Primera Liga matches, December 18-19
Last season's champions Valencia admit they face a daunting task as they seek to end the perfect home record of runaway leaders Barcelona when the two sides meet at the Nou Camp on Saturday (kickoff 2100 GMT).
Last season's champions Valencia admit they face a daunting task as they seek to end the perfect home record of runaway leaders Barcelona when the two sides meet at the Nou Camp on Saturday (kickoff 2100 GMT).
Barca enjoy a comfortable nine-point lead over fellow Catalans Espanyol in the standings and have swept all before them at their own stadium, scoring 19 goals and conceding just two in their seven home games so far this season.
Both sides go into the game on a four-match winning run, but Valencia striker Marco Di Vaio believes his side will have to be at their best if they are to inflict a first home defeat on the Catalans.
"Barca are the best team in Europe at the moment," he said on Thursday. "We will be up against a team of immense quality and one that is incredibly confident given the brilliant start they have made to the season.
"If we try to take them on head-to-head it would be suicidal, so we need to pressure them very hard and stop them playing their usual game."
Although they have not played the same sort of fluent, passing football that characterised their performances last season, Claudio Ranieri's side are beginning to show signs of improvement.
They are third in the league, a point behind Espanyol, and are starting to welcome back the string of key players who have been out injured for much of the season.
Winger Vicente has returned after two months out with an ankle problem and defensive linchpin Roberto Ayala is set to make his first appearance of the season after undergoing a knee operation.
Barca, however, remain blighted by injury problems with Mexican midfielder Rafael Marquez set to join Brazilian fullback Juliano Belletti and French winger Ludovic Giuly as the latest additions to the lengthy casualty list.
Other matches being played this weekend (league positions in brackets, kickoff times 1600 GMT unless stated):
Saturday:
LEVANTE (10) v ALBACETE (18) 1700
The bubble appears to have burst for Levante who have now gone five games without a win. Albacete may occupy a lower place in the standings but they were unlucky to lose to Barcelona last week and could cause problems.
RACING SANTANDER (15) v REAL MADRID (4) 1900
A must-win game for Real who need a major improvement in their away form if they are to re-ignite their chances of challenging Barca for the title.
Mariano Garcia Remon's side have won just two of their seven matches on the road this season, but will be encouraged by the fact that Racing have now gone five games without notching a victory and have a poor record at El Sardinero this term.
Sunday:
ATLETICO MADRID (7) v DEPORTIVO CORUNA (8) 2000
Atletico will face a severe threat to their unbeaten home record when they host Deportivo at the Calderon. Although they have made a disappointing start to the season the Galicians have scored plenty of points on their travels and should have a full-strength squad to choose from.
NUMANCIA (20) v ESPANYOL (2)
Espanyol continued their excellent start to the season with an authoritative 2-1 win over Mallorca last week and will be favourites to win against basement side Numancia.
The Sorians have, however, garnered all their points at home this term and will provide stiff resistance in defence.
REAL MALLORCA (19) v OSASUNA (9)
Mallorca have won just one game at home this season but will need to start totting up the points if they are to avoid losing ground against the other teams fighting for survival in the top flight. A combative Osasuna promise to make tough opponents for the islanders.
REAL SOCIEDAD (14) v GETAFE (17)
Sociedad appear to have recovered their form after a nervous start to the season.
They fought back to draw 1-1 against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu when the match was abandoned because of a bomb scare last weekend and should have the edge against Getafe who are on a four-match winless streak and have not won away from home this season.
REAL ZARAGOZA (11) v ATHLETIC BILBAO (13)
Bilbao may not have won away in the league this season but their 7-1 destruction of Standard Liege in the UEFA Cup will have given them a massive boost against Zaragoza, who also qualified for the last 32 of the competition after a 1-1 draw away to Bruges.
SEVILLA (5) v REAL BETIS (6) 1800
An explosive derby in prospect between the two Seville teams which will feature a keenly awaited duel between Brazilian strikers Ricardo Oliveira and Julio Baptista.
Former Valencia player Oliveira has grabbed nine goals for Betis, who have lost just one of their last 12 games, while Baptista has scored seven for Sevilla.
As well as bragging rights over their neighbours, a victory for either side will give them a valuable boost in their bid for a European place.
VILLARREAL (12) v MALAGA (16)
Villarreal followed up their first win in five league games with a crushing 4-0 victory over Egaleo in the UEFA Cup and with playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme in fine form they should be able to cope with an out-of-sorts Malaga who have won just one of their last nine.