Madrid - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue their feud on Saturday. The two strikers are battling for the FIFA World Player award and the European Footballer of the Year title - as well as to keep Barcelona and Real Madrid on top of La Liga.
They have both started the season in spectacular fashion and are tied at the top of the scorers' chart with five goals apiece, together with David Villa of Valencia.
Messi has put aside his Argentina blues to turn in some of the most sumptous displays of his short career. On Tuesday he scored two handsome goals as Barca thrashed Racing Santander 4-1 away.
On Saturday it will be the turn of poor Malaga to face Messi. The only good news for the southerners, who are fifth from bottom, is that Messi will be without his chief partner-in-crime: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss the game with a twisted right ankle.
On the other hand, Barca coach Josep Guardiola can now count on Andres Iniesta and Rafa Marquez, both fit again.
Barca are level with Real on 12 points and ahead of them on goal difference. Both twin giants have won all four of their first games, in what is already looking like another two-horse race.
Real should have few problems on Saturday at home to newly-promoted Tenerife - especially if Ronaldo scores another of his early goals.
After Wednesday's 2-0 win away to Villarreal, coach Manuel Pellegrini was asked whether Ronaldo was fired up to perform well because of Messi's excellent form.
"No," he replied categorically. "He (Ronaldo) is stimulated by his great quality," Pellegrini said. "When he is on the field, he wants to be useful for the team."
Real will again be without injury victims Alvaro Arbeloa, Ezequiel Garay, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, whilst Pepe is still suspended. On the other hand, Xabi Alonso might be ready to return.
In Saturday's other games, third-placed Sevilla are away to Athletic Bilbao and crisis team Atletico Madrid travel to Valencia.
Defeat in Mestalla could be the end of a rocky road for Atletico coach Abel Resino, whose team are second from bottom with just two points.
Not that Valencia are in much better form. Despite the goals of Villa, "Los Ches" have picked up just one pointg in their last two games.
The big game on Sunday sees seventh-placed Deportivo Coruna away to troubled Villarreal who, the same as Atletico, have just two points.
Sunday's other games are: Mallorca-Valladolid, Espanyol-Xerez, Osasuna-Sporting Gijon, Almeria-Racing Santander and Zaragoza-Getafe.
