Madrid: Espanyol looks set to get physical with Spanish leader Barcelona as it tries to protect its perfect record at its Cornella El-Prat stadium in this weekend's Catalan capital derby.
Espanyol has won all seven games played at the Cornella de Llobregat ground on the outskirts of Barcelona to sit a surprising fourth in the table with 28 points.
But Barcelona has won nine straight games to top the standings with 40 points and a 10th victory would hand Espanyol its second straight loss and could allow teams below it to catch up ahead of the short 11-day winter break.
Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino was not afraid of stoking up what will likely be another heated derby.
"I believe in being aggressive in a positive sense, not a negative one," said the Argentine coach, who was shown more red cards than any other player during his playing career with the club. "We're going to maintain our style. While there are elements that will change because of our rival, the identity of the team will be the same as always."
Espanyol's leading scorer Pablo Osvaldo said the team will show no fear despite Barcelona coming off an emphatic 5-0 win over Real Sociedad.
"We know we're playing the best team in the world, but we've also got our own weapons," said the Argentine striker, who has five goals this campaign. "We don't have an Iniesta, a Xavi, a Messi, but we have other things. We're united."
Barcelona's display against Sociedad showed why it is a favorite to win the Champions League, with Lionel Messi again leading the way with a pair of goals.
The defending Spanish champions picked their opponent apart with precise runs, immaculate passing and lethal finishing with nearly the entire game played inside Sociedad's half. Messi's brace took his tally to 42 league goals in 2010.
"Both teams arrive in such great form," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said. "The game will be very difficult for both teams, it looks like it will be quite even."
Real Madrid will be hoping Espanyol can protect its home record as it trails Barcelona by two points going into Sunday's game against Sevilla.
Madrid has won all 11 games played at its Santiago Bernabeu stadium, while Sevilla has lost four straight domestic matches.
Madrid will be without defensive players Xabi Alonso and Marcelo to suspension and striker Gonzalo Higuain to injury. But midfielder Sami Khedira should return while Madrid is hopeful Sergio Ramos can be available despite initially being ruled out for the remainder of 2010 with a leg injury.
Sevilla, meanwhile, can take encouragement from Wednesday's 2-2 draw against German leader Borussia Dortmund to reach the knockout phase of the Europa League. Sevilla is 11th and in danger of missing out on Europe all together next year unless it begins winning again with Villarreal, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Getafe among those in contention for a top-six finish.
Villarreal, which is third with 30 points, needs to beat direct rival Mallorca at its El Madrigal stadium on Saturday, while No. 5 Valencia is at Sociedad which is also a surprising contender nearing the halfway point of the season.
Atletico's match at Malaga on Sunday is likely to be winger Simao Sabrosa's final game for the Spanish capital club as the former Portugal international is on the verge of a winter transfer to Turkish club Besiktas.
In Saturday's other games, Levante plays Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna is up against Sporting Gijon. On Sunday, it's Almeria against Getafe and last-place Zaragoza at Osasuna in search of its first win under coach Javier Aguirre.
Monday's game wraps up the 16th round with Racing Santander playing Hercules with the teams separated by one point.
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