Saturday again decisive as Madrid, Barca warm up for the Classico
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BBVA Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid and bitter rivals FC Barcelona play their matchday 12 league fixtures this Saturday, although both have potentially tricky matches this weekend, both play under the shadow of "El Classico".
The game everyone is waiting for, when Barcelona entertains Madrid in the Camp Nou, will be played on November 29 and already dominates the football headlines in Spain.
However, both sides need to ensure they do not make the mistake of looking too far ahead and slipping up this Saturday.
Barcelona will expect all three points against an Almeria side that was beaten by a nine-man Athletic Club Bilbao last weekend, but coach Pep Guardiola may be tempted to rest key players ahead of next week's Champions League tie in Greece and El Classico.
Leo Messi may start on the bench after playing for Argentina against Brazil in Qatar.
Real Madrid are also favorites to maintain a 100 percent home record against Athletic Club. Athletic is tough to beat at home, but appears to lack confidence away and has only one triumph away from the San Mames Stadium.
Madrid are at full strength, while Athletic have three players suspended, with midfielder Carlos Gurpegui the most important absentee.
The Basques will also be unhappy at the naming of Undiano Mallenco as referee for the encounter - they have won just three out of 20 matches under Undiano's direction and have never won away when he has refereed one of their games.
Saturday kicks off with a derby in the Comunidad Valenciana as third placed Villarreal entertains Valencia. Villarreal may have lost in the Camp Nou last weekend, but impressed everyone with their football. Attacking duo, Rossi and Nilmar will pose the main threat to a Valencia defense without the injured Jeremy Mathieu.
Sunday sees Deportivo la Coruna aiming to continue their recovery against a Malaga that has found new life with the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini as coach.
Levante need to halt their slide down the table when Racing Santander visit the Ciudad de Valencia Stadium, while Espanyol will be optimistic of returning to the top four with a win over Hercules.
Espanyol has a 100 percent home record, while Hercules looks to be struggling after a positive start to the campaign.
Osasuna and Sporting Gijon are both in need of points from their clash in Pamplona, although Sporting will take heart from their performance against Real Madrid last week.
Sevilla look to build on last week's win in Zaragoza at home to a well-drilled Mallorca side. Alvaro Negredo has at last begun to find his scoring touch for Sevilla, who are also aiming for a top-four spot.
Meanwhile Real Sociedad have a home match against the always unpredictable Atletico Madrid, for whom Diego Forlan rediscovered his scoring touch a fortnight ago.
Finally Javier Aguirre returns to the Primera Liga when bottom of the table Zaragoza visits Getafe on Monday night. Aguirre was named as the replacement of Jose Aurelio Gay during the week and debuts away to a Getafe side that has looked increasingly fragile in recent matches.
A win for Zaragoza could put some pressure on Getafe coach Michel Gonzalez.
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