Primera Liga matches, September 27-28
Real Madrid will get their toughest test of the season so far when they travel to Valencia on Saturday for a clash between the champions of the past two years.
Real Madrid will get their toughest test of the season so far when they travel to Valencia on Saturday for a clash between the champions of the past two years.
Real clinched last season's league title thanks in large part to a brilliant 2-1 victory away to Valencia, the 2002 champions, with four games left to play.
There will be nothing like as much at stake on Saturday but the meeting between the bitter rivals should provide a clue as to whether Real Madrid can be stopped this season.
Real have racked up 13 goals in four league games this season to move up to second place in the table with 10 points.
Valencia have scored only six goals but they have conceded just one and are behind Real in the table only on goal difference.
Valencia's Mestalla stadium has become a hostile place for Real to visit in recent seasons, particularly since their 3-0 victory over Valencia in the Champions League final three years ago.
"A clash between Real and Valencia is as big as it gets in terms of rivalry," Real centre-back Francisco Pavon said this week.
"We'll expect them to give it everything out there. We're used to hostile atmospheres ... (but) it's going to be difficult."
Real will be without Raul and Ivan Helguera but Zinedine Zidane should be fit to take on the Ches.
Valencia's Argentine centre-back Fabian Ayala should play his first game of the season after agreeing a new contract with the club on Thursday.
Other matches being played in the Primera Liga this weekend:
Saturday:
ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. REAL SOCIEDAD
Sociedad have recaptured some of their form of last season with two victories in their last two games but this match with Basque rivals Bilbao will test their resources to the limit.
Bilbao have just four points from four games but they have played well at home.
Javi de Pedro has been left out of the Sociedad side for the past three games but the former Spanish international winger should return on Saturday.
CELTA VIGO vs. VALLADOLID
Celta have been in miserable league form so far, drawing three and losing one of their games.
They will be wary of the visit of unpredictable Valladolid, who followed up their shoddy 7-2 defeat by Real Madrid with an excellent 3-1 success at home to Espanyol.
OSASUNA vs. DEPORTIVO CORUNA
Deportivo will have their work cut out to maintain their 100 percent record with this trip to Osasuna, who had the better of a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp last weekend.
Depor coach Javier Irureta is likely to make changes to the team that beat Albacete 3-0 last week. Aldo Duscher and Pedro Munitis could both come in to the midfield, with Sergio and Lionel Scaloni standing down.
Sunday:
ALBACETE vs. REAL MALLORCA
Albacete have yet to score a point since coming up from division two last season and they will have to post a huge improvement on last week's performance in a 3-0 defeat by Deportivo Coruna to get something from Mallorca.
The islanders' in-form strikeforce of Arnold Bruggink and Samuel Eto'o will be a real handful for Albacete's struggling defence.
ATLETICO MADRID vs. BARCELONA
Both these sides need the three points from this fixture after starting the season in disappointing form.
Atletico, who suffered a painful 3-0 defeat at home to Valencia in their last run-out, will hope to rediscover the sort of confident attacking play that took them to a 3-0 win over Barca the last time the two sides met at the Calderon.
Barca's new coach Frank Rijkaard has come under fire for his side's performance in a 1-1 UEFA Cup draw with Puchov of Slovakia this week and the Dutchman could make several changes for this match.
Xavi, Luis Enrique and Michael Reiziger are all candidates to drop out of the starting line-up.
ESPANYOL vs. MALAGA
Espanyol turned in a dreadful display against Valladolid last weekend but they will see the visit of Malaga as an opportunity to get their season back on track. Malaga have scored just once all season, in a 3-1 defeat at home to Real Madrid last weekend, and look set to struggle all term.
RACING SANTANDER vs. VILLARREAL
Villarreal have made a solid start to the season, with a win and three draws so far, but they will be feeling the effects of a tough UEFA Cup goalless draw with Trabzonspor of Turkey in midweek and this could be a good opportunity for Racing.
REAL ZARAGOZA vs. REAL BETIS
Betis have an injury doubt over Spanish international winger Joaquin but will still start as strong favourites for this trip. Zaragoza coach Paco Flores is promising changes after last weekend's 3-0 defeat by Real Sociedad, with the experienced Carlos Cuartero likely to be one of the players drafted in to strengthen the defence.
SEVILLA vs. MURCIA
Murcia have seven players missing through injury after a bruising 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao last weekend and coach Joaquin Peiro will have to call on several youngsters to make up the numbers for the trip to face full-strength Sevilla.