a remarkable 2015 on top of La Liga?

We're taking a little siesta. We'll be back at 19:00 GMT to build-up to Barcelona's game with Real Betis and we'll have news of how Atletico Madrid got on at Rayo Vallecano. Catch you later.

Image source, Getty Images

It wasn't pretty. In fact it was pretty ugly at times but Real Madrid have the points and are the new leaders of La Liga. Atletico Madrid kick-off at Rayo Vallecano at 17:15 GMT while Barcelona host Real Betis at 19:30 GMT. Both Atletico and Barca can go top with wins.

Rafael Benitez has been on the receiving end of most of the whistles but the referee gets it in the neck this time after failing to award a free-kick for what looked a nailed-on Real Madrid free-kick.

Three minutes of additional time.

Real Madrid are going one point clear at the top of the table. It might only be for a couple of hours - Atletico Madrid and Barcelona can replace them later with wins - but at one stage it looked like they were going to drop more points.

The points are going to the home side. A delicious pin-point cross by Gareth Bale to substitute Lucas Vazquez who buries the ball with only the keeper to beat. Terrific stuff by Bale.

Sociedad are playing keep-ball as they press inside the Madrid half. The hosts seem content to sit back. It's not going down well with the fans.

Sociedad have not given up hope of snatching a late equaliser. A fine move ends with Yuri Berchiche flashing a low effort just wide of the post. Anyone fancy a late twist?

Ten minutes of normal time remaining. Sociedad have lost the spark they had after equalising and it is the hosts who look more likely to score again. There's still a strange atmosphere in the ground. This has not been convincing by Real Madrid - and the home fans are not entirely happy.

Another Real Madrid change but this time the whistles are muted as Karim Benzema is replaced by Lucas Vazquez. Benitez has his eye on Sunday's away game to Gary Neville's Valencia.

Reports from Spain that midfielder Sergio Canales who went down without anyone near him in the first half has torn knee ligaments. That's a huge blow to Sociedad. Will we see him again this season?