Barcelona: Three days after raising the Copa del Rey at Mestalla Stadium, Real Madrid returns to face Valencia in a crucial match to keep alive its slim hopes of catching leader Barcelona in the Spanish league.
"This is a big boost for us now that the league is practically Barcelona's," said Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
Barcelona holds an eight-point lead and can bounce back from losing the cup to its fierce rival when it hosts an Osasuna side just two points above the relegation zone.
With only six rounds to play, Madrid can hardly afford to drop any points if its wants to stop the Catalan side from collecting its third straight league crown.
The problem for coach Jose Mourinho's team is that Valencia has everything to play for since a win will clinch a spot in next year's Champions League.
"We are three points from our goal of returning to the Champions League and we are going to fight very hard," Valencia midfielder Ever Banega said.
Unai Emery's team has also recovered its earlier form and comes in off a 5-0 win over Villarreal, while striker Roberto Soldado has hit seven goals in its last three wins.
"I think it will depend a lot of how we begin the game," Soldado said. "If we can give the same effort and desire that we had in the game against Villarreal then they could have a long day, specially if they don't make a lot of changes in the their starting 11."
With his starters exhausted after Wednesday's 120-minute cup final and yet another clash with Barcelona looming next week in the semifinals of the Champions League, Mourinho could field a starting 11 full of reserves.
"We are in the decisive moment of the season and after this victory we arrive very eager and in good mental shape," said striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who could see more minutes on Saturday after coming off the bench as a substitute in the cup final.
Barcelona now turns its focus to making sure it doesn't slip up in the league, where it hasn't lost since the second round and hasn't dropped any points at Camp Nou stadium since October.
"We have to pick ourselves up, digest (the loss) and fight because there is a month left that can turn out to be very nice," Barcelona striker David Villa said. "We are angry but we have to keep going, we have to decide the league and then think about the Champions League, where we have the chance to qualify for the final."
Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar believed that his team will no doubt be better rested for Saturday's game, but even so Barcelona was not a team "that likes losing two in a row."
"We have to play hard from the beginning because if not they can score six goals on you," he said.
Osasuna has lost 12 of its 16 away games this season, and the match offers an excellent opportunity for Barcelona to rediscover its attacking form. Lionel Messi has been providing his team's scoring punch as both Villa and attack partner Pedro Rodriguez have gone 11 games without finding the back of the net.
"Now we have to take on a game with an important three points in play," Pedro said.
Also on Saturday, Real Sociedad visits fifth-place Athletic Bilbao in a Basque Country derby, while sixth-place Sevilla hosts fourth-place Villarreal on Sunday in a critical game for the Andalusian club's chances of playing in Europe next season.
After a strong first half of the season, the promoted Sociedad could be in danger of falling back into the second division if it cannot earn points at San Mames stadium.
"We are very excited for this game, it is the one we most look forward to playing away from Anoeta," said Sociedad playmaker Xabi Prieto. "Whoever scores first will determine the winner because I believe it will be a low-scoring game."
Sevilla hasn't won in two weeks and will try to take advantage of a Villarreal side that has slumped in the league recently as it concentrates on the Europa League, where it has reached the semifinals.
But a loss for Gregorio Manzano's team could see it slide out of European positions with Atletico Madrid even on points and Espanyol just one point behind.
On Monday, last-place Almeria plays fellow drop-zone side Zaragoza.
Also on Sunday, it's: Mallorca vs. Getafe, Sporting Gijon vs. Espanyol, Hercules vs. Deportivo La Coruna, Racing Santander vs. Malaga, and Atletico vs. Levante.
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