Real trying to re-write history in Nou Camp

All eyes will be on Nou Camp old boys Luis Figo and Ronaldo when Real Madrid go in search of their first Spanish league win away to Barcelona in 19 years on Saturday.

Real were rocked on the eve of the game by the withdrawal of Zinedine Zidane, who turned in virtuoso displays on his two appearances on Barca territory last season.

In the absence of the French midfielder, who is suffering from back pain, the question of how Figo and Ronaldo perform when they return to the ground where they both became heroes gains added importance.

The two former Barca favourites are certain to be given welcomes some way short of affectionate by fans fully aware that this match is one their side cannot afford to lose.

Barca are down in 10th place in the table, seven points behind leaders Real Sociedad, and a first league defeat at home to Real since October 1983 would be a huge blow to their morale.

Victory would be enough to take them above Real, though, with the club from the capital in a relatively healthy fifth place but only two points better off.

Both sides will be missing important players. While Real will be without Zidane and centre-back Fernando Hierro, the team captain, Barcelona will have to do without inspirational forward Luis Enrique and suspended full-back Fernando Navarro.

Juan Roman Riquelme has been passed fit for the home side, though, and coach Louis van Gaal could opt to play him alongside Patrick Kluivert and Javier Saviola in a three-man forward line.

"I've got a good feeling about the match," Kluivert told reporters this week. "We're going to have to be at our best to beat them but I'm optimistic."

The Real forward line will be led by Brazilian striker Ronaldo and fed by the right-sided Portuguese Figo, who will hope to find the sort of form that marked their time at Barcelona.

Figo played at the Nou Camp for five seasons, during which time he became one of the world's best players, before jumping ship straight to Real in a bitter $56 million move.

When he returned to Barcelona in a league match in 2000 he was subjected to a furious volley of abuse from the crowd, who could never forgive him for what they saw as a betrayal.

Ronaldo, who scored 34 league goals in his one season for Barcelona from 1996 to 1997, can also expect an ear-bashing on Saturday, although the fact that he played for Inter Milan for five years before moving to Real should ensure he is not greeted with quite so much venom.

Other games - Saturday:

SEVILLA vs. DEPORTIVO CORUNA

Sevilla's defeat at Villarreal last week set them sliding towards the drop zone. Their home form has been good, though, with two wins, two draws and one defeat from five games, and they will have hopes of getting something from this clash. Deportivo could have Juan Carlos Valeron back in the squad for the first time since he fractured a fibula in September. The Spanish international playmaker is still a way short of gaining full match fitness and is not expected to play but his presence should nevertheless be a boost to Javier Irureta's side.

RAYO VALLECANO vs. REAL SOCIEDAD

Real Sociedad took a point from Real Madrid in their last outing and the surprise league leaders will expect to do even better in their second visit to the capital in a week. Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci has a thigh injury but should be fit to lead the line for the Basque side.

Sunday:

ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. ESPANYOL

Bilbao's form has picked up recently and the Basques will feel highly confident of picking up a third successive home win against their struggling visitors. Espanyol coach Ramon Moya will recall Ivan Amaya to his defence in an attempt to halt a run of three successive defeats.

CELTA VIGO vs. OSASUNA

Celta will have both Peter Luccin and Eduardo Berizzo suspended after they picked up fifth yellow cards last weekend. Giovanella is set to replace Luccin in the key central midfield role. Osasuna will be looking to pull off a second shock win following their 1-0 success at home to Valencia last weekend.

MALAGA vs. ALAVES

After a great start to the season, Malaga have just one win from their last five league games and another setback here could leave them in the bottom half of the table by Sunday night. Alaves, who looked in excellent shape in a 3-0 win at home to Recreativo Huelva last week, will have midfielder Pablo suspended.

REAL MALLORCA vs. VILLARREAL

Mallorca have now racked up seven successive wins to climb to within a point of leaders Real Sociedad. Both teams will have a player suspended for this game, with Mallorca missing Colombian midfielder Harold Lozano and Villarreal without centre-back Sergio Ballesteros.

RECREATIVO HUELVA vs. RACING SANTANDER

Racing have taken just a point from their last four league games and Recreativo will look at this game as a chance to get their season going. The home side will be without first choice keeper Cesar, though, after he was sent off last week against Alaves.

VALENCIA vs. VALLADOLID

Valencia clearly missed Pablo Aimar when they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Osasuna last weekend and with the Argentine forward still out with a thigh injury Valladolid may fancy their chances of causing another upset.

ATLETICO MADRID vs. REAL BETIS

Atletico striker Jose Mari scored the only goal in Spain's victory over Bulgaria in midweek but returned with a neck strain and may not be fit to start against Betis. The Andalucian side are unbeaten away from home this season and will provide a stern test.