Madrid - Villarreal can hardly wait for Saturday to come.

That's when they will have the chance to put their awful recent form behind them, away to lowly Athletic Bilbao.

The normally solid Villarreal defence began to show signs of vulnerability in last week's 6-3 defeat of Euro minnows Aalborg. Sunday saw the "Yellow Submarine" shipping water, when Atletico Madrid forced a bizarre 4-4 draw in El Madrigal.

And the submarine was sent to the bottom of Davy Jones' Locker on Wednesday, when Villarreal were astonishingly thrashed 5-0 in the King's Cup by third divsion Polideportivo Ejido.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini, who had fielded a reserve-packed side in Ejido, said after the debacle that "we should try to forget about tonight... and think instead about La Liga and the Champions League."

Villarreal are fourth in La Liga, one point behind twin giants Real Madrid and Barcelona - and two points behind leaders Valencia.

Also on Saturday, Valencia will be trying to keep up their 100 per cent home record against Racing Santander.

Someone really looking forward to Saturday is young Valencia striker Juan Mata, who has so far scored in every home game. "I hope to continue my run, with the help of our fans, he said.

Valencia enjoyed a more pleasant Wednesday night out than Villarreal, thrashing Portugalete 4-1.

Barcelona, for their part, won 1-0 down the rainy coast in Benidorm on Tuesday, with a handsome goal from teenage sensation Bojan Krkic, who is finally entering the plans of Josep Guardiola.

Krkic will surely be back on the bench away to Malaga on Saturday, whilst Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi return.

Newly-promoted Malaga made a poor start, but have now found their feet and are sixth after winning 1-0 away to Sevilla last Sunday.

Saturday's other game brings together Atletico Madrid and Mallorca.

The big game on Sunday sees Real Madrid away to Almeria, where they lost last season.

Bernd Schuster - who has spent most of the week moaning about referees - will be able to count on fit-again midfielders Wesley Sneijder, Mahamadou Diarra and Guti. In addition, Ruud Van Nistelrooy returns from suspension.

Sunday's other games are as follows: Recreativo Huelva-Getafe, Valladolid-Sevilla, Espanyol-Osasuna, Sporting Gijon-Numancia and Betis-Deportivo Coruna. (dpa)