Fri Mar 7 17:02:17 2008

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Real, Barca try to rebound from midweek knocks

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Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Defending La Liga champions Real Madrid will try to bounce back from its 4-2 aggregate loss to Roma in the round of 16 in UEFA Champions League play on Saturday when it hosts fifth-placed Espanyol in league play.

Barcelona, which is just five points back of the leaders, also had some bad news come out of their Champions League match. Despite earning a 4-2 aggregate victory over Celtic, the squad lost all-world forward Lionel Messi for an extended period with a torn muscle in his right thigh.

That doesn't help Barca's chances of catching the leaders, especially with a tough fixture against third placed Villarreal. Neither of the top two are in top form at the moment, with Madrid dropping five of their last seven in all competitions while Barca is coming off a 4-2 away loss to Atletico Madrid.

In the other La Liga match on Saturday, Real Zaragoza hosts Atletico Madrid.

In Sunday action: Valencia hosts Deportivo, Osasuna host Almeria, Athletic Bilbao hosts Valladolid, Racing hosts Betis, Real Murcia hosts Getafe, Mallorca hosts Recreativo, Sevilla hosts Levante.