Real Madrid will be looking to maintain its improving form against Almeria in the Spanish league and Barcelona will be hoping to protect its five-point lead at the top when it visits Deportivo La Coruna.

Barcelona beat Madrid 1-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday and then defeated last-place Xerez on Wednesday in a rescheduled game to improve to 33 points and remain unbeaten. Madrid are second in the standings with 28 points, followed by Sevilla with 26 and Valencia and Deportivo with 25 each.

Barcelona and Xerez have played one game more than the other teams.

Despite losing the "clasico," Madrid managed to pressure Barcelona for much of the game after a run of mainly unimpressive performances.

"In the Camp Nou we showed that we are at Barcelona's level," Madrid defender Pepe said. "We are clear on what line to follow. We returned from Barcelona without the three points but with plenty of confidence, knowing which is the way forward."

However, while Cristiano Ronaldo returned to face Barcelona, another major signing, Kaka, is a doubt for the Almeria game at the Bernabeu today due to injury.

Barcelona goes into today's game against Deportivo with morale sky-high. Besides a cushion at the top of the standings, the league champions had four players - Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - finish in the top 10 of the Golden Ball voting. Messi won the award.

However, a possible concern for Barcelona is its congested schedule. With a potentially decisive group game against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League next week and the Club World Cup approaching later this month, the squad will be tested as it attempts to emulate its feats last season when it won the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey.

Defender Daniel Alves brushed off any suggestions of tiredness after the 2-0 win against Xerez.

"The success we had last year was based on collective effort and we have to carry on like that," Alves said. "We're not tired. We are in the hands of phenomenal people who always make sure we are right and the team physically strong."

However, Deportivo have been a surprise presence at the top of the standings this season and presents a stiff challenge.

Filipe Luis, a Brazilian defender who was rumored to have been a Barcelona transfer target in the offseason, believes the champions will not find it easy.

"Barcelona are a big team but no team plays comfortably in the Riazor, only Espanyol managed that because we played badly," he said. "We are all enjoying a great deal being up high in the standings and we want to stay there. It won't be easy for them."

Ibrahimovic and Messi have both recently returned from injuries and only played the latter stages of the Xerez game, so their involvement today is yet to be confirmed.

Third-place Sevilla are hoping for the top two to slip up as they face 15th-place Valladolid today. The Andalusians have been pushing Barcelona and Real Madrid throughout the first part of the season although they could only manage a 2-2 draw against Malaga last weekend.

Also today, Xerez host Atletico Madrid.