Real Madrid's
Iker Casillas believes that if his side manage a victory against a revived Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday (1900 GMT) the alarm bells will start ringing at league leaders Barcelona.
"If we win in Valencia and Barcelona don't win in Pamplona then they are going to start panicking," the goalkeeper told sports daily Marca on Friday.
"We've got three away games coming up in the next four matches and if we win them our morale will be sky-high."
Real closed the gap on Barcelona to six points after beating Real Betis 3-1 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, while the Catalans were held to their second consecutive draw with a 0-0 stalemate against city rivals Espanyol.
Casillas, who is doubtful for the Valencia match after sustaining a groin strain against Betis, believes Real are in good shape despite suffering two defeats in their last three outings.
"It's true we didn't play well against Athletic (Bilbao) and Deportivo (Coruna), but we are still aiming to win both the league and the European Cup. Physically we are in good shape and everyone is up for it," he said.
Zinedine
Zidane will miss out because of a minor groin injury and although Raul is back in training after recovering from a bout of 'flu, the Real skipper is unlikely to play either.
Raul's absence should have handed
Michael Owen another chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the starting line-up, but he could miss the match as he is suffering from 'flu.
Opponents Valencia have undergone a remarkable transformation since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri last week.
Last season's champions grabbed their first win in seven games with a 2-1 win over Betis in
Antonio Lopez's first game at the helm and followed that up with a valuable 2-2 draw at Sevilla.
With a reinvigorated Pablo Aimar running the show in midfield and the steady hand of
Roberto Ayala at the back, Valencia will provide a stern test for Real.
Other matches being played this weekend (kickoff times 1600 GMT; league positions in brackets):
Saturday:
ATLETICO MADRID (8) v SEVILLA (4) 2100
Atletico continued their worrying tendency of surrendering an early lead when they lost 2-1 to Racing Santander last time out and will need to produce a much-improved performance if they are to defeat the high-flying Andalucians.
They will be without defensive rock Luis Perea and playmaker Ariel Ibagaza, while Sevilla will be missing in-form midfielders Adriano Correia and Daniel Alves.
OSASUNA (15) v BARCELONA (1) 1700
Barca have given rivals Real renewed hope after stuttering their way to consecutive draws against Numancia and Espanyol and they now face a potential banana-skin match at El Sadar.
The Navarrans are desperate to end their nine-match winless streak and are sure to create problems for the Catalans, who will be without injured French winger Ludovic Giuly.
Sunday:
ATHLETIC BILBAO (10) v ALBACETE (18) 1800
Athletic have gone off the boil since they beat Real in the league two weeks ago and they lost their first match in 11 when they went down 1-0 at Malaga on Wednesday.
Relegation-threatened Albacete will be certain to put up a determined fight at San Mames.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA (9) v MALAGA (11) 2000
Malaga have bounced back from a desperate run in form to take 19 of the last 24 points at stake and move up into a comfortable mid-table position.
Deportivo looked a mere shadow of the side that overwhelmed Real Madrid when they travelled to Getafe on Wednesday and will need to be at their best to defeat
Antonio Tapia's side.
ESPANYOL (6) v LEVANTE (14)
Espanyol gave an inspired defensive performance to earn a 0-0 draw against Barca at the Nou Camp but coach Miguel Angel Lotina will be hoping his side can notch up a win this time out.
Striker Raul Tamudo and playmaker Ivan de la Pena will both miss out, as will defender Daniel Jarque, who was sent off against in the Barca match.
NUMANCIA (20) v VILLARREAL (3)
Villarreal moved up into the Champions League places after their comeback win over Mallorca and will be strong favourites to continue their excellent run of form with a win over basement Numancia, even though the Sorians have not lost in three.
REAL BETIS (7) v GETAFE (16)
Betis were somewhat unfortunate to go down 3-1 to Real in midweek but will need to make more of their chances if they are to earn their first win in three outings.
Opponents Getafe were short-changed by their 1-1 draw at home to Deportivo in midweek. They remain the only team in the league not to have won a match away from home.
REAL MALLORCA (19) v REAL SOCIEDAD (12)
Three successive defeats for Mallorca has left them seven points adrift of salvation and nothing less than a victory will do for Hector Cuper's side. Sociedad striker Darko Kovacevic is an injury doubt.
REAL ZARAGOZA (13) v RACING SANTANDER (17)
An improving Racing eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 victory over Atletico, but goalscorers Mario Regueiro and
David Aganzo are suspended for this one against an inconsistent Zaragoza.