Zaragoza are in fifth place and have ambitions of playing in Europe themselves next season, having only lost twice at home this season.

"Our main rival is ourselves," acknowledged Barca striker Samuel Eto'o.

"We are first and so only have to depend on ourselves. If other teams drop points then it makes our lives easier but we should never get tired of winning," added last season's top scorer in the Spanish first division.

For one of the rare occasions this season, Barca coach Frank Rijkaard will be able to select his side from almost his entire first team squad, helped by the news that Ronaldinho trained normally on Thursday.

There are no suspensions, no major injuries and only midfielder Thiago Motta has a question mark over his health, after having to end training early on Thursday after an over-enthusiastic challenge from his team mate Rafa Marquez.

Zaragoza have a six-game unbeaten streak in the league but lost to Barcelona 2-1 at home in the Spanish Cup six weeks ago and have revenge in mind.

"Barcelona have gone a long time without losing when they have their magic trident of Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi all available but one day they'll have to, and that day could be Saturday," suggested Zaragoza coach Victor Fernandez on Thursday.

"This match has come at a time when both teams are in form and I'll have no problem motivating my players," added Fernandez.

Sevilla lie in second place and, with only one loss in the league in their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium this season, they will feel confident of beating Racing Santander on Sunday to keep up the pressure on Barca.

The morale of Sevilla was also boosted by their hard-fought 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Cup on Thursday but seventh-placed Racing has suddenly hit a run of form, are unbeaten in their last games, and starting to sound very confident. "Most people have never known Racing to be in such a good position at this stage of the season and qualifying for Europe for the first time is now a realistic possibility," commented Racing captain Pablo Pinillos.

"We took three points off Valencia in their own Mestalla stadium two weeks ago, and we'll be thinking about doing the same against Sevilla," added the Racing defender.

Real Madrid are three points further back in third and have a tricky game against Osasuna looming up on Sunday.

The question is, how much did Osasuna's outstanding 3-0 triumph at Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday take out of them?

Real are expected to welcome back David Beckham and Jose Antonio Reyes, with both men having been out of action for the last month due to knee injuries, although neither is expected to start.

Both sides have been hit by suspensions, with Real losing midfielder Fernando Gago and Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez while Osasuna will be without their own midfield pair of Hector Font and Juanfran Torres.

Osasuna will also be without their top scorer Roberto Soldado who is on loan from Madrid and cannot play against his old club because of a clause in the deal.

Fourth-placed Valencia, with confidence sky-high after their 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday, are one point behind Real and have an away trip to struggling Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Trips to Athletic's San Mames stadium used to be a daunting prospect but Bilbao have only won twice there this season and face the prospect of being relegated from the Spanish first division for the first time in their history.