Top against bottom in Spanish clash of contrasts

Levante have made the poorest start of any Liga team in recent years and already have a doomed look about them.

 They have picked up just eight measly points from 18 games, and are nine points behind second-from-bottom side Deportivo Coruna.

 "We really need to start winning matches quickly," Levante defender Jose Serrano said on Wednesday. "But that will be hard to do on Sunday."

   Later on Wednesday, Serrano and company were given a 3-0 cup drubbing by Getafe.

 Real are almost as clear at the top as Levante are stranded at the bottom.

 Bernd Schuster's team are seven points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, winning their games with calm efficiency rather than with the attractive exuberance of previous decades.

 Schuster will have to field a makeshift defence, since Gabriel Heinze, Pepe, Christoph Metzelder and Fabio Cannavaro are all carrying injuries - and Sergio Ramos is suspended.

 In addition, Arjen Robben again broke down in training, and Mali international Mahamadou Diarra has already left for the African Nations Cup.

 The other big game on Sunday sees fourth-placed Atletico Madrid at home to crisis club Valencia.

 On Wednesday Atletico managed to loan misfit midfielder Maniche out to Italian champions Inter Milan.

 Valencia, meanwhile, were winning 2-1 away to Betis in the cup, a win which will take some of the pressure off embattled coach Ronald Koeman.

 Argentine newboy Ever Banega will probably make his debut in the Estadio Calderon. Valencia have assigned him a round-the-clock personal bodyguard - to steer him clear of bars and nightclubs.

 Also on Sunday, third-placed Espanyol are away to modest Almeria, while Villarreal take on troubled Deportivo. Defeat in Villarreal could spell the sack for Depor coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

 Sunday's other games are as follows: Betis-Getafe, Valladolid- Recreativo Huelva, Zaragoza-Mallorca and Osasuna-Racing Santander.

 The 19th round of matches - which brings to a close the first half of the season - begins on Saturday with Barcelona at home to Murcia.

 It will be last game for Barca striker Samuel Eto'o before leaving for Africa to join Cameroon's squad. Midfielder Yaya Toure has already left to meet his Ivory Coast squad.

 There are the usual injury doubts about Ronaldinho and Deco, both of whom missed Wednesday's 1-1 cup draw away to holders Sevilla.

 Later on Saturday Sevilla are away to lowly Athletic Bilbao.

By Duncan Shaw, dpa