Barcelona set to cause more headaches for Spanish rivals

Real Madrid's Owen (R) vies with Getafes goalkeepeer Sanchez Broto (L) in a Spanish League football match. Broto called in sick on the morning of last week's match against Albacete and few would blame him if he phones in again on Saturday with Barcelona.

Getafe goalkeeper Sanchez Broto called in sick on the morning of last week's match against Albacete and few would blame him if he phones in again with Barcelona the opponents later in the day.

Sanchez Broto will have the job of trying to stop the Spanish league leaders improving their scoring average of two goals a game, with African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o topping the first division scoring charts with 10 goals.

"Our thoughts are with Sanchez Broto," joked Getafe midfielder David Cubillo.

"But this is a game we can have some say in. We've got much to win and little to lose so we might as well have a go. The key to having some success against Barcelona will be to neutralise Xavi."

Xavi Hernandez is having a stunning season for Barca and the playmaker is many pundits' early choice for the Spanish player of the season.

Barcelona will travel to Madrid's southern suburb fired up to show that they can find the net regularly after they were thwarted by Celtic's defensive tactics in their 1-1 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Frank Rijkaard's team had a day away from it all together on Thursday but the Dutch coach will have told his players that they should not let up against the newly-promoted side.

To add to Getafe's difficulties, if facing the wizardry of the likes of Ronaldinho and Ludovic Giuly was not enough, they will be without their suspended midfielder Diego Rivas.

Barcelona top the Spanish first division with 29 points from 12 games and have a seven point advantage over their bitter rivals Real Madrid, who play host to Levante on Sunday.

Real are desperate to get back to winning ways after going down 3-0 to Barcelona in the Nou Camp last Saturday and then being held by 1-1 by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"The dressing room is down at the moment," admitted Real's Ivan Helguera.

"The result in Barcelona was a big blow to our morale but we've still got options of winning the league and we are still in the Champions League so I don't think we can talk of chaos."

Levante, coached by former Real Madrid player Bernd Schuster, knows that the 29-times Spanish champions are often at their most dangerous when they seem to be in decline.

"Almost every player on their side can turn the game around. They are capable of scoring two goals in five minutes. Winning in the Bernabeu is more difficult than almost anywhere else," warned Levante striker Jesule Barbadilla.

Real medical officials said on Thursday that Zinedine Zidane was doubtful for Sunday's match as the World Player of the Year was still suffering from back problems sustained against Bayer.

Ironically, Zidane's problems could ease those of Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon.

If Zidane is unfit then Garca Remon will not be confronted with the dilemma of whether he should drop the England captain David Beckham after three lacklustre outings for Real since he returned from injury after six weeks out with broken ribs.

Two other matches could have an effect on second place if Real Madrid do slip up.

Third-placed Sevilla are one point behind Real but face a tricky away trip to Osasuna, who have won four of their six games at home.

Espanyol are one place further back in fourth and can expect to have their hands full trying to contain Atletico Madrid.

Saturday (kick off GMT)

Athletic Bilbao v Racing Santander (1700)

Getafe v Barcelona (1900)

Espanyol v Atletico Madrid (2100)

Sunday

Real Betis v Villarreal (1600)

Deportivo La Coruna v Real Sociedad (1600)

Malaga v Albacete (1600)

Numancia v Real Zaragoza (1600)

Osasuna v Sevilla (1600)

Real Madrid v Levante (1800)

Valencia v Real Mallorca (2O00)