Weekend preview

Morale is sky-high at Real after their crushing 4-1 win at Athletic Bilbao last weekend and they are confident that a faltering Barcelona will slip up on their trip to relegation-threatened Real Sociedad on Saturday.

If their hopes are realised then Fabio Capello's side will have the chance to snatch top spot at a crucial stage of the season.

"We are stronger than anyone else at the moment and we showed that with our win at San Mames," Real right back Cicinho said this week.

"Barcelona have been giving a sensation of weakness recently and I think they will lose at Anoeta. We will beat Sevilla and once we get to the top no one will shift us from there."

Just two points separate the top three with six games left. Barca, who are looking to wrap up a third title in a row, lead on 62 points, Sevilla follow on 61 and Real have 60.

"The title race is turning out to be very tight and very exciting," Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said after taking his tally for the season to 18 goals with a double in last week's win at Bilbao.

"It is clear that the game against Sevilla is crucial, but if we play at this level we can beat them and win the title."

Real received an unexpected boost when the in-form David Beckham was given the all-clear to play at the Bernabeu after the yellow card he picked up against Athletic Bilbao was overturned on appeal.

The former England captain has been in impressive form since returning from a knee injury, supplying the assists for important goals in the recent victories over Valencia and Bilbao.

While Real have been talking up their title chances, Sevilla have had their minds on defending their UEFA Cup crown.

Juande Ramos's side face Osasuna in the return leg of their semi-final on Thursday and only then will they turn their attention to the clash at the Bernabeu.

"If we go through against Osasuna it will be a great confidence boost and if not then we will be putting everything into winning the league," said striker Frederic Kanoute. "Either way we will be 100 percent against Real."

The Andalusians will be without winger Adriano Correia for the clash at the Bernabeu after the Brazilian tore a thigh muscle during his side's 2-0 UEFA Cup semi-final win over Osasuna on Thursday.

Barcelona will have to break their poor run away from home this season and beat relegation-threatened Real Sociedad at Anoeta if they are to be sure of staying top of the table this weekend.

Frank Rijkaard's side, who are just a point clear of Sevilla and two ahead of Real Madrid, have won just once in their last 10 trips on the road.

The Catalans will have to make do without their influential midfielder Deco who damaged ankle ligaments in training on Thursday and the versatile Mexican centre-back Rafael Marquez who is out with a muscle injury.

Although Sociedad have made a strong bid to save themselves from the drop, they are still three points from safety, but coach Miguel Angel Lotina believes that Barca are not as strong as they have been in past seasons.

"Two years ago we were all talking about Barca's hunger for trophies, but we are all human and maybe subconsciously they don't have that hunger any more," he told daily Sport.

Atletico Madrid are waiting on leading striker Fernando Torres to see if the Spain international can shake off an ankle problem and play in Sunday's match at Espanyol, while Greek defender Yourkas Seitaridis is suspended.

Argentine forward Maxi Rodriguez is expected to return to the squad for the game against his old club after six months out following knee surgery. Portuguese midfielder Maniche is also likely to be available after recovering from minor surgery to deal with a groin injury.

In-form Real Zaragoza defender Gerard Pique is a doubt for Sunday's match against Racing Santander after straining an ankle in training. The Aragonese outfit are just two points adrift of fourth-placed Valencia as the two clubs battle it out for the final Champions League berth.