Madrid - Barcelona will be trying to keep the goals flowing on Sunday - away to unpredictable Almeria.

Barca recovered their stupendous early season form on Wednesday by thrashing hapless Lyon 5-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"Now we have to keep this form going," said Liga top scorer Samuel Eto'o, who scored his first goal for a month against the French champions.

Barca are six points clear at the top over Real Madrid - who were slaughtered 4-0 by Liverpool on Tuesday - and seem to be over their three-week slump in form.

They will again be without defenders Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol, so veteran Sylvinho will have to continue at left-back.

Last season Barca were held to a 2-2 draw by Almeria, who are currently 10th.

Real, for their part, face a tough task on Saturday away to cup finalists Athletic Bilbao.

That meltdown at Anfield has provoked recriminations and tension at the Estadio Bernabeu, with interim president Vicente Boluda and unpopular sporting director Pedja Mijatovic in the eye of the storm.

Defender Gabriel Heinze raised eyebrows on Wednesday by saying that "when things go wrong, this can be the worst club in the world."

A club in even bigger trouble, cash-strapped Valencia, will also be in action on Saturday, at home to lowly Recreativo Huelva.

Valencia - whose players have not been paid since December - have failed to win for five games and have slipped down, alarmingly, to eighth.

On Sunday third-placed Sevilla will be away to surprise package Malaga, who have moved up to fifth in recent weeks - and are now dreaming of the Champions League.

Fourth-placed Villarreal, meanwhile, will be away to Atletico Madrid, who are seventh.

Villarreal captured the headlines by becoming the first Spanish team to win a Champions League knockout game in Greece, beating Panathinaikos 2-1.

Atletico, in contrast, were edged out by Portuguese champions Porto.

Another interesting clash on Sunday brings together lively Sporting Gijon and sixth-placed Deportivo Coruna.

Sunday's other games will be as follows: Valladolid-Getafe, Espanyol-Mallorca, Betis-Osasuna and Racing Santander-Numancia. (dpa)