Spain first division matches, March 22-23

Real Madrid face the first serious test of their ability to challenge for domestic as well as European success when Deportivo Coruna visit the Bernabeu on Sunday.

Real have revived their campaign for a 10th European Cup win in recent weeks. They took four points from two games against Borussia Dortmund and beat AC Milan and Lokomotiv Moscow to book a place in the quarter-finals where they will meet Manchester United.

Meanwhile, they have moved a point clear of Real Sociedad at the top of the Spanish standings by racking up four successive league victories.

Those four wins have come against Villarreal, Racing Santander, Alaves and Valladolid, all sides more concerned with avoiding relegation than challenging for the title.

That makes Sunday's clash with Deportivo their first confrontation with direct title rivals since they took over at the top of the table.

Depor, champions in 2000, are just three points behind Real in third place and after failing to make it out of a Champions League group that included Manchester United and Juventus they have no European campaign to distract them.

They should be boosted by the memory of their last visit to the Bernabeu, when they outplayed Real to win the King's Cup final on the night of their opponents' 100th birthday party.

"It's going to be a very important game for both of us," Real forward Guti said as his side prepared for the match.

"We'll be aiming to increase our lead over Deportivo, while they'll be trying to stay in contention for the one remaining title they can win."

"We had a very difficult match in Moscow this week, while they were able to field some players who don't usually feature in their match against Manchester United. We're at home, though, and that will compensate for any tiredness we feel."

Other matches in the Spanish first division this weekend:

Saturday:

RAYO VALLECANO vs. ATLETICO MADRID

Atletico will be desperate to make up for their 1-0 defeat at home to Celta Vigo last week by claiming a derby victory that would keep them on course for a place in Europe next term.

With four defeats in their last five games, Rayo are in danger of being left behind in the race to avoid relegation and coach Gustavo Benitez will hope to have Russian international Viktor Onopko back from injury to lead his defence.

Sunday:

BARCELONA vs. RACING SANTANDER

Three successive draws have left Barcelona as close to the relegation zone as they are to a UEFA Cup qualification place and nothing less than victory will do for Radomir Antic.

Thiago Motta starts a two-match suspension but Carles Puyol could return, complete with mask, for his first match since fracturing his cheekbone against inter Milan last month.

Racing have lost their last three league games, against title hopefuls Deportivo Coruna, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, and another defeat would leave them in danger of getting drawn back into the relegation scrap.

CELTA VIGO vs. ATHLETIC BILBAO

Both sides scored important victories last weekend, Celta beating Atletico Madrid to stay on course for Europe and Bilbao dragging themselves clear of trouble with success at home to reigning champions Valencia.

Celta have injury doubts over Vagner and Jesuli but both could be fit in time for Sunday's game.

MALAGA vs. REAL BETIS

Malaga will face a tough task to rouse themselves after Thursday's cruel defeat to Boavista in the UEFA Cup, when they found themselves just seven minutes away form the semi-finals only to go out on penalties.

Betis have not won in four league games could find themselves without European football next season unless they can quickly get their act back together.

REAL MALLORCA vs. VALLADOLID

Mallorca will have defender Federico Lussenhoff and midfielder Harold Lozano suspended as they bid to stay clear of the drop zone with victory over a Valladolid side unbeaten in their last three games but still some way from being certain of avoiding the drop.

REAL SOCIEDAD vs. VILLARREAL

Real Sociedad have managed to stay within a point of Real Madrid with victories over Alaves and Racing Santander and a third successive success could see them climb back to the top of the table, with Real facing a difficult home clash with Deportivo Coruna.

Sociedad quartet Bjorn Tore Kvarme, Javi de Pedro, Aitor Lopez Rekarte and Darko Kovacevic are all hoping to recover from minor injuries in time for this game.

RECREATIVO HUELVA vs. OSASUNA

Recreativo have two wins and two draws from their last four games but they remain adrift at the bottom of the table and they badly need to get another positive result against direct rivals to avoid the drop.

SEVILLA vs. ALAVES

Alaves put a nightmare run behind them to claim a goalless draw at home to Barcelona last weekend. Another tight game is likely against Sevilla, who possess the best defensive record in the league.

VALENCIA vs. ESPANYOL

Valencia's hopes of a successful title defence took a real hit with last week's defeat at Athletic Bilbao and another reverse here would leave them struggling to hold on to the fourth and final Champions League qualification place.

Santiago Canizares is likely to return in goal despite needing several stitches to a head injury sustained in the side's tense victory over Arsenal in midweek, a result that took them through to the quarter-finals of Europe's top competition.