The two sides meet on Saturday and encounters in recent years been full-blooded affairs with Valencia certainly not consumed by the fear that grips many other visitors to the Nou Camp.

Last season, Valencia won 1-0 on their trip up the Mediterranean coast, thanks to a goal from Ricardo Oliveira who is now with Real Betis, and memories have barely dimmed of a thrilling 4-2 triumph for the visitors two season ago.

"It's one of my favourite stadiums. I remember winning three times in four visits when I was in charge here," commented Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri earlier this week.

Ranieri is clearly licking his lips at the thought of visiting Barca, and the former Chelsea boss can now sit a lot more comfortably while he's doing it after overcoming the sticky start to the season which almost saw him lose his job.

Valencia have climbed up to third, with 28 points from 15 games, after winning their last four matches although they are still 10 points behind Barcelona.

Barca have only lost once this season and have a nine point advantage over their nearest rivals Espanyol, but the league leaders will have to go into battle without their French international winger Ludovic Giuly, who is still recovering from a right thigh strain.

Real Madrid are lie fourth but have a game in hand after last week's abandoned fixture against Real Sociedad, thanks to a bomb hoax from the Basque nationalist group ETA.

The Spanish giants will be looking for a convincing performance at erratic Racing Santander on Saturday to emphasise to their critics that they can still have a say in the destination of the league title.

They will however, have to do without the great Ronaldo who has been left out of the squad after he was unable to train with the rest of the team because of a groin strain.

In addition to Saturday's match, the Brazilian international is also doubtful for next Wednesday's league match at home to Sevilla.

"Normally he would be able to be back in action in two or three days," said club doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez.

"But Ronaldo has a large muscle structure and it might not be advisable to force him because the injury might become more serious."

Ronaldo is likely to be replaced by England striker Michael Owen, although Fernando Morientes could also be given a rare run-out in the starting line-up Santander.

Ronaldo was looking to add to his tally of eight goals this season and the superstar, who has twice been the Spanish first division's leading scorer in the last eight years, believes he's now got into his stride after a hesitant start.

"There were seven years between my first Pichichi (the trophy for the Spanish first division's top scorer) and my second. I don't want to wait as long for my third," joked the man who got 24 league goals last season, and who has found the net five times in his last five league outings in this campaign.

FIXTURES
Saturday (kick off GMT): Levante v Albacete (1700), Racing Santander v Real Madrid (1900), Barcelona v Valencia (2100)

Sunday: Real Mallorca v Osasuna (1600), Numancia v Espanyol (1600), Real Sociedad v Getafe (1600), Villarreal v Malaga (1600), Real Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao (1600), Sevilla v Real Betis (1800), Atletico Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna (2000)