Primera Liga matches, January 17-18
Real Madrid will be eager to prove that reports of their decline have been greatly exaggerated when they travel to Real Betis on Sunday.
Real Madrid will be eager to prove that reports of their decline have been greatly exaggerated when they travel to Real Betis on Sunday.
By their own admission, Real's form has dipped since the turn of the year.
They managed a streaky 1-0 win at home to relegation candidates Real Murcia in their first game back from the winter break before losing the league leadership to Valencia with last week's 1-0 defeat by Real Sociedad.
Their King's Cup form has been little better and they needed some luck to beat second division Eibar in midweek for a quarter-finals place.
"It's true we're not at the level people expect from us," centre back Raul Bravo said. "It's not a critical situation, though."
"We've had a couple of bad games but we're still going in the Cup and we've done well in the league."
Real are a point behind Valencia and five points ahead of third-placed Deportivo Coruna.
Valencia could be four points clear by the time Real kick off on Sunday, though, and coach Carlos Queiroz, who is beginning to receive serious criticism from pundits and fans, could do with a convincing performance.
Spanish international Raul returns to the side after missing the Cup game, while David Beckham should be at least in the squad now that his ankle is on the mend.
Betis have been disappointing for much of the season but a 3-0 win at home to Malaga last weekend took them well clear of the relegation places.
Other matches being played this weekend:
Saturday:
BARCELONA vs. ATHLETIC BILBAO
Barcelona have suddenly found their form in front of goal, improving their league position with a 3-0 win over Real Zaragoza last week and then making it through to the quarter-finals of the King's Cup with a 3-1 success against Levante.
Dutch signing Edgar Davids could make his debut and Patrick Kluivert should be ready to return up front but Carles Puyol is out for a month with a broken cheekbone.
MURCIA vs. CELTA VIGO
Champions League hopefuls Celta Vigo climbed out of the relegation zone with a 4-2 victory away to Real Mallorca last weekend but could be back in trouble if they fail to win against the league's basement side.
VALLADOLID vs. VALENCIA
Valencia could move four points clear at the top of the table and really put the pressure on Real Madrid, who are not in action until Sunday.
The leaders warmed up for the game with a classy 2-0 win away to Osasuna in the Cup, while Valladolid went out to second division Alaves in the one upset of the third round.
Sunday:
ATLETICO MADRID vs. SEVILLA
Atletico have moved into the fourth Champions League qualification slot thanks to a five-match unbeaten run. Sevilla have been less consistent but in Julio Cesar Baptista and Jose Antonio Reyes they have two of the league's outstanding forward players.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA vs. REAL ZARAGOZA
Deportivo wasted a good chance to close the gap on Valencia and Real Madrid when they drew against Racing Santander last week. They suffered more disappointment with a Cup exit to Atletico on Thursday.
Diego Tristan came off the bench to score an excellent goal against Atletico and that should be enough to persuade coach Javier Irureta to restore him to the starting line-up.
OSASUNA vs. ALBACETE
Osasuna are barely clinging on to the European places and their form dropped off still further with a dismal 2-0 defeat at home to Valencia in the Cup this week. Albacete are without a win in their last three league games and sliding back towards relegation trouble.
REAL MALLORCA vs. RACING SANTANDER
Mallorca have lost their last four games in the league and could soon find themselves trying to avoid the relegation mire.
Racing have already lost one battle this week, with the Spanish Football Federation rejecting their appeal against a docked point for fielding an ineligible player in December.
REAL SOCIEDAD vs. ESPANYOL
Sociedad will hope that last week's victory over Real Madrid can revitalise their league season. The Basques will have to be be wary of their opponents though as Espanyol have won their last two games and are starting to look like they might avoid the drop.
VILLARREAL vs. MALAGA
Villarreal are becoming increasingly convincing candidates for a place in Europe, with former AC Milan striker Jose Mari finding some early year form to bolster an attack already featuring Juan Roman Riquelme and Sonny Anderson.
Malaga were beaten 3-0 by Real Betis last week, went out in the Cup in midweek and will be hit by the absence of Portuguese striker Edgar with a thigh injury.