Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo will try to rediscover his scoring touch when Real Madrid visit Malaga in the Spanish league this weekend, while Barcelona look to extend their best ever start to a season against Sevilla.
Madrid, which trail Barcelona and surprise package Levante by one point, could face former players Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Julio Baptista at Malaga's La Rosaleda stadium on Saturday.
Ronaldo has gone three games without a goal for Madrid, but coach Jose Mourinho said he's not worried as long as the team keeps winning.
"I think he's fine and I'm delighted with him," Mourinho said. "I like to see him playing in this intelligent way. He's already won the Golden Boot (Europe's top scorer) and the Pichichi (Spanish league top scorer) — maybe this year he'll win more important things."
Mourinho has a difficult choice to decide who will play alongside Ronaldo in attack as both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuian are in top form.
Benzema started the season with three league goals in five matches before hurting his groin.
Higuain, whose preseason was interrupted by fitness problems, seized the chance presented by the France striker's injury by scoring hat tricks in Madrid's last two league matches.
Benzema then scored on his return to action against Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday, increasing the competition for the first-choice strike position.
"I'm not worried," Benzema said. "I'm very, very calm. When Higuain scores three goals, I think it's stupendous for the team. This debate doesn't interest me. I don't read or listen to anything about it. In fact, it's my little brother who teases me most about the Higuain-Benzema debate."
Madrid's major injury doubts are in central defence, where Raul Albiol has a fractured left cheekbone and Ricardo Carvalho has also been sidelined.
That is likely to mean Sergio Ramos continues at center back with Pepe, while Mourinho must decide whether to recall Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who came off the bench against Lyon.
Van Nistelrooy said he won't celebrate if he scores against the club where he piled up 46 goals in 68 league appearances from 2006 to 2010.
Van Nistelrooy, who hasn't scored this season, was among the new players in Qatari owner Sheik Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani's €60 million recruitment drive during the offseason.
"It's a special game for us and for those who played in Madrid even more so," the Netherlands striker said. "Madrid is in good form, they've scored a lot of goals in the last few games and it's a big challenge for us."
Van Nistelrooy's strike partner Baptista may miss the chance to face his former teammates as he is struggling with a right foot injury.
"It's an important match for me. Everyone would like to play," the Brazilian striker said. "Winning points at home against big teams helps you be in the top positions."
Barcelona could have Cesc Fabregas back from injury as they go for a 14th game without a loss at the Camp Nou against Sevilla on Saturday.
The former Arsenal midfielder resumed training on Monday but is unlikely to force his way into the starting lineup, with Spain teammate Andres Iniesta underlining his return to fitness with a goal against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said Iniesta had a crucial role in the way the team plays.
"When he's fit he's unique, he works hard, he scores more goals than people think and he is also able to unbalance teams which is so important to us," Guardiola said. "He's come back very well from injury. Last year he was vital and now we are hoping he will be important again."
Sevilla have started the season with 15 points from seven games to lie fourth, but will continue to be without injured Spain striker Alvaro Negredo for the trip to the Nou Camp.
"We need an inspired day, but we are not going to give the game up for lost," said defender Jorge Andujar Moreno.
Levante, wedged between Barcelona and Madrid in second place, beat Malaga 3-0 last week and will be hoping to keep upsetting the form book at Villarreal on Sunday.
In other Saturday matches, it's Sporting Gijon vs. Granada and Racing Santander vs. Espanyol.
On Sunday, it's: Real Betis vs. Rayo Vallecano; Real Sociedad vs. Getafe; Osasuna vs. Zaragoza; Atletico Madrid vs. Mallorca; Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao.
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