Soccer-Race for second place hots up in Spain

Valencia, Real Madrid and Osasuna are battling for runners-up spot and automatic Champions League qualification behind almost certain champions Barcelona.

With six games left and Barca enjoying an 11-point lead the result of the title race seems to be a foregone conclusion but the fight for second place promises to be a far closer affair.

Valencia are level on points with Real, only leading the nine-times European champions by virtue of a better record in head-to-head encounters, while this season's surprise package Osasuna are hot on their heels just a point back in fourth.

Valencia take on relegation-threatened King's Cup winners Espanyol at the Mestalla on Sunday, while Real Madrid travel to the south of the city to play their modest neighbours Getafe and Osasuna host basement side Malaga.

Valencia midfielder David Albelda sees Osasuna as the biggest threat as they bid to retain second place.

"Of the teams that are fighting for second position I think Osasuna are the more solid outfit," he says.

"They are more of a team, they have been working together for a number of years and they are very strong in their own stadium.

"Real Madrid have a great individual quality, of course, but that is all that is keeping them in the running."

Valencia will hope to build on recent victories over Celta Vigo and Cadiz when they meet Espanyol but have to cope without playmaker Pablo Aimar, who is in hospital with viral meningitis.

They will also be missing defenders Fabio Aurelio and Emiliano Moretti, which could mean that fullback Amedeo Carboni gets a game less than a week after his 41st birthday.

Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert and Spain winger Vicente are back in training after lengthy injury lay-offs but are unlikely to feature in the starting lineup.

Opponents Espanyol, just two points above the relegation zone, will have had little time to dwell on a memorable 4-1 victory over Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup final as they bid to ensure their top-flight status.

"The Cup victory will mean nothing if we don't stay up," says coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

Real Madrid dropped to third after stuttering to a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Real Sociedad last week and players, management and directors appear distracted by the rumours of likely personnel changes at the end of the season.

They will need a significant improvement to beat Getafe, who are in confident mood after a 2-1 win over Malaga pushed them up to ninth in the standings.

Real will have to manage without leading striker Ronaldo who is nursing a thigh injury but can count on David Beckham, who is back after recovering from a minor rib problem.

Osasuna will be looking to take advantage of any slip-ups by their rivals when they host relegation-bound Malaga, who have not won in their last 10 outings.