Real could find themselves eight points adrift of the Catalan side - albeit with two games in hand - when they kick off against their third-placed opponents in the late fixture on Saturday night.

Barcelona host Espanyol in a local derby and would be confident of claiming their seventh successive home league win.

Real will be hoping to take advantage of Valencia's average home form which has seen them win only twice and draw four times at the Mestalla.

Spain defender Raul Albiol will return to the club where he spent his entire career - apart from a loan spell at Getafe - before moving to the Bernabeu in the summer.

The 24-year-old is looking forward to returning although he knows victory is imperative if Real are not going to be left behind.

He told the club's official website: "It will be special for me because I will return to Mestalla and I'll return to my home town. It will be nice. I hope to enjoy it."

When asked if a draw would be a good result, Albiol continued: "It wouldn't because we are five points behind Barcelona given that they've played one more game.

"We have to try to win every match in order to take the title.

"We could have lost in Marseille, but we nevertheless played hard for the three points at stake."

Manuel Pellegrini's side beat Marseille 3-1 to confirm top spot in Group C of the Champions League while their last league outing saw them claim a 4-2 victory over Almeria.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be missing for Real as the Portugal forward is suspended following his sending-off against Almeria while Brazilian playmaker Kaka is also absent with a groin injury.

Valencia are without key midfielder David Silva.

The match gives the hosts the opportunity to close in on the top two and go level on points with Real.

Barcelona were relieved to have qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Dynamo Kiev.

Manager Pep Guardiola admitted it had been a tortuous time and the victory came at a price with Lionel Messi sustaining an ankle knock which has ruled him out against Espanyol.

The Catalan side are 14th in the league, just three points off relegation with just one away win so far ahead of the short trip to the Camp Nou.

The other match on Saturday sees fourth-bottom Real Zaragoza host Athletic Bilbao.

Sporting Gijon, in seventh, host fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday with both teams looking to make an impact on the European places while Deportivo La Coruna will look to take advantage of their opponents' poor home form when they visit Almeria.

Mallorca visit Osasuna, still looking for their first away win despite being sixth, while Getafe host Tenerife.

Atletico Madrid meet Villarreal and Racing Santander host bottom side Xerez in a real basement battle.