Injury-hit Barcelona tries to bounce back
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FC Barcelona will try to overcome the loss of key players and bounce back from last week's defeat to Atletico Madrid in Matchday 23 in Spain's Primera Liga.
Barcelona entertains Racing Santander without Dani Alves, Eric Abidal and key midfielders Seydou Keita and Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi's absence will be the most keenly felt as the Spain international has been in outstanding form this campaign. Barca coach Pep Guardiola will hope the return of Toure Yaya, Gerard Pique, Rafael Marquez and Dmitro Chygrynskiy will help compensate for the loss.
Racing had been in good form, but lost 3-0 at home to Malaga last weekend and loses key trio of Gustavo Colsa, Pedro Munitis and Tchite through suspension, provoking accusations that the trio forced their suspensions for a game Racing has already written off as a defeat.
Real Madrid entertains Villarreal on Sunday and although Manuel Pellegrini' s side was disappointing in its Champions League defeat to Lyon, they also know that Villarreal has never won in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Guti is doubtful for the home side with a muscle problem.
Saturday meanwhile sees Deportivo la Coruna entertain bottom of the table Xerez. Deportivo need a win to keep up its change for a place in Europe.
Mallorca also entertains Sevilla on Saturday in a key battle for fourth place in the table.
Mallorca has a perfect record at home with 11 straight wins, while Sevilla has been irregular, despite moving up to fourth last weekend.
A win for the visitors would move them five points ahead of Mallorca, whose coach Gregorio Manzano hinted this week he would leave the club at the end of the current campaign.
Sunday sees Valencia entertain seventh placed Getafe in what promises to be a contrast of styles. Valencia likes to play on the break, while Getafe plays neat possession football.
Meanwhile Atletico Madrid visits and in-form Almeria looking to maintain the morale boost it received after beating Barcelona last weekend.
The weekend also sees Athletic Club Bilbao entertain a Tenerife side that has not won away all season, Osasuna plays at home to relegation threatened Valladolid.
Malaga and Espanyol clash to measure their relative improvements in form in recent weeks while and in form Zaragoza takes on a Sporting Gijon team that has lost momentum in recent matches.
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