PREVIEW: Real Madrid keen to maintain 10-point lead

By Duncan Shaw Feb 16, 2012, 8:33 GMT

Madrid - Real Madrid are planning to maintain their massive 10-point lead atop the Spanish Liga by beating lowly Racing Santander at home on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho's leaders are on course to break all the records this season. They have 58 points from 22 games - 10 more than Barcelona - which leaves them on course to break Barca's record of 99 points in 2009/10 season.

In addition, they have scored 75 goals, which leaves them well placed to surpass the all-time record of 107 goals, created by Real in 1989/90 season.

And to cap it all, Cristiano Ronaldo is on course to break the new scoring record he established only last season of 40 goals. He has already put away 27 this season, which is four more than Barca idol Lionel Messi.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, a former Real player and coach, was asked on Wednesday about the whites' 10-point lead. 'In this day and age,' he replied, 'that is a massive lead. But there is still a large part of the season to go.'

Real have only dropped this points at home, in December's 3-1 defeat against Barca.

Santander will go to Madrid without injury victims Gonzalo Colsa and Jairo, and keen to avoid a thrashing. They are third from bottom, and facing their usual relegation struggle.

The Real-Santander clash has been brought forward to Saturday because the whites are away to CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, in an intriguing Champions League round of 16 clash.

Mourinho decided on Wednesday that his team should fly out on Sunday rather than Monday, in order to get acclimatized to the Russian cold.

Also on Saturday, fifth-placed Espanyol are away to Getafe, and troubled Sevilla receive Osasuna.

Sevilla have not won in seven matches - slipping down to 13th in the process - a run that new coach Michel will be keen to end on Saturday.

Sunday's big game will bring together Barcelona and third-placed Valencia, in a fascinating repeat of last week's cup semi-final.

Barca will be without suspended defender Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano, which should mean that Gerard Pique returns after being controversially left out by Pep Guardiola for Tuesday's 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Pique is in poor form this season, but Guardiola said on Wednesday that he is 'untouchable.'

Sunday's other games are as follows: Granada v Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao v Malaga, Mallorca v Villarreal, Levante v Rayo Vallecano and Sporting Gijon v Atletico Madrid.

Former Spain manager Javier Clemente will be making his debut on the Gijon bench, against one of his many former clubs. Clemente, 61, was appointed by Gijon on Monday, with the hapless Inaki Tejada being pushed aside after just 10 days in charge.

The 23rd round of games will finish on Monday with bottom team Zaragoza at home to Betis. dpa ds bwh Author: Duncan Shaw