Madrid (dpa) - The road to the Club World Cup for rampant Spanish
leaders Real Madrid passes through Almeria on Friday.
Straight after the league match, the whites will continue south for the tournament in Morocco after what they hope will be their 12th straight win in La Liga.
Real have established a new Spanish record of 19 consecutive wins in all competitions.
"I knew we were going to improve after a poor start (in September), but I don't think any of us really expected 19 straight wins," coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"This is down to our extraordinary seriousness and our incredible professionalism. It is not easy to have the same motivation for every single match.
"The club has always backed me, not only when things have gone well but also back in September when we had a few problems."
Ancelotti will be without injured midfielders Luka Modric and James Rodriguez.
The big game could hardly have come at a worse time for Almeria: fourth from bottom and without a coach after Tuesday's axing of Francisco Rodriguez.
"Usually it is the coaches who take the blame, but the truth is that the blame should be shared between all of us," said Almeria captain Corona.
Unless Almeria find a replacement for Francisco by Friday, on their bench against Real will be reserve team boss Miguel Rivera.
"We will have to play for Rivera as if he will be our coach for ever. Nobody in football knows what tomorrow might bring," said Corona.
Real are two points above resurgent Barcelona, who will visit Getafe on Saturday in good heart after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat of Paris St Germain.
Luis Suarez will be looking for his first league goals after scoring in the Champions League.
Coach Luis Enrique might be tempted to continue with the innovative 3-4-3 formation he put out on Wednesday, with Pedro and Neymar steaming up and down the flanks.
"This was a very interesting and successful experiment. Let's hope we see it again soon," commented radio station RAC-1.
Saturday will also see Valencia against Rayo Vallecano, Cordoba at home to fellow strugglers Levante and Malaga versus Celta Vigo.
The big game on Sunday will be third-placed Atletico Madrid at home to in-form Villarreal, who are sixth.
On Wednesday Villarreal announced the signing of Argentine teenage Leo Suarez, who will join them at the end of January.
Sunday will also see fourth-placed Sevilla against Eibar, plus Espanyol against Granada and the Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao.
Monday will offer an early relegation clash between struggling sides Deportivo Coruna and Elche.
Straight after the league match, the whites will continue south for the tournament in Morocco after what they hope will be their 12th straight win in La Liga.
Real have established a new Spanish record of 19 consecutive wins in all competitions.
"I knew we were going to improve after a poor start (in September), but I don't think any of us really expected 19 straight wins," coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"This is down to our extraordinary seriousness and our incredible professionalism. It is not easy to have the same motivation for every single match.
"The club has always backed me, not only when things have gone well but also back in September when we had a few problems."
Ancelotti will be without injured midfielders Luka Modric and James Rodriguez.
The big game could hardly have come at a worse time for Almeria: fourth from bottom and without a coach after Tuesday's axing of Francisco Rodriguez.
"Usually it is the coaches who take the blame, but the truth is that the blame should be shared between all of us," said Almeria captain Corona.
Unless Almeria find a replacement for Francisco by Friday, on their bench against Real will be reserve team boss Miguel Rivera.
"We will have to play for Rivera as if he will be our coach for ever. Nobody in football knows what tomorrow might bring," said Corona.
Real are two points above resurgent Barcelona, who will visit Getafe on Saturday in good heart after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat of Paris St Germain.
Luis Suarez will be looking for his first league goals after scoring in the Champions League.
Coach Luis Enrique might be tempted to continue with the innovative 3-4-3 formation he put out on Wednesday, with Pedro and Neymar steaming up and down the flanks.
"This was a very interesting and successful experiment. Let's hope we see it again soon," commented radio station RAC-1.
Saturday will also see Valencia against Rayo Vallecano, Cordoba at home to fellow strugglers Levante and Malaga versus Celta Vigo.
The big game on Sunday will be third-placed Atletico Madrid at home to in-form Villarreal, who are sixth.
On Wednesday Villarreal announced the signing of Argentine teenage Leo Suarez, who will join them at the end of January.
Sunday will also see fourth-placed Sevilla against Eibar, plus Espanyol against Granada and the Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao.
Monday will offer an early relegation clash between struggling sides Deportivo Coruna and Elche.
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