their coach on Wednesday - do not confound the formbook, would go second as well as closing the gap on Roma.
Both Italian giants Juventus and German outfit Bayer Leverkusen face decisive matches this weekend when their respective title hopes will either live on or fizzle out.
Juventus host leaders AS Roma, who take a six point lead to Turin, while Leverkusen, who were pipped for the title on the last day of last season by Bayern Munich, host Bayern whom they would move level on points should they prevail on Saturday.
Schalke 04 lead Bayern on goal difference and have an easier task against VfL Wolfsburg.
However, defeat for Leverkusen would leave them six points adrift with three matches remaining and could well cost coach Berti Vogts his job after less than a season in charge.
The Spanish title race looked over a fortnight ago but Real Madrid have suffered a wobble with last weekend's 1-1 draw with Osasuna seeing their lead whittled down to nine points by defending champions Deportivo I .a Coruna with six matches to go.
Real, beaten 10 by Bayern at the Bernabeu on 'Tuesday in the Champions league semi-linai. cannot afford another slip-up against the unpredictable Celta Vigo this Saturday.
Real Madrid had until their recent mini slump been an irresistible force in Spain this season.
But the disappointing draw against Osasuna followed by Tuesday nights Champions League defeat has rattled coach Vicente del Bosque's troops.
Primera Liga fixtures
Saturday: Real Sociedad v Valencia (18H15 GMT), Celta Vigo v Real Madrid (18H30), Espanyol v Barcelona (19H00)
Sunday (16H00 GMT unless stated): Valladolid v Malaga, Real Oviedo v Athletic Bilbao. Alaves v Racing Santander. Osasuna v Real Mallorca, Villarreal v I^s Palmas, Real Zaragoza v Numancia (17H00), Rayo Vallecano v Depor-tivo La Coruna (18H00)
Roma know that victory over Juve this weekend could well give them the keys to a first Italian title in 18 years.
After last week's 2-2 draw with lazio in the Roman derby it is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for Fabio Capello s side as they defend their lead against the 25-time champions.
In last week’s derby Roma came agonisingly close to a victory that would have all but killed the
I hey will be hoping to arrest the dip in form against Celta on Saturday although Del Bosque has admitted his thoughts are very much on the return with Munich next week
We will have to treat the match in Munich as ii it was the European Cup final itself," Del Bosque said.
Madrid are likely (o be missing English winger Steve McManaman from Saturday's match. Hie leftsided midfielder twisted an ankle on Tuesday and is struggling to be fit.
Celta Vigo meanwhile, who drew 1-1 with Barcelona in the Nou Camp last weekend, need a victory to stay on course lor a place in Europe next season.
Celta will he looking to in-Iorm striker Catanha - '(he red crab' - to crumble the Meringues' defence.
Second-placed Deportivo la Coruna meanwhile hope to keep up the piessure on Real with victory at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Bayern Munich are bracing themselves for a titanic battle with Leverkusen.
A victory' for Ottmar Hitzfeld's in-form side would see them keep pace with league-leaders Schalke 04.
Hitzfeld is hoping that Bayern's new-found Bernabeu spirit' can inspire his team to victory at Leverkusen.
"The win over Madrid has acted as a big motivation for us to produce another performance like that in the Bundesliga,'' Hitzfeld said.
The form-book says reigning champions Bayern should be capable of nicking a result against Leverkusen although their players will no doubt have one eye on next I uesday s Champions L eague semi-final second leg against Real in Munich.
Bundesliga fixtures
Friday (1815 GMT): Borussia Dortmund v VfB Stuttgart
Saturday (1330 GMT unless stated): Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich, 1860 Munich v Cologne, Schalke 04 v VfL Wolfsburg. Eintracht Frankfurt v VfL Bochum. Hansa Rostuck v Energie Conbus, SV Hamburg v Kaiserslautern (1815)
Sunday (15h30 GMT): Werder ’Bremen v Unterhaching. SC Freiburg v Henha Berlin
Serie A fixtures
(13:00 GMT unless stated) Saturday: Bologna v Udinese. Lecce v Brescia (18:30 GMT)
Sunday: Inter Milan v Atalanta. Lazio v Bari. Parma v Napoli. Perugia v AC Milan, Verona v Fiorentina. Vicenza v Reggina. Juventus v AS Roma (18:30 GMT)
race for the Scudetto.
But an equaliser from I-azio's Argentinian substitute Lucas Martin Castroman in the fourth minute of stoppage time prevented Roma from taking an eight-point lead to Turin.
Castroman's goal also ensured lazio, a point further back, are still in with a shout and since they have the much easier task, a home match with bottom club Bari, this could be a significant weekend for them.
They are only a point behind second-placed Juve so will be quite happy for the Turin side (o dispatch Roma.
Even a draw would suit Liz io who, assuming Bari - who Sacked