MADRID. Dec 3 (Reuters/lntemet) 1 Real Madrid A3* £ J entertain third-' tBsm, 4 placed Real ■ Zaragoza seeking

a win to boost their flagging fortunes (Saturday. 2000 GMT).

The match will be caretaker coach Vicente del Bosque's third In charge of Madrid and so far he has failed to improve on the club's poor league form under predecessor John Toshack.

Del Bosque's first two games produced a home draw and an away defeat and his team now. languish 11th in the table.

"We're not out of the league chase yet." said del Bosque, who this week has subjected ' his players to arduous work-outs which have contrasted with Toshack's less rigorous sessions.

"The training has been great for us because it has helped us get rid of a lot of tension and we re feeling good again." Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos said.

Madrid, who have seven Sers on the treatment table, be heartened by the returns of suspended midfielder Jose Maria Gutierrez and striker Fernando Morientes. whose recovery from injury will relegate Nicolas Anelka to the bench..

Zaragoza striker Savo Milosevic's 13 goals have hoisted his team to unfamiliar heights this season although against Madrid they maybe weakened by the absences of injured defender Chus Solana and midfielder Marcos Vales.

We know Real will give us a particularly tough match because they're desperate to improve their situation." Milose- ■ vic said.

Other matches this weekend (league positions in parentheses, all kick-off times GMT):

SATURDAY:

ATHLETIC BILBAO (8) v REAL SOCIEDAD (13) 2000

The Basque derby will see Real's new coach Javier

; n ■ ’he club he graced both as player and coach. Irrespective of divided loyalties. Clemente needs a first

away win of the season to compensate for his team's humiliating midweek Cup elimination by Second Division opposition.

Athletic striker Ismael Urzaiz is doubtful with an ankle strain and Real will have Iker Alvarez in goal as Alberto Lopez is suspended.

VALENCIA (15) v SEVILLA (20)2000

Although Valencia's dismal league form continues to contrast starkly with their Cham-Kions League excellence, it is ard io see them slipping up against lowly Sevilla, who are without an away win and have three players suspended following their dust-up with Malaga last week.

Valencia will be without suspended Argentine international Klly Gonzalez, injured midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo and Romanian forward Adrian Ilie who has a bilious complaint.

BARCELONA (5) v OVIEDO (18)2000

Victory over the division's lowest scorers is vital for Barcelona, who urgently need to repair a run of four consecutive league defeats.

Xavi Hernandez will replace club captain Guardiola, who is suspended, as Is striker Dani Garcia. Defenders Winston Bogarde and Abelardo Fernandez are injured. Oviedo have a full squad.

SUNDAY:

ALAVES (10) v MALLORCA (6) 1600

Defensively-minded Alaves have lost only once at home this season and will test a Mallorca side who are now (lour- . ishing under recently-appointed coach Fernando Vazquez.

With Mallorca keeper German Burgos absent for the second match of a lengthy 11 -match ban. Leo Franco will again deputise.

Alaves will be without full back Josete Valdomlnos. out for two months with a knee injury.

REAL BETIS (7) v ESPANYOL (16) 1600

Unbeaten at home. Betis have stolen up the table recently and will be expected to

overcome a free-falling Es-panyol. who have gained only three points out of the last 21.

Betis's international striker Alfonso Perez looks set to return after dislocating his shoulder.

REAL VALLADOLID (19) v RACING SANTANDER (9) 1600

Ejected from the Cup by Third Division opposition on Wednesday. Valladolid and their embattled coach Gregorio Manzano are in dire need of a boost. Their chances will not be helped by the absence of top scorer Victor Fernandez with an ankle injury.

Racing will be unchanged.

DEPORTIVO CORUNA (1) v RAYO VALLECANO (4) 1600

With strikers Roy Makaay and Pauleta Resendes scoring freely in recent games. De-portivo are now being tipped as title contenders. In contrast. Rayo have begun to flag after a sensational start to the season.

Both teams will be without their first-choice playmakers. Deportivo's Brazilian playmaker Djalminha is suspended Just for this match but Rayo must cope for six months without Gerhard Poschner. who broke his leg last week.

MALAGA (12) v ATLETICO MADRID (17) 1600

A resurgent Malaga will be without prolific Brazilian striker Catanha. suspended for two games. Struggling Atletico have defender Joan Capdevila missing with a thigh injury although Carlos Alberto Gamarra and Jose Antonio Chamot return to the back four after Injury.

NUMANCIA (14) v CELTA VIGO (2)

After a midweek Cup elimination by second division Compostela, Numancla may struggle to stem Celta's flowing football which has overcome Benfica and Real Madrid In the last fortnight,

Numancla. unbeaten at home this season, will hope that the suspensions of Celta's Russian midfielder Valery Karpin and defender Juanfran Garcia tip the odds more in their favour.