体坛英语新闻：Preview: Vital week ahead to condition Real Madrid and Barca on Saturday

MADRID, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona play their respective La Liga matches on Saturday with their return to the Champions League and next weekend's 'Clasico' very much on the horizon.

Real Madrid travel to Valencia to face a Levante side that came back from 3-0 down in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium earlier in the season to finish 3-2 and have Real Madrid asking for the final whistle.

Manchester City's visit in the Champions League next week means Zinedine Zidane could rest players such as Casemiro, Dani Carvajal and either Sergio Ramos or Raphael Varane in central defense, while he is unlikely to risk Eden Hazard so soon after his comeback from a serious ankle injury.

Luka Jovic and Gareth Bale both missed training during the week due to a stomach ache, but were back with the squad on Thursday and should have no problems in being available on Saturday.

FC Barcelona closed to within a point of Madrid last weekend, but the revelations that club president Josep Maria Bartomeu used a company to improve his image on social media while damaging that of some players is likely to lead to him facing a hostile atmosphere when Barca entertain Eibar in the Camp Nou on Saturday night.

Eibar have never won away to Barca, but need points with the relegation zone too close for comfort.

Barca completed the signing of striker Martin Braithwaite from Leganes on Thursday and the Dane will probably be on the bench, while Clement Lenglet is available after suspension last weekend.

Jordi Alba is out with a muscle injury but both Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are one card away from completing a cycle of bookings and if either see yellow on Saturday, they would be suspended for the 'Clasico'.

With just one point separating Barca from Madrid, the Clasico looks as if it will be decisive in the destination of this season's title, but the coaches' decisions this weekend will also have a lot to say about what happens in the Bernabeu eight days later.