Primera Liga matches, April 3-4

Valencia will be confident of keeping the pressure on league leaders Real Madrid by notching a fifth league win in a row when they entertain basement side Murcia at the Mestalla on Sunday (kickoff 1930 GMT).

Rafa Benitez's side have been in devastating form in recent games, crushing struggling Real Mallorca 5-1 two weeks ago and defeating Racing Santander 3-0 last time out to leave themselves just a point adrift of the champions with eight games left to play.

"We are in great shape at the moment and that's been shown by the fact that we are winning our games quite easily," midfielder Vicente said earlier this week. "If we keep playing like this we can go on to win the league."

The Spanish international has been one of his side's most influential players this season, weighing in with 10 goals and supplying many more with his pin-point crosses from the left wing.

Last week he made his side's first against Racing and then scored two himself to cap a brilliant individual performance.

But the 22-year-old is anxious to stress that it is the collective strength of his team that has enabled them to challenge Real for the title.

"In Valencia the team is the star," he said. "We don't depend on any one player and no matter who plays we remain a very well organised team once we get on to the pitch."

Against Racing they managed without the service of leading striker Mista and Argentine internationals Pablo Aimar and Roberto Ayala, but this time they should be able to field a full-strength side.

Murcia are eight points adrift of Celta Vigo at the bottom of the table and have little hope of avoiding the drop.

Other matches being played this weekend (standings in brackets; kickoff times 1530 GMT unless stated):

Saturday:

ALBACETE (15) v REAL MADRID (1) 1800

After taking just two points from their previous three games, Real roared back to form with a 5-1 victory at home to Sevilla last week. Centre-back Ivan Helguera is out with a groin strain and David Beckham is doubtful because of a bruised calf, but Zinedine Zidane looks to have recovered from a minor leg injury.

Real will do well not to underestimate their modest opponents, who were unlucky to go down 2-1 at the Bernabeu earlier this season.

BARCELONA (4) v VILLARREAL (9) 2000

Barcelona renew their late charge for the title and bid to extend their winning streak to 10 matches after last week's game at Betis was postponed because of a water-logged pitch.

Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert is back in training after recovering from a troublesome knee injury, but defender Carles Puyol is doubtful. With Barca old boys Sonny Anderson and Juan Roman Riquelme in the line-up Villarreal are capable of making life difficult for the Catalans.

SEVILLA (11) v ESPANYOL (18) 1600

One defeat in five has given Espanyol renewed hope of avoiding the drop and with striker Raul Tamudo back to his best, Luis Fernandez's side will be out to claim another win over an out-of-sorts Sevilla, who have now lost three in a row.

Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO (7) v CELTA VIGO (19)

Last week's 2-0 defeat at home to Zaragoza prompted Celta boss Radomir Antic to throw in the towel. The new coaching team of Ramon Carnero and Rafa Saez will need to engineer a rapid change in fortunes if they are to save the Galicians from the drop.

Bilbao will be without defenders Luis Prieto and Mari Lacruz after their red cards in last week's 2-0 defeat at Espanyol.

ATLETICO MADRID (5) v VALLADOLID (14) 1730

Atletico remain heavily reliant on the goal-scoring talents of striker Fernando Torres, but they have only lost one game at home all season and should edge this one against unpredictable Valladolid.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA (3) v REAL BETIS (10)

Deportivo cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to keep their slender title hopes alive, but they may find themselves distracted by the prospect of next week's Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan.

Betis coach Victor Fernandez is coming under heavy pressure after his side's failure to win in their last five outings.

OSASUNA (6) v MALAGA (8)

After a mid-season wobble Javier Aguirre's Osasuna appear to have recovered their form and have gone undefeated in their last six games, but Malaga, spearheaded by the free-scoring Salva Ballesta in attack have proved a hard nut to crack this season.

REAL MALLORCA (17) v REAL SOCIEDAD (16)

Just one win in nine games has left Luis Aragones's Mallorca teetering on the edge of the drop zone and they need to start clocking up the points at home if they are to avoid being dragged down. Sociedad are not clear of danger either and can be relied on to make life hard for the islanders.

REAL ZARAGOZA (12) v RACING SANTANDER (13)

Last week's 2-0 win at Celta went a long way to ending Zaragoza's relegation worries and they will be in confident mood as they host an entertaining, but inconsistent Racing.