All eyes are also on Lionel Messi, who is apparently in the midst of a crisis. A crisis i´m sure many players wouldnt mind suffering; second top scorer with 6 goals. His team are also said to be in a crisis (the word is in vogue), but its probably more a crisis of results more than any problem in form or tactics. Do they miss Eto'o in games like Osasuna and Rubin Kazan? Hard to say, but Ibrahimovic is a more than capable replacement.
Mallorca have won three times in the Camp Nou since the season 99/00, and will be looking to hitman Webo and midfielder battler Borja to make it a fourth this time around. The team from the Baleares have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, sitting pretty in fifth place. Mallorca have also comitted the most fouls so far in La Liga, and one would suspect they will turn to this tactic in an attempt to break up Barca's fluid circulation of the ball.
The first two fixtures today will see the battle for points between Tenerife and Málaga and the battle for Europe between Getafe and Deportivo. In Tenerife, both managers are in danger of becoming the second managerial casualty of the season, with Muñiz for Málaga and Oltra for Tenerife not having enjoyed the best of starts. A win is a must for Málaga, who will be looking to lift themselves off the foot of the table; it's been a month since they last bagged a single point. Emotion guaranteed in a fight for survival between two direct rivals.
Deportivo La Coruña will want to maintain their European aspirations with an away win against a Getafe side looking to enter the European dogfight themselves. Getafe have won their last three home ties, and will be looking to equal their club record of four. All eyes will be on Soldado for Getafe and Riki of Deportivo, as the goals are more than likely to come from these two in-form strikers.
Saturday Fixtures:
Getafe - Deportivo La Coruña
Tenerife - Málaga
Barcelona - Mallorca
Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid