"The basic principal is that we've got to recover our organisation and shape and concede less goals," said Rijkaard.

"This team is still evolving and has room to develop more but we have a small advantage over the other teams because they have been at their limit so far (this season)."

Barcelona are unbeaten in the league at home this season but have only won three of their last nine games, and all against teams in the bottom four of the division.

The Catalan club have a one point lead over Sevilla at the top and against Racing, Barcelona could get a big boost to their morale by fielding Lionel Messi.

The Argentine teenager has been out for almost three months with an injury to his left foot but resumed full training with the rest of the team on Tuesday.

Rijkaard still has worries over the fitness of Deco and Ronaldinho but, if history is any sort of indicator, Barcelona should notch up three points.

Racing have lost on their last nine trips to the Nou Camp and not won there since 1983.

Last season, they went down 4-1 in the same fixture, with Messi among the goalscorers and to add to their woes, Racing strikers Nicola Zigic and Pedro Munitis are both suspended.

Racing coach is expected to use Juanjo Exposito and former Real Madrid reserve Javier Balboa up front instead of his usual pair.

Sevilla visit their local rivals Real Betis on Saturday just 10 days after the pair slugged out a 0-0 draw in the Spanish Cup.

The acrimony between the two teams has not stopped and Sevilla coach Juande Ramos has continued with the barbed exchanges.

"I hope that Betis aren't as defensive as they were in the Cup. There are three points up for grabs and both teams need them," said Ramos.

Sevilla will be without French defender Julien Escude and Portuguese midfielder Duda who are both suspended.

The 2006 UEFA Cup winners could also be without Fredi Kanoute, the Spanish first division's leading scorer with 16 goals, for the second successive game as the Malian striker is still struggling to overcome a slight groin strain.

Valencia are the team in form at the moment and are third, only three points away from Barca, after winning seven out of their last eight games.

They will be looking to keep up the pressure on the leading pair with a win at Getafe on Sunday.

The current form of the 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions was demonstrated with five of their squad starting for Spain in their 1-0 defeat of England on Wednesday, which was a record for the club.

"Getafe are having a great season and they have got great players like (striker) Daniel Guiza but we are planning to get our revenge after they beat us in the Cup," said Valencia winger Joaquin Sanchez.

By contrast, fourth-placed Real Madrid are in the doldrums, not helped by the controversy about whether coach Fabio Capello should swallow his pride and recall David Beckham.

"It is very hard for me because I would like to help the team," the former England captain said.

"I'm desperate to play again. I don't know if I will but I've got to keep on training. I want to leave this club on a high."

Fixtures
(1600 GMT Kick-off unless stated)
Saturday
Real Sociedad v Real Madrid (1900), Real Betis v Sevilla (2100)
Sunday
Celta Vigo v Espanyol (1600), Getafe v Valencia (1600), Gimnastic Tarragona v Osasuna (1600), Levante v Recreativo Huelva (1600), Real Mallorca v Real Zaragoza (1600), Villarreal v Deportivo La Coruna (1600), Barcelona v Racing Santander (1800), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (2000)