Atletico Madrid aim to overcome their recent woes by beating defending champions Real Madrid for the first time in nine years in today's Spanish league clash.

Atletico go into the derby at their Vicente Calderon Stadium in ninth place and on the back of two straight league defeats, a 1-0 home loss against Sevilla and an embarrassing 6-1 rout at FC Barcelona.

The team has also been hit by a UEFA punishment that will shut the stadium for two Champions League games after crowd disorder, racist abuse and poor organization marred its match with Marseille.

Atletico have been threatened with playing next week's fixture against Liverpool at least 300 kilometres from the capital, although Spanish media reported that UEFA has decided to postpone the sanction.

Madrid midfielder Ruben De La Red predicts Atletico's problems could jeopardise his team's hopes of continuing its recent supremacy over their neighbours.

"Atletico will want to get over their troubles against us. I think it will be a really difficult match," De La Red said.

Madrid carry a five-game unbeaten league run into the encounter, with veteran captain Raul Gonzalez enjoying a return to form with four goals in the past three league matches.

Coach Bernd Schuster's team could be without injured forward Arjen Robben and midfielders Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez and Mahamadou Diarra.

By contrast, Aguirre hopes to boost his side by welcoming back striker Diego Forlan, together with midfielders Simao Sabrosa and Maniche, from injury.

Madrid have 13 points, three behind leaders Valencia and Villarreal. Sevilla are third with 14.

Valencia's unbeaten record this season should stay safe tomorrow when they host promoted Numancia, whose only victory so far this season came on the opening weekend when they beat Barcelona 1-0.

Valencia's Brazilian goalkeeper, Renan Brito, who has made an impressive start since arriving from Internacional de Porto Alegre before the season, summed up the team's growing confidence this week.

"Valencia can do something great this season, although I don't know whether it will be in the league or the UEFA Cup. It's still too early to say," Brito said.

Last season's runners-up, Villarreal, also hope to retain their unbeaten start this season today at Espanyol, the scene of a 3-0 defeat in the last campaign.

"They are a tricky side and a very difficult opponent. We'll need to be at our best to win there," Villarreal defender Diego Godin said.

The league's only other unbeaten team, Sevilla, may be short on firepower for tomorrow's trip to sixth-place Almeria.

Mali's Frederic Kanoute and Ivory Coast's Arouna Kone are sidelined, while Brazil's Luis Fabiano and Uruguay's Javier Chevanton are doubtful. In addition, Spain winger Diego Capel and Serbia defender Ivica Dragutinovic will also miss the game through injury.

Free-scoring Barcelona, who are fourth with 13 points, will be seeking more goals on their visit to 15th-place Athletic Bilbao tomorrow.

Coach Pep Guardiola's team has scored six times on two occasions this season - against Atletico and Sporting Gijon - to share the scoring lead with Madrid with 18 goals.