Madrid  - Barcelona intend to maintain their six-point lead over historic rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, by beating ambitious Malaga at home.

Easier said than done, really. Malaga are the surprise package of the Spanish season, in sixth place and dreaming of Europe.

Veteran Malaga striker Salva - who helped Valencia win the title in 2001 - said on Wednesday that "no game is impossible... we must be valiant, and make as few mistakes as possible."

Barca will again be without injured captain Carles Puyol and left-back Eric Abidal, meaning that veteran Sylvinho will have to continue down the left.

Teenage sensation Bojan Krkic will probably return to the subs' bench, despite his crucial goals in last Sunday's 2-0 win in Almeria.

"It's going to be hard for me to be first-choice," he said. "Because three of the best forwards in the world are in front of me," referring to Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry.

Earlier on Sunday Real will be at home to Almeria, whose star striker Alvaro Negredo will be unable to play because he is on loan from the whites.

Negredo, 23, is hoping to be in the Spain squad to be announced on Friday by Vicente del Bosque, for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Turkey.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar is likely to continue in the Real attack, to the detriment of Gonzalo Higuain, after his two goals in the 5-2 win away to Athletic Bilbao.

Valencia, meanwhile, will be trying to end their appalling run away to Racing Santander, who are in good spirit after hammering Numancia 5-0.

Man-mountain Nikola Zigic will be unable to play because he is on loan from Valencia.

Sunday's other games are: Getafe-Recreativo Huelva (with Getafe coach Victor Munoz on the chopping block), Osasuna-Espanyol, Deportivo Coruna-Betis, Numancia-Sporting Gijon and Mallorca-Atletico Madrid.

Atletico are in good heart after their memorable 3-2 defeat of Villarreal, which has taken them up to fifth.

The 28th round of games kicks off on Saturday with two interesting clashes: Villarreal-Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla-Valladolid.

Sevilla are third, nine points behind Real but six above Villarreal. (dpa)