Painful memories drive Real on for Barca showdown

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid have the formidable attacking threat of Cristiano Ronaldo back in their armory at the perfect time as they travel to Camp Nou on Sunday for the eagerly-anticipated 'El Clasico' against champions Barcelona.

Real hold a one-point lead over Barcelona at the top but need no reminder of the quality of their opponents after losing the last Clasico 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu back in May when Lionel Messi tore them to shreds.

Messi is a doubt for this game with a thigh strain picked up last Saturday and did not play in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan although he was on the substitutes' bench along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic who also has a thigh problem.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says he is optimistic over Messi but must decide whether to risk the star from the start or leave him on the bench while his opposite number Manuel Pellegrini has a similar dilemma over Ronaldo who played for the first time in two months with a 20-minute outing in the 1-0 Champions League win over FC Zurich.

Ronaldo had missed ten games with ankle trouble but declared himself fit for his first Clasico against the team who left him in tears at the end of last season by beating his then Manchester United side in the Champions League final.

"I want to play in El Clasico if I feel good, although that is the responsibility of the coach," said Ronaldo. "I didn't score (against Zurich) but I hope to do so in the next game (against Barcelona). It doesn't bother me if it's 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1, the important thing is to win."

Real lost both games against their foes last season falling 12 points behind Barcelona after the first Clasico in mid-December before the disastrous 6-2 loss which all but wrapped up the title for Barca.

"If I had lost 6-2 in the last match against a big rival I would be going out for revenge but Madrid aren't like that," said Barcelona defender Dani Alves. "I think they will come full of respect. They know it is difficult to play here even more so having lost that way last time."

Real have not thrilled their fans too much this season but have amassed 28 points out of a possible 33 to make their best start in 17 years.

"Of course they are the leaders why wouldn't they be after spending 270 million euros?" said Guardiola.

Money has bought Real the talent of Brazilian Kaka, Spain playmaker Xabi Alonso and Ronaldo who will all be ready for their first Clasico experience, while Barcelona have a host of homegrown players such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique who have grown up with Real as the enemy.

While the Clasico takes centre stage in Spain this weekend the teams below the top two concentrate on trying to prove they are genuine title alternatives.

Valencia are one such team, lying four points behind leaders Real, and host Real Mallorca on Saturday targeting a fifth straight league win.

"For us the best thing in the Clasico would be a draw so both teams drop two points," said Valencia forward David Villa. "It does not make sense for us to talk about being title contenders in November."

Villa has scored nine goals already this season to top the goal-scoring charts and could have been playing in the Real-Barcelona game had Valencia not stood so firm in the summer when both teams wanted his services.

Sevilla lie three points behind Real in third and should get the three points at home to bottom side Malaga on Saturday and then see which of the top two, if not both, drops points.

"If we want to be competing for the league we can't slip up at home," said defender Manuel Lolo. "At least one of the big two (Barcelona and Real) will drop points and we need to make it count."

Atletico began the season with hopes of a title charge but have had their worst since 1954 with seven points from the first 11 matches leaving them third from bottom.

New coach Quique Sanchez Flores seeks his first league win in charge at home to Espanyol on Sunday to try and ease fears the club could suffer a shock relegation like in 2000.

Fixtures on Saturday:

Sporting Gijon v Villarreal (1700 GMT), Valencia v Real Mallorca (1900 GMT), Sevilla v Malaga (2100 GMT)

Sunday (all 1600 GMT unless stated)

Valladolid v Tenerife, Getafe v Xerez, Racing Santander v Deportivo La Coruna, Almeria v Athletic Bilbao, Real Zaragoza v Osasuna, Barcelona v Real Madrid (1800 GMT), Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (2000 GMT)