Barcelona vs. Real takes highlight of Primera Liga

Barcelona vs. Real takes highlight of Primera Liga

MADRID, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona take on Real Madrid inthe Camp Nou stadium on Saturday night, which will grab the highlight of the Spanish Primera Liga.

Barcelona has a nine-point gap over their eternal rivals and a victory would almost knock Real Madrid out of the title race. Realtravels without Marcelo and Arjen Robben, who are suspended, whileMiguel Torres, Pepe, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Wes Sneijder and Mahamadou Diarra are missing through injury.

It is Juande Ramos' first league game as Real Madrid coach. Hisside has recovered morale thanks to a 3-0 win over Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League on Wednesday, although Barcelona is favorite to take the points in font of their home fans.

Saturday also sees third placed Valencia entertain Espanyol, with the home side again favorite against a team that needs pointsto escape the relegation zone.

Second placed Villarreal visits fourth in the table Sevilla in Sunday's most attractive game. Villarreal rested players in the Champions League and although Joseba Llorente is still missing with a muscle strain, Nihat Kavechi is back after a torn hamstring.

Atletico Madrid fans will be hoping that Real Madrid lose in the Nou Camp because their team can climb above their neighbors should they beat Betis in the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico kicks off with both Diego Forlan and Kun Aguero in theside, but will have to be careful against a well-organized and hard working Betis, that has been one of the surprises of the season in Spain.

Deportivo La Coruna and Valladolid meanwhile both look to confirm their positive starts to the campaign in Deportivo's Riazor Stadium.