MADRID - The Madrid derby takes center stage this weekend as league leaders Real travel to third-placed local rivals Atletico in the pick of the 20th round of Primera Liga matches.
Real boast a seven-point lead over nearest challengers Barcelona and are a further three points clear of Atletico, but the reigning Spanish champions suffered a setback in midweek as they were dumped out of the Copa del Rey.
Bernd Schuster's men totally dominated the second leg against Real Mallorca but somehow ended up losing 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to miss out on a quarter-final place.
With hopes of a trophy treble this season now gone, Real forward Gonzalo Higuain has urged his team-mates to focus their efforts on the two remaining pieces of silverware in their sights.
"Of course we wanted to move on in the Copa del Rey, but now we have to think about the league and the Champions League. We have a very important match on Sunday," he said.
"We're going to go all out on Sunday in the Calderon. We want a good result."
Atletico booked their spot in the last eight of the Copa del Rey with a 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid, a result which saw them progress on the away goals rule.
That has set up a quarter-final clash against Valencia but, while the first leg of that tie is less than a week away, there is no chance of Javier Aguirre's side looking beyond this weekend.
"When the time comes we will think of Valencia," said Atletico forward Luis Garcia.
"At this point in time we have got through and now we have to think about Sunday against Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon. We are already thinking about the derby and winning it, of course."
Barca also needed the away goals rule to advance in the Cop del Rey as they ousted Sevilla courtesy of a 0-0 draw with the holders at the Nou Camp.
That was the third time in their last four league and cup matches Barca have failed to win at home, and they will hope for better this weekend when they host sixth-placed Racing Santander in what promises to be a tough match for Frank Rijkaard's side.
Another team hoping to get back on track after some recent stumbles are Espanyol, who travel to Valladolid.
Ernesto Valverde's side saw their 17-match unbeaten run ended by at Almeria last weekend, and then the 2006 Copa del Rey winners saw their participation in that tournament ended by a penalty shoot-out loss to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
Sevilla will get a reminder of what might have been as they travel to Getafe in a repeat of last year's Copa del Rey final, which the Andalusian club won 1-0, while Almeria are at home to Deportivo La Coruna.
On a weekend of local derbies, Valencia, Recreativo Huelva and Athletic Bilbao all face short trips as they travel to rivals Villarreal, Real Betis and Osasuna respectively.
Valencia in particular will be out for revenge having been humbled 3-0 by the Yellow Submarine on the opening day of the season.
Elsewhere, new Real Zaragoza coach Ander Garitano sees his side take on Real Murcia, Deportivo La Coruna make the long trip to Almeria and bottom club Levante host Mallorca.
