Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be without star players David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane as they travel to relegation-threatened Albacete. Not that they will need them, of course. Albacete have been in freefall since sacking coach Jose Gonzalez last month. They have lost seven of their last eight games, crashing to second bottom of the table. History is certainly on the side of Madrid, too - they have never lost to Albacete.
The Spanish giants also enjoy an enviable record in the Carlos Belmonte stadium where they are unbeaten in six visits, with four wins and two draws for their efforts. To make matters worse, Albacete left the Santiago Bernabeu stadium earlier this season on the wrong end of a 6-1 hammering. Nevertheless, Madrid's almost desperate need for points could increase the nerves in Wanderley Luxemburgo's side, who go into the game 11 points behind leaders Barca. "The league (title) is still possible for us," insisted Madrid defender Walter Samuel, the Argentinian international who was one of the club's big signings last summer when he joined from Roma. "My experience has shown me that you can start to get impatient to win the title and I hope that happens to Barcelona. "But we have to beat Barca, because that would help to motivate us and start to see them beginning to doubt themselves." England captain Beckham will miss the game with a muscle problem in his left leg, which also makes him a doubt for next weekend's crunch game with Barcelona, while Zidane is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during Madrid's 1-0 home win over Malaga a fortnight ago. Their absence is balanced by the return of Thomas Gravesen, who was suspended for that game. The combative Danish international will be partnered in midfield by either Guti or Santiago Solari. Brazilian internationals Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos did not arrive back in Madrid until Friday lunchtime following their World Cup qualifiers, but with Madrid delaying their training session until the afternoon, Luxemburgo still has two sessions to work with his somewhat fragmented squad. However, despite such disruptions, the game should present little problems for the capital city club who are in danger of going a second straight season without claiming a trophy. Albacete need no reminding that anything other than a win will almost certainly condemn them to the Second Division.
They have a meagre points haul of 24 points, seven less than fourth from bottom Osasuna who have a game in hand. Coach Martin Moneagudo has been unable to stop the slide and to make matters worse, he will be without key striker Ruben Castro and central defender Ruben Gonzalez, who has damaged his shoulder.