Barcelona will be hoping to overcome its recent dip in form at Mallorca on Saturday to protect its five-point lead over Real Madrid in the Spanish league.
Barcelona, the two-time defending champions, began the month by setting a league record of 16 straight wins but have since stumbled in a 2-1 Champions League loss at Arsenal and were unconvincing in a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
Barcelona will be without midfielder Xavi Hernandez, defender Carles Puyol and goalkeeper Victor Valdes for the match at Iberostar Stadium.
But Lionel Messi, the FIFA World Player of the Year who leads the league with 25 goals, returned to training Thursday after a few days working alone in the gym. Jefferon Suarez also trained with the squad more than a month after being sidelined by a leg injury.
"Every game is dangerous, especially when Madrid is winning all of its games and doesn't look set to drop off," Barcelona striker David Villa said. "To be leaders and depend on ourselves is a privilege we need to hold on to."
Arsenal and Bilbao both played better after going down 1-0 in matches Barcelona largely controlled. Since coach Pep Guardiola took over in 2008, Barcelona has always struggled in February, having never won a Champions League game in that month and dropping points in the league.
Mallorca, 11th in the standings, has a single victory in its past six games.
Madrid plays at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday having won three straight league matches. The team also drew 1-1 at Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday. Karim Benzema scored and showed improved form that could lead to coach Jose Mourinho counting on him down the final stretch of the season.
"He's back," Zinedine Zidane said of Benzema. "He's in good form."
Madrid is without midfielder Sami Khedira due to a leg injury, while Deportivo is expected to play Mexico forward Andres Guardado for the first time since December.
Deportivo is 13th and three points above the drop places, and comes into the match after Daniel Aranzubia headed in a 95th-minute equalizer against Almeria on Sunday to become the first goalkeeper to score from open play in league history.
Third-place Valencia, 17 points behind Barcelona, plays Sunday at Athletic Bilbao, which has lost two straight matches.
Villarreal trails Valencia by two points and is winless in three ahead of Sunday's match at Racing Santander, which has won both games since Marcelino Garcia Toral took over as coach.
Atletico Madrid should have both Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Uruguay forward Diego Forlan available for Saturday's game against Sevilla, which was knocked out of the Europa League on Wednesday.
Both teams won titles last season but are chasing Europa League qualifying as they face double-digit deficits to Villarreal and the last automatic qualifying spot into the Champions League. Both arrive on the back of league wins, however Sevilla has won only 14 of its 71 visits to the Vicente Calderon - but two of those have come in the last five seasons.
Getafe celebrates its 65th anniversary Sunday at Hercules and looking to keep pace with the Europa League spots. Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez is a game-time decision for Hercules.
Espanyol, which has lost four straight ahead of Sunday's game against Real Sociedad, is sixth and in the last European place with 37 points, one back of Bilbao and three ahead of Sevilla.
"The only bill I have left which is outstanding (against Espanyol) is a victory," said Sociedad striker Raul Tamudo, who returns to Espanyol for the first time since leaving the club last offseason. The former Spain striker started his career with the Barcelona-based club 15 years ago.
In the other 25th round of games, it's: Sporting Gijon vs. Zaragoza, Levante vs. Osasuna and Malaga vs. Almeria.
