Real Madrid faces tough test at Sevilla in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid is facing a tough test at fifth-place Sevilla on Saturday as it looks to rebound from another loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league.

A win at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium would move Madrid three points ahead of league leader Barcelona, which has already played its 16th round match so it can compete in the Club World Cup.

Madrid eased to a 2-0 win at third-tier club Ponferradina in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, but the real measure of how much the 3-1 loss to Barcelona has damaged its morale comes against Sevilla.

"After losing the 'clasico,' it was important to win at Ponferradina," Madrid midfielder Kaka said. "Now we are going to Sevilla excited by the chance to again move top of the table."

After starting out undefeated in its first five home games, Sevilla has stumbled of late, dropping two of its last three home fixtures and losing 1-0 at Levante in the last round.

This slump has coincided with the injury to Spain striker Alvaro Negredo, who is back in the lineup but still returning to form.

Coach Marcelino Garcia, however, has forged one of league's top defenses. Sevilla has only conceded 11 goals this season, second best to Barcelona's eight.

But Sevilla will take on the league's best attack, along with Barcelona, as Madrid has scored 50 goals in 15 league matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the team's scorers with 17 goals and will look to put on a good showing after being heavily criticized for his costly misses against Barcelona.

"To beat (Madrid) we have to do almost everything very well and be very careful not to leave them a lot of space, above all on the break," Sevilla forward Manu del Moral said.

"They are very dangerous, and we also have to have a good day, staying confident and not being afraid."

On Sunday, Atletico Madrid hosts Real Betis in a game pitting two coaches who are both under increasing pressure as their teams slide down the standings.

Atletico, which plays Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday night, comes off back-to-back losses at Espanyol in the league and at third-division Albacete in the Copa.

Atletico coach Gregorio Manzano will hope his team can continue its undefeated run at Vicente Calderon against Pepe Mel's Betis, which ended a 10-game winless streak last weekend but still sits just one point above the drop.

"We have to change this dynamic," said Manzano. "I began this project and I want to finish it ... if they let me."

Later on Sunday, third-place Valencia hosts sixth-place Malaga in need of a win to stay in touch with the top two.

Osasuna will seek to protect its unbeaten home record against the struggling Villarreal with the chance to rise into fifth place with a win and other favorable results.

Also this weekend, it's: Mallorca vs. Getafe, Sporting Gijon vs. Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao vs. Zaragoza, Granada vs. Levante, and Racing Santander vs. Real Sociedad.