Primera Liga matches, Sept 25-26
Valencia sent a stark warning to their rivals that they will mount a fierce defence of their title with a devastating 5-1 victory at Deportivo Coruna in midweek.
Valencia sent a stark warning to their rivals that they will mount a fierce defence of their title with a devastating 5-1 victory at Deportivo Coruna in midweek.
Claudio Ranieri's side went top of the table following their scintillating exhibition of attacking football at the Riazor and will be looking for a similar display when they host Racing Santander on Sunday (kickoff 1530 GMT).
Together with Barcelona, Valencia are the only remaining undefeated team in the Primera Liga and have shown almost no signs of weakness in their four matches to date.
Former Chelsea coach Ranieri had a tough act to follow when he stepped into the shoes of Rafa Benitez at the Mestalla in the close season, but the Italian has provided ample evidence that he is up to the task.
Forward Marco Di Vaio has been in outstanding early-season form, notching four goals in as many games and adding a new edge to the Valencia attack.
Argentine forward Pablo Aimar will miss out on Sunday's match after straining a thigh in last weekend's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad, but such is the team's strength in depth that Ranieri will have little problem replacing him.
Opponents Racing claimed their first win of the season with a gritty 1-0 victory away to Real Sociedad on Wednesday, but the Cantabrians are unlikely to stop their high-flying rivals.
Other matches being played in the Primera Liga this weekend (league positions in brackets, kickoffs 1530 GMT unless stated):
Saturday:
ATHLETIC BILBAO (18) v REAL MADRID (3) 1800
Real secured a narrow 1-0 home win over Osasuna in their first match in the post-Camacho era, but are still struggling for form and face a difficult away trip against the winless Basques in a stadium where they have not won for six seasons.
With Zinedine Zidane and Santiago Solari out injured new coach Mariano Garcia Remon will have to reshuffle his midfield, possibly using Raul or Guti on the left.
Forward Michael Owen is also struggling with a muscle strain, although defenders Michel Salgado and Walter Samuel are back from suspension.
ATLETICO MADRID (5) v VILLARREAL (16) 1600
Atletico suffered a double setback in midweek when they lost both their first game of the season with a 1-0 defeat at Levante and in-form playmaker Ariel Ibagaza who suffered a muscle injury that is likely to keep him out of action for at least two weeks.
Villarreal will have to make do without striker Sonny Anderson as they look to record their first win and may also lose playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme who has a rib injury.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA (15) v REAL BETIS (12) 2000
Deportivo coach Javier Irureta faces a difficult job in restoring the morale of his team following their humiliating 5-1 destruction by Valencia and another home defeat could have a devastating effect on the Galicians.
Betis notched their first win of the season with a fortunate 2-1 victory over Bilbao on Wednesday, but are a long way from their fluent best.
Sunday:
ESPANYOL (4) v MALAGA (7)
Espanyol remain in fourth place in the table despite slipping to their first defeat of the season at Getafe, but they will need to be on top form if they are to see off a Malaga side who have been rejuvenated by the arrival of new strike pairing Paulo Wanchope and Marcio Amoroso.
NUMANCIA (13) v ALBACETE (20)
Albacete dropped to the bottom of the table despite gaining their first point of the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Real Mallorca on Wednesday, but will see this game against newly promoted Numancia as a good chance to notch their first victory of the campaign.
OSASUNA (6) v GETAFE (17)
Spirits are high at Getafe after the modest Madrid side earned their first ever points in the top flight with a gritty 1-0 win over high-flying Espanyol, but they will need to be on top form if they are to repeat the trick against the well-organised Navarrans.
REAL MALLORCA (11) v BARCELONA (2) 1730
Barca turned in a stunning display to come from a goal down to see off Zaragoza 4-1 at the Nou Camp on Thursday with striker Samuel Eto'o claiming a classy double either side of the break.
The African Player of the Year will be out to make a similar impact when he returns to his old stamping ground at Son Moix.
Coach Frank Rijkaard will no longer be able afford to rotate his back four after fullbacks Silvinho and Gabri both suffered serious knee injuries during the game so the in-form Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Juliano Belletti will start.
REAL ZARAGOZA (10) v LEVANTE (9)
Zaragoza suffered their first defeat of the season against an unstoppable Barcelona and now face a potentially tricky home match against Bernd Schuster's Levante who have made a promising start to their first campaign in the top flight in 39 years.
SEVILLA (8) v REAL SOCIEDAD (19) (1930)
Sevilla missed the presence of striker Julio Baptista when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Villarreal in midweek, but the Brazilian should return to lead the attack against an out-of-sorts Sociedad who are still seeking their first win of the season.