However, Spanish pundits put Real's chances of clinching the championship with a week in hand as little better than 10 to one especially as fifth-placed Zaragoza are not going to let Madrid win La Liga without a massive fight.

At stake for Zaragoza in their intimidating La Romareda stadium is a place in the UEFA Cup.

"I think we have got a good chance to beat Real Madrid. It will be a good way to say goodbye to our fans for this season," said Zaragoza's Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar on Thursday.

"We beat Barcelona at home not so long ago and we need to play the same way if we are to beat Real but I think we are up to it."

Zaragoza will be without their suspended Uruguayan defender Carlos Diogo, who has been on a season-long loan from Real Madrid and whose permanent transfer was sealed on Wednesday.

David Beckham could also miss the crucial match after returning to Madrid following England's 3-0 win in Estonia on Wednesday, with a slightly sprained left ankle.

"He's not definitely out at this stage but he's doubtful," said a Real club spokesman on Thursday.

Beckham also missed Real's 1-0 home win against Zaragoza when he was dropped for a month by Fabio Capello in January as a punishment for signing for American side LA Galaxy.

The goalscorer that night was Ruud van Nistelrooy. With 24 league goals so far this season the Dutchman is looking to clinch La Liga's top scorer plaudits in Real's final two games, and also grab the European Golden Boot award from under the nose of Roma's Francesco Totti, who scored 26 goals in Italy's Serie A this season.

Second-placed Barcelona have, like Real, 72 points from their 36 games but the reigning champions are behind their bitter rivals as a result of this season's head-to-head encounters.

"Real have a very difficult away game so they could slip up but a derby game always means Espanyol are more motivated than normal," said Barcelona's Portuguese winger Deco on Thursday.

Barca have their Brazilian pair Ronaldinho and Edmilson suspended while Espanyol's Moroccan international midfielder Moha El Yaagoubi also has a one match ban.

Sevilla are two points behind the leading pair but, after being on top at the start of the year, last month's UEFA Cup winners are now likely to be settling for a place in next season's Champions League.

At the other end of the table, both Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo are playing for their top flight survival and will be relegated if they lose on Saturday.

Both teams were in the Champions League as recently as three seasons ago but have endured lacklustre campaigns.

The San Sebastian-based Real Sociedad were last in the Spanish second division 40 years ago, in 1967, but their failure to find the net, rather than problems at the back, has been the source of their woes this season.

Former Brazilian international Savio arrived mid-season and the dynamic midfielder, who won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, has helped restore a modicum of pride to Sociedad but it is an indication of their plight that he is their leading scorer with five goals.

Sociedad will probably delay relegation, if only for a week, if they beat Racing Santander, who have nothing left to play for, but fellow strugglers Celta have a much tougher task at Atletico Madrid.

Atletico lie sixth and are bidding to return to Europe for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Fixtures
Saturday
(kick off 1900GMT)
Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo, Barcelona v Espanyol, Real Betis v Osasuna, Levante v Valencia, Real Mallorca v Sevilla, Real Sociedad v Racing Santander, Villarreal v Athletic Bilbao, Real Zaragoza v Real Madrid
Sunday
(kick off 1500GMT)
Deportivo La Coruna v Recreativo Huelva, Getafe v Gimnastic Tarragona