Madrid - Saturday's Madrid derby match has been overshadowed by a bitter dispute between Atletico Madrid and UEFA.
UEFA's decision to close down Atletico's Estadio Calderon for two Champions League games, announced on Tuesday, has caught the headlines - and pushed the "El Derby" against Real Madrid into the shadows.
Atletico reacted furiously to the ban - given because of crowd trouble at the 1 October home game against Olympique Marseille - and have been completely backed up by the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
On Wednesday evening Atletico were relieved to learn that UEFA have suspended the ban, which means that next Wednesday's high-profile clash against Liverpool can, after all, be played in the Calderon.
Before then, though, comes the small matter of the visit of crosstown rivals Real.
Neither Madrid side has made a good start in La Liga, unlike in Europe.
Atletico are seventh with nine points from six games, two places and four points behind Real.
Atletico - who have not beaten their more illustrious neighbours since 1999 - will be sweating on the fitness of Simao Sabrosa, Maniche and Diego Forlan.
Real, for their part, are working round the clock to get Mahamadou Diarra, Guti and Arjen Robben fit.
The good news for coach Bernd Schuster is the return to fitness of Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago, who has been out for a month with muscular problems.
Later on Saturday, co-leaders Villarreal will be away to Espanyol.
Villarreal are joint top with Valencia, both with 16 points.
Valencia will stay top, albeit on goal difference, if, as expected, they beat lowly Numancia at home on Sunday.
As usual, the Valencia attack will be led by Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa, who gave Spain a late 2-1 win away to Belgium on Wednesday with an opportunistic header just two minutes from time.
Third-placed Sevilla, meanwhile, will be away to solid Almeria.
Sevilla will be without injury victims Federic Kanoute, Ivica Dragutinovic, Luis Fabiano and Diego Capel.
Later on Sunday, fourth-placed Barcelona will be trying to continue their good run by winning in Bilbao.
Former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho, meanwhile, will make his debut on the bench of Osasuna, away to Sporting Gijon. Camacho - in charge of Spain from 1998 to 2002 - was appointed on Monday as replacement for Jose Angel Ziganda.
Sunday's other games are as follows: Valladolid-Recreativo Huelva, Malaga-Getafe, Betis-Mallorca and Racing Santander-Deportivo Coruna. (dpa)
Similar
US News
- Sun Pharma Gets FDA Nod To Sell Nasal Spray Astelin In US Market
- Bharti Airtel Gets Hold Of 49% Stake In Qualcomm India broadband
- Facebook IPO issue must be reviewed, says U.S. financial regulators
- Brooklyn to investigate witness intimidation in abuse cases
- Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy's & Aurobindo Get USFDA Authorization To Market Generic Cardiac Drug
Rome, May 28 : The captain of the Italian football club Lazio has been arrested amid investigations in connection to match-fixing scandal. 
London, May 28 : Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany has expressed his hope of making an impact at the Saturday's England v/s Belgium friendly, after not being slotted in for the Euro 2012 squad. 
London, May 28 : Former England cricketer Adam Hollioake has revealed that his friends and family were surprised when he chose the gentleman's game over rugby and boxing as his profession. 
Islamabad, May 28 : Pakistan cricketer Wajahatullah Wasti has said the Twenty20 format has caused a lot of damage to the techniques of opening batsmen. 
Sydney, May 18 : Australian professional motorcycle racer, two-time MotoGP world champion, Casey Stoner, announced that he will retire from Grand Prix racing at the 
Pune, April 30 - Veer Patel of Baroda steered his Honda CRF 250 with much panache to clinch the title in the showpiece Foreign Open class ahead of defending champion Aravind KP in the 2012 National Supercross championship here.