PREVIEW: Tough task for injury-hit Barcelona in Villarreal

Injury-hit Barcelona on Saturday face a difficult Spanish league trip to third-placed Villarreal, who have done well against them in recent years.
The defending champions often slip up after national team matches, and this time Lionel Messi has returned from Argentina duty with a pulled muscle in his right leg. He will almost certainly make the trip down the coast, but might be kept on the bench by coach Pep Guardiola.

Pedro and Maxwell are on the mend, but veteran defenders Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal are both out, the same as young striker Bojan.
Barca are five points clear at the top over Real Madrid.

"It is a key match, there is a lot at stake and we must maintain this five-point lead. Villarreal have very quick players, so we must hold on to the ball and make few mistakes," said Adriano, who is filling in well for Abidal at left-back.

Villarreal are again in good form after a patchy winter. Brazilian striker Nilmar is finally fit, and coach Juan Carlos Garrido will have to choose between him and Argentine Marco Ruben to partner the in-form Guiseppe Rossi in attack.

"I am really looking forward to the game. We will see who the coach opts for, but I am ready...To get a good result on Saturday will help in our objective to return to the Champions League," said Ruben.

Real, for their part, should have few problems against Gijon.

The whites have won all their home matches, most of them with ease. Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to return after missing Portugal's two matches, but the in-form Karim Benzema will be missing with a thigh strain.

Someone else who will be missing in the Estadio Bernabeu, interestingly enough, is Colombian singer Shakira.

News reports on Wednesday said that the Real management have decided to exclude her songs from the pre-match entertainment because of her much-vaunted romance with Barca defender Gerard Pique.

Saturday's other game will see fourth-placed Valencia away to Getafe.

On Sunday, Levante take on Malaga, Sevilla receive Zaragoza and Espanyol face Racing Santander, whilst Osasuna take on Atletico Madrid and Deportivo Coruna receive Mallorca.

In addition, struggling Hercules, now under new coach Miroslav Djukic, are away to Real Sociedad.

The 30th round of games will finish on Monday with bottom team Almeria at home to Athletic Bilbao.