Primera Liga matches, Nov 6-7

Despite their dazzling 2-1 win over AC Milan and the poor form of Deportivo Coruna, Spanish league leaders Barcelona are preparing for a tough match against the Galicians on Saturday (kickoff 1900 GMT).

"We can't afford to relax after the Milan game," captain Carles Puyol said this week. "Depor are going through a bad patch at the moment, but they are a quality side and they always play well when they come to the Nou Camp."

Barca played scintillating football in Tuesday's Champions League match against Milan, coming from a goal down to win thanks to a superb strike from Ronaldinho two minutes from time.

Although Dutch defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst believes Barca have the makings of a championship-winning side, he insists they have no room for error if they want to collect their first major trophy in five years.

"We are playing very well, but we have to keep it going the whole season, because if you don't get it right one week you could end up losing the league," he said.

Barca stretched their lead at the top to six points with a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao last weekend but will be keen to preserve that cushion with tough fixtures coming up.

Depor, in contrast, look to have waved goodbye to their chances of advancing in the Champions League following a surprise 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool.

Javier Irureta's side, lying 10th in the Primera Liga, have been struggling to score goals and have missed influential midfielder Mauro Silva.

The Galicians will be encouraged by the fact they have not lost away from home in the league and won 2-0 at the Nou Camp last season.

Other matches being played this weekend (league positions in brackets, kickoff times 1600 GMT unless stated):

Saturday:

ALBACETE (17) v REAL BETIS (13) 2100

Betis have recovered from a shaky start to put together a six-match unbeaten run, but will be without leading striker Ricardo Oliveira, who was sent off during last week's 1-0 draw against Malaga.

Albacete will be without keeper Raul Valbuena, who broke his hand during last Sunday's 0-0 draw at Deportivo.

Sunday:

ATLETICO MADRID (8) v REAL ZARAGOZA (4) 2000

Zaragoza turned in another entertaining performance to crush Sevilla 3-0 last week and will fancy their chances against Atletico who are likely to be without leading striker Fernando Torres (ribs) and playmaker Ariel Ibagaza (ankle).

GETAFE (18) v VALENCIA (6)

Valencia have gone eight games without a win in all competitions and will be desperate to end that run against modest Getafe.

Claudio Ranieri's side will, however, be without Argentine midfielder Pablo Aimar and would do well not to underestimate the Primera Liga newcomers, who outplayed Real Madrid despite losing 2-0 at the Bernabeu last week.

LEVANTE (5) v ATHLETIC BILBAO (16)

Athletic looked in excellent shape during last week's 1-1 draw at Barcelona, but provided further evidence of their inconsistency when they slumped to a 3-1 UEFA Cup defeat by Besiktas.

They need to show their better side against this season's surprise packages Levante, who inflicted a first home defeat on Osasuna last time out.

RACING SANTANDER (15) v NUMANCIA (20)

Four successive defeats have left promoted Numancia rooted to the foot of the standings. Their defence has shipped 16 goals in nine matches and they have found the net only four times.

Racing should be confident after two wins in a row.

REAL SOCIEDAD (14) v ESPANYOL (7)

Espanyol suffered a serious blow with news that leading striker Raul Tamudo will be out for up to six weeks with a thigh injury, leaving Barca player Dani to lead the attack.

The Basques appear to be on the up after two wins in a row and will be boosted by the return of supersub Oscar de Paula.

SEVILLA (2) v REAL MALLORCA (19)

High-flying Sevilla bounced back from a 3-0 defeat at Zaragoza with a 2-0 win over Alemannia Aachen in the UEFA Cup.

Joaquin Caparros's talented young side are likely to prove a handful for struggling Mallorca, but the islanders will have been boosted by the decision of former coach Hector Cuper to return to the club following the sacking of Benito Floro.

VILLARREAL (12) v OSASUNA (9)

Despite a string of injury and suspension problems in recent weeks, Villarreal have still managed to remain unbeaten for the last four games and have yet to lose at home.

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has been in good form and his duel with Osasuna front man Savo Milosevic should be an interesting one.

MALAGA (11) v REAL MADRID (3) 1800

Real rode their luck in a flattering 2-0 win over Getafe last week and were on the ropes for much of their 2-2 draw against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.

They will need to produce a considerably improved performance to beat the Andalucians, who will have the in-form Paulo Wanchope leading their attack.

Real centre-back Walter Samuel misses out with a knee injury, while David Beckham has yet to recover from cracked ribs.