Madrid - Runaway Spanish leaders Barcelona face a tough test on Saturday, away to resurgent Betis.

Barca will be looking for their 11th straight win in Seville, and will be hoping to get closer to Real Madrid's record of 107 goals in 1989/90 season.

Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and company have so far scored 68 goals in 22 Liga games, and so have 16 games left in which to overtake Real's record.

"It will not be an easy game since Betis have improved their play and results recently," Barca coach Josep Guardiola said.

Indeed they have, especially since the return of Ricardo Oliveira.

The Brazilian striker hit the second goal in Betis' 2-1 win away to crosstown rivals Sevilla last Saturday, a result which takes them up to seventh from bottom, their highest placing all season.

Guardiola will be hoping that all his international players return safe and sound from this next week's national team games. He will be without captain Carles Puyol, suffering from a pulled muscle in his left thigh.

Also on Saturday, Deportivo Coruna will be at home to lowly Osasuna, whilst fourth-placed Valencia take on ambitious Malaga.

Valencia's players have not been paid since December, due to the club's cashflow problems. Italian left-back Emiliano Moretti said on Wednesday that it would be "cowardly of us to go into the tackle less powerfully" due to these problems.

The big game on Sunday sees second-placed Real Madrid away to lively Sporting Gijon.

Real will be looking for their eighth straight win, but will find things difficult against opponents who have improved markedly since making such a poor start in autumn.

Juande Ramos' team are 12 points behind Barcelona, but nine points ahead of third-placed Sevilla, who are away to Espanyol later on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid, now under new coach Abel Resino, will be looking to continue the improvement shown last Sunday in the 3-0 win away to Recreativo Huelva.

Sunday's other games are as follows: Racing Santander-Villarreal, Almeria-Valladolid, Athletic Bilbao-Huelva, Numancia- Mallorca and Atletico Madrid-Getafe. (dpa)