Capital ventures await

It's all eyes on the capital in La Liga this weekend, with all top three clubs playing their matches in or around Madrid.

In theory, the big game is Saturday evening's derby between Real and Atlético (8pm, C+ Liga) at the Bernabeú. But however much the sports papers like to talk up the clash between the capital's two biggest sides, it's hard to ignore the fact that it's no longer the epic contest it has been in the past. Ninth-placed Atleti has not won a derby for 12 years and seems as consistently inconsistent as ever this season under Gregorio Manzano, who will be without still-injured Colombian striker Falcao for the cross-town trip. Meanwhile, José Mourinho's team is on a blistering run of 12 straight wins in all competitions and welcomes winger Ángel di María and defender Marcelo back into the squad after injury. Imagining an upset is not easy.

That said Manzano has a better record than some at the Bernabeú, having won four out of the 14 games his sides have contested there, including a famous 1-5 victory with Mallorca back in 2003. And "The Professor" was in combative, if realistic, mood ahead of the game. "If we can't win, the important thing is not to lose," he said. "We have to play knowing what this shirt, these colors and this match demands. If we do that, we could have options to win. If not, we won't. Little by little, we have to continue building the mentality of a big team."

Barcelona will again be without midfielder Andrés Iniesta, who sat out the club's 2-3 Champions League win over AC Milan midweek, for Saturday's visit to a Getafe hovering just one point above the drop zone in 15th (10pm, LaSexta/Local stations). The second-placed side will also still be missing assistant coach Tito Vilanova, who underwent successful surgery for a salivary gland tumor this week and will be rested for around a month.

In third, Valencia visit 10th-placed Rayo (Saturday, 6pm, C+ Liga) with in-form captain and striker Roberto Soldado looking to add to the hat trick he scored in his side's 7-0 midweek thrashing of Belgium's Genk in the Champions League and persuade Vicente del Bosque of his readiness for a national squad call-up.