The highlight match of the weekend takes place at the Mestalla on Saturday as third-placed Valencia play host to second-placed Real Madrid.
Valencia are red-hot as of late, going nine league matches without defeat. They came from behind last week to defeat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at San Mamés, and they were 3-0 victors in this fixture a season ago.
Madrid won their Champions League group on Tuesday with a win over Marseille, and they defeated Almería 4-2 a week ago to keep pace with Barcelona in La Liga.
Valencia manager Unai Emery will be without striker David Silva for the second match in a row as he recovers from injury. The remainder of the squad should be available for the home side at kickoff time.
Madrid are most notably without Cristiano Ronaldo, who serves a one-game ban after being sent off against Almería. Kaká is also out for the rest of 2009 with a groin problem. Marcelo is also a doubt after suffering a training injury on Thursday. Guti, Metzelder and van Nistelrooy remain out with injury.
The injuries on the side of Madrid could well be the equalizer between these two squads on Saturday. Expect a good performance and result from Valencia.
REVIEW:
Despite playing without Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká, Real Madrid still came out winners as Ezequiel Garay's goal with seven minutes to play gave them a 3-2 win at Valencia on Saturday.
At the end of a thrilling first half, Real Madrid hit the post through Sergio Ramos and lost Pepe due to injury, forcing Garay in from the bench.
The second half began with Gonzalo Higuaín giving the visitors the lead in the 54th minute when he headed home a cross by Karim Benzema at the near post, but David Villa struck just six minutes later to equalize for Valencia with a header of his own past Iker Casillas.
Higuaín one-upped Villa in the 65th minute when he snatched the lead again for Madrid, the Argentinian taking a headed ball from Marcelo and slotting past César Sánchez to make it 2-1.
Valencia, though, fought back hard and pulled level with 10 minutes to play as Joaquín blasted a shot past Casillas from inside the area, seemingly giving Valencia a share of the points.
But the substitute Garay broke hearts at the Mestalla just three minutes later when he headed home a free kick by Xabi Alonso from the center of the penalty area.