MADRID, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Barcelona travel to take on Osasuna on Sunday (kickoff 1800 GMT) in the first of four games that will help decide if the club are heading back into the Champions League or sliding further towards mediocrity.
Barca have taken 10 points from their last four league games to move up to fifth, one place above Osasuna and two points behind Atletico Madrid in the fourth and final Champions League slot.
Frank Rijkaard's side have undoubtedly improved but the real test for the Dutch coach will come over the next month, with Sunday's trip to Osasuna followed by a home clash with Atletico Madrid and away games against Valencia and Deportivo Coruna.
"These four games will decide what sort of season we're going to have," midfielder Philip Cocu told reporters this week.
"We've got two games against direct rivals for the Champions League and then two trips to difficult places but our objective is to take all 12 points."
Barca should have Ronaldinho and Carles Puyol back from injury for the Osasuna game but Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and Gabri are all still unavailable.
Other Primera Liga matches this weekend (league positions in parentheses, kickoffs 1600 GMT unless stated):
Saturday:
REAL MADRID (1) v MALAGA (14) (2030)
Real are back in form after a shaky start to 2004 and Malaga's fragile defence should present them with few problems. Ronaldo should be back after missing the midweek Cup win over Sevilla through illness but Luis Figo and Ivan Helguera are doubtful with injuries.
VALENCIA (2) v ATLETICO MADRID (4) (1830)
Valencia rediscovered their scoring touch in last week's 6-1 win over Malaga and should be confident of gaining a first home win since January 4.
Atletico are clinging on to a Champions League place thanks to an eight-match unbeaten run but they will be hit on Saturday by the absence of leading forward Fernando Torres.
Sunday:
ALBACETE (16) v DEPORTIVO CORUNA (3)
Albacete will have to recover their morale after a 5-0 thrashing by Barcelona last weekend. Full-back Fernando Navarro, signed from Barca on loan, could make his debut against Deportivo, who are still just in the title race after an unconvincing 1-0 win at home to Sevilla last week.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (8) v MURCIA (20)
Bilbao have an injury worry over Spanish international winger Joseba Etxeberria, who has a problem with his left ankle. Murcia recorded their second league win of the season in last week's game at home to Real Zaragoza and they will hope to continue their improvement under John Toshack.
CELTA VIGO (17) v VILLARREAL (7)
New signing Sasa Ilic could make his debut in midfield as Celta look for a much-needed first win under new coach Radomir Antic. Villarreal have slipped out of the Champions League reckoning with two defeats in their last two games and Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme could be dropped in a shake-up by coach Benito Floro.
ESPANYOL (19) v VALLADOLID (12)
Espanyol's victory away to Villarreal last week will have revived the club's hopes of avoiding the drop and in new signing Claudiu Raducanu they appear to have unearthed a real talent up front. Valladolid will have to adjust to life without striker Ariza Makukula, who is out for the rest of the season with serious ligament damage.
RACING SANTANDER (11) v REAL BETIS (10)
Racing's solid home form will make them favourites but Betis have won three of their last four games to get back in the hunt for Europe and will be dangerous on the break with Denilson and Alfonso in top form.
REAL ZARAGOZA (18) v REAL SOCIEDAD (9) (2000)
Zaragoza are well placed to reach the final of the King's Cup after drawing 1-1 away to Alaves in their semi-final first leg this week but they are in a desperate position in the league and badly need a victory.
That will be a tough task against a Real Sociedad side back in the sort of form that earned them the runners-up spot behind Real Madrid last season and boasting five successive league wins.
SEVILLA (15) v REAL MALLORCA (13)
Sevilla, struggling for form since the sale of Jose Antonio Reyes to Arsenal, have lost to Deportivo Coruna in the league and Real Madrid in the Cup in the past week. Mallorca, soundly beaten at home by Athletic Bilbao last week, should provide more accessible opposition.
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Barca have taken 10 points from their last four league games to move up to fifth, one place above Osasuna and two points behind Atletico Madrid in the fourth and final Champions League slot.
Frank Rijkaard's side have undoubtedly improved but the real test for the Dutch coach will come over the next month, with Sunday's trip to Osasuna followed by a home clash with Atletico Madrid and away games against Valencia and Deportivo Coruna.
"These four games will decide what sort of season we're going to have," midfielder Philip Cocu told reporters this week.
"We've got two games against direct rivals for the Champions League and then two trips to difficult places but our objective is to take all 12 points."
Barca should have Ronaldinho and Carles Puyol back from injury for the Osasuna game but Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and Gabri are all still unavailable.
Other Primera Liga matches this weekend (league positions in parentheses, kickoffs 1600 GMT unless stated):
Saturday:
REAL MADRID (1) v MALAGA (14) (2030)
Real are back in form after a shaky start to 2004 and Malaga's fragile defence should present them with few problems. Ronaldo should be back after missing the midweek Cup win over Sevilla through illness but Luis Figo and Ivan Helguera are doubtful with injuries.
VALENCIA (2) v ATLETICO MADRID (4) (1830)
Valencia rediscovered their scoring touch in last week's 6-1 win over Malaga and should be confident of gaining a first home win since January 4.
Atletico are clinging on to a Champions League place thanks to an eight-match unbeaten run but they will be hit on Saturday by the absence of leading forward Fernando Torres.
Sunday:
ALBACETE (16) v DEPORTIVO CORUNA (3)
Albacete will have to recover their morale after a 5-0 thrashing by Barcelona last weekend. Full-back Fernando Navarro, signed from Barca on loan, could make his debut against Deportivo, who are still just in the title race after an unconvincing 1-0 win at home to Sevilla last week.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (8) v MURCIA (20)
Bilbao have an injury worry over Spanish international winger Joseba Etxeberria, who has a problem with his left ankle. Murcia recorded their second league win of the season in last week's game at home to Real Zaragoza and they will hope to continue their improvement under John Toshack.
CELTA VIGO (17) v VILLARREAL (7)
New signing Sasa Ilic could make his debut in midfield as Celta look for a much-needed first win under new coach Radomir Antic. Villarreal have slipped out of the Champions League reckoning with two defeats in their last two games and Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme could be dropped in a shake-up by coach Benito Floro.
ESPANYOL (19) v VALLADOLID (12)
Espanyol's victory away to Villarreal last week will have revived the club's hopes of avoiding the drop and in new signing Claudiu Raducanu they appear to have unearthed a real talent up front. Valladolid will have to adjust to life without striker Ariza Makukula, who is out for the rest of the season with serious ligament damage.
RACING SANTANDER (11) v REAL BETIS (10)
Racing's solid home form will make them favourites but Betis have won three of their last four games to get back in the hunt for Europe and will be dangerous on the break with Denilson and Alfonso in top form.
REAL ZARAGOZA (18) v REAL SOCIEDAD (9) (2000)
Zaragoza are well placed to reach the final of the King's Cup after drawing 1-1 away to Alaves in their semi-final first leg this week but they are in a desperate position in the league and badly need a victory.
That will be a tough task against a Real Sociedad side back in the sort of form that earned them the runners-up spot behind Real Madrid last season and boasting five successive league wins.
SEVILLA (15) v REAL MALLORCA (13)
Sevilla, struggling for form since the sale of Jose Antonio Reyes to Arsenal, have lost to Deportivo Coruna in the league and Real Madrid in the Cup in the past week. Mallorca, soundly beaten at home by Athletic Bilbao last week, should provide more accessible opposition.
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