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Before Real Madrid and Barcelona play each other in a match that
could decide the title, the Spanish league leaders must face other
opposition this weekend.
Both clubs have 74 points, with Madrid leading on goal
difference. There are nine games to play, but the big match between
the rivals will be next weekend.
Madrid will play at Racing Santander while defending champion
Barcelona hosts Athletic Bilbao, which hasn't beaten the Catalan
team in nearly four years.
Madrid has won 11 straight games while Barcelona is coming
off a disappointing Champions League draw against Arsenal, which
the European champions dominated before the 2-2 result.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he couldn't remember his
team playing a better first half since he took the job.
"The result wasn't anything to worry about," Guardiola said.
"We just have to make sure we maintain that tone."
Before Tuesday's return leg at the Camp Nou, Barcelona will
warm up with a match against Athletic, a team that has lost to
Barcelona 10 straight times. During that run, Barcelona won the
Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup.
Athletic trails Barcelona by 29 points, but the all-Basque
team is only two points off a Champions League qualifying place.
"We're going to the Camp Nou playing well," said Athletic
striker Fernando Llorente, who has 21 goals in all competitions.
"We're an uncomfortable rival. We can cause problems if we show no
fear."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on an impressive scoring run, getting
both goals in London to take his total to five in his last four
games. Barcelona will hope Lionel Messi can get on the scoresheet
against Athletic after being kept quiet for the third straight
game.
Barcelona will be without injured midfielder Andres Iniesta
and defender Daniel Alves, whose yellow card last weekend meant a
suspension for Saturday's game. That makes the Brazilian available
for the "clasico" match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Madrid hasn't lost in 15 games played on its home ground, but
Sunday's match at El Sardinero stadium comes first.
Racing has lost five straight against Madrid, which doesn't
bode well as the 16th-place team fights to stay in the first
division with only six points separating it from the drop.
The match will pit Sergio Canales against Madrid for the
first time since the teenage forward signed with the Spanish giant,
who he will join at the end of the season.
"We can't commit any type of error," Racing striker Pedro
Munitis said. "We have to play very defensively and intensely and
not give anything away."
Madrid should welcome France internationals Karim Benzema and
Lassana Diarra back from injury, while Kaka's rehabilitation from a
groin injury stays geared to returning for the Barcelona game. Xabi
Alonso and Sergio Ramos are both suspended.
"We're playing for the league with each game and we all know
that," Madrid defender Raul Albiol said.
Sevilla coach Antonio Alvarez will go for his first win again
and is bidding to snap an eight-game winless run on Saturday
against 18th-place Tenerife. Sevilla is tied on points with
Athletic - two points behind Mallorca, which plays at Almeria on
Sunday.
Also, it's: Valencia vs. Osasuna; Zaragoza vs. Malaga;
Valladolid vs. Villarreal; Sporting Gijon vs. Xerez; Getafe vs.
Espanyol; and Atletico Madrid vs. Deportivo La Coruna.
