Ronaldinho-inspired Barca face tough trip to Villarreal

THE Primera Liga’s two form sides go head-to-head this weekend when leaders Barcelona travel to face a Juan Roman Riquelme-inspired Villarreal team.

The Catalan club are level with Osasuna at the top of the Primer Liga, with both clubs five points clear of third-placed Villarreal.

Newly-crowned European Player of the Year Ronaldinho has been the star for Barca and, after recapturing the form that was missing at the start of the campaign, has already equalled last season’s goal tally with nine strikes.

Samuel Eto’o is currently the top scorer in the league, and coach Frank Rijkaard will have to choose between Ludovic Giuly and boy wonder Lionel Messi to partner the Cameroon star and Ronaldinho in attack.

Villarreal are also playing well after a slow start, and even the loss of joint European golden boot holder Diego Forlan to injury has not seemed to affect their rise up the league.

Riquelme is the catalyst in midfield while fellow Argentinian Juan Pablo Sorin has provided attacking impetus from defence.

Real Madrid face a tough local derby with Getafe which they badly need to win to restore self-belief in the dressing room and in the stands.

It is three games since Wanderley Luxemburgo’s side last won, and the pressure is growing.

Real are set to be boosted however by the return of Ronaldo from injury.

Sevilla have started to score the goals they had been lacking, with Javier Saviola settled into the team after missing the start of the season through injury.

Back-to-back victories in the league have boosted their confidence but they will face a tough task against Deportivo La Coruna, who are capable of beating the best on their day.

Real Betis travel to Celta Vigo needing victory, with the side languishing second from bottom.

Having seen their Champions League hopes ended Betis are free to concentrate on the league, but in Celta face a solid side riding high in the table.

Bottom team Athletic Bilbao are starting to look more like a typical Javier Clemente side and they face an out-of-sorts Atletico Madrid whose big summer buys are failing to deliver.

Questions will be asked about the future of Real Zaragoza coach Victor Munoz if they fail to beat Cadiz. Zaragoza not won in nine league matches.

Racing Santander are another side in trouble and face Real Sociedad, while Mallorca take on Alaves in another basement battle.

Osasuna are the surprise package so far this season and are the only team still matching Barcelona, and will be looking for victory away at Malaga, while Espanyol face Valencia.