La Liga preview: Real look for home comfort

A Real Madrid side beset by injuries and will be in need of home comfort in Sunday's clash with the league's bottom club Recreativo Huelva.

Real have now gone five games and more than two months without winning a match at the Bernabeu in either the Spanish first division or the Champions League.

This week's 2-2 draw against Lokomotiv Moscow left them bottom of their group in the second phase of the Champions League with just a point from two matches.

That perilous situation in Europe will be a worry for Vicente del Bosque until the competition reconvenes in February and the coach is already counting the cost in injury terms.

Centre-back and captain Fernando Hierro (ankle) and key French midfielder Claude Makelele (groin) are both out until the New Year, while Ronaldo is a major doubt for Sunday.

Even with missing personnel, Real ought to prove themselves a class apart against Recreativo, who are struggling to compete in their first season back in the top flight.

Real showed what they are capable of in last weekend's 5-1 stroll past Real Mallorca, when Ronaldo and Raul between them tore the islanders to shreds.

That result took the side up to sixth place in the league, still eight points behind Real Sociedad but with a game in hand, and another victory against Recreativo would keep the pressure on the leaders.

Anything less than a win would be almost unthinkable in the side's final competitive home game of their centenary season.

Other matches being played in the Spanish first division this weekend:

Saturday:

ALAVES vs. ATLETICO MADRID

Alaves have been rock solid in defence in recent home games and with Atletico playing a counter-attacking game this could be an extremely tight affair. The Basques will be hit by the absence of Argentine midfielder Hermes Desio, who is suspended after his sending-off in last week's 2-1 defeat away to Celta Vigo.

VILLARREAL vs. VALENCIA

After a poor start to the season, Villarreal are unbeaten in their last four games and may fancy their chances of causing an upset in this local derby, especially as Valencia will be without key midfielder Ruben Baraja and fullback Curro Torres, both suspended.

Sunday:

BARCELONA vs. SEVILLA

A 10th successive European victory in midweek, 3-1 at home to Newcastle United, has eased the tension at the Nou Camp but the team badly need to start winning league games if they are to stand a chance of challenging for the title.

Dutchman Michael Reiziger is out injured but Fernando Navarro will be back from suspension to replace him on the left side of defence. France's Philippe Christanval will probably cover for another Dutch international defender Frank de Boer if the latter fails to recover from his back injury in time.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA vs. MALAGA

Deportivo were outplayed by Manchester United in the Champions League in midweek but midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron came through his European comeback unscathed and coach Javier Irureta is likely to stick with him in the playmaker's role.

Malaga had a more successful trip to England as they overcame Leeds United to reach the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. They will be without the suspended defender Roberto Rojas.

OSASUNA vs. ESPANYOL

Osasuna have zoomed clear of the relegation zone with three wins and a draw in their last four games. Another victory here would spell real trouble for Espanyol, who have defenders Antonio Soldevilla and David Garcia suspended.

RACING SANTANDER vs. CELTA VIGO

Two consecutive league wins have taken Celta back into the top three but an exhausting, and ultimately unsuccessful, UEFA Cup clash with Celtic on Thursday will test their powers of recovery.

REAL BETIS vs. RAYO VALLECANO

Rayo, outstanding in last weekend's 1-0 win at home to Barcelona, will have to play just as well to get something from this trip to face title-chasing Betis.

Spanish international winger Joaquin is suspended for the home side, who will be looking to atone for their UEFA Cup exit on Thursday.

REAL SOCIEDAD vs. REAL MALLORCA

A Real Sociedad victory would leave the unbeaten Basques certain of seeing in the New Year as league leaders. Mallorca hopes of bouncing back from their 5-1 defeat by Real Madrid last weekend will be hit by a suspension to Uruguayan centre forward Walter Pandiani. Argentine defender Federico Lussenhoff could come in for his first start of the season, though, after recovering from a broken tibia.

VALLADOLID vs. ATHLETIC BILBAO

Valladolid have lost their last three league games and not managed a goal since their 3-1 victory away to Recreativo Huelva on November 10. Bilbao are also on a bad run after two successive defeats and will have to put behind them news of the positive drugs test given by their midfielder Carlos Gurpegi.