Real aim for reversal of dismal start to Liga defence

The Spanish league spotlight focuses on Real Madrid on Saturday after their emphatic 4-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions' League.

After equalling their worst ever start to season by gaining just one point from their first three matches, the Spanish champions are out to prove that they can fire on all cylinders at home too.

Espanyol are their supposed victims, as Real bid to rise up the Primera Liga from unfamiliar territory in the relegation zone - a bid which Brazilian international defender Roberto Carlos fully backs.

"We showed (against Lokomotiv) that we know how to win without any problems," Carlos said on Thursday.

"The match against the Russians was important because we played well and recovered our morale. Now we have to play in the same way against Espanyol."

Despite the deluge of goals against Lokomotiv, Real coach Vincente Del Bosque will still be worried about the state of his strike force.

Spanish internationals Fernando Morientes and Jose Maria Gutierrez are both injured and Raul Gonzalez is still struggling with a hamstring niggle and faces a late fitness test.

Del Bosque, after the disastrous experiment of making five changes against Real Betis last Saturday which resulted in a 3-1 loss, may be tempted to stay with a winning formula, meaning the unusual pairing of Savio and Pedro Munitis up front with Raul, if fit, playing behind them.

The prospect looms of Del Bosque naming world record transfer signing Zinedine Zidane among the substitutes.

However, if Del Bosque is reluctant to leave 66-million-dollars worth of talent on the bench, the Frenchman could come in for his compatriot Claude Makelele or Brazilian midfielder Flavio Conceicao.

Espanyol, for their part, were showing little fear at the prospect of visiting the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday and they can look for comfort at last season's 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture.

"We can beat Real Madrid, whether they have Zidane or not. After all, Betis showed that it could be done," said Espanyol midfielder Enrique De Lucas, the man likely to be handed the task of keeping Zidane in check.

At the top Alaves, in second, welcome fourth-placed Deportivo La Coruna in a match which could decide who will take hold of the Liga's reins.

Alaves went top for the first time in their history last Saturday, albeit only for a day, but it was still a far cry from their fourth division status barely a decade ago.

For their part, Deportivo are expected to recall Roy Makaay and Lionel Scaloni in place of Spanish internationals Fran Gonzalez and Victor Sanchez, who were both injured in the Galician side's 2-2 draw with Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, Deportivo's confidence was badly dented by the dour draw with the Greeks, and losing at home last week against Athletic Bilbao after having only lost one home game all last season.

Celta Vigo though could retain pole position with a win against Real Mallorca on Sunday, and history is on their side. They have never lost to Mallorca in 11 league visits from the island club.

Valencia, who lie third, have a tough tie at Athletic Bilbao and will be hoping their players are fully recovered from the gruelling midweek trip to Russia where they won 1-0 against UEFA Cup opponents Chernomorets.

Fixtures

Saturday

Villarreal v Real Sociedad
Barcelona v Tenerife
Las Palmas v Malaga
Real Madrid v Espanyol
Alaves v Deportivo La Coruna

Sunday

Valladolid v Real Betis
Celta Vigo v Real Mallorca
Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano
Real Zaragoza v Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao v Valencia