Madrid - In-form Real Madrid take one inconsistent Racing Santander Saturday aiming to make up lost ground on leaders Barcelona who are in action on Sunday.

Santander have not won in the Estadio Bernabeu for nine years, but are always dangerous on the road - as Sevilla and Valencia have found out recently.

Leading the Santander attack will be man mountain Nikola Zigic, who has reinvigorated the Cantabrian attack since returning from Valencia a month ago.

"Zigic will be a constant threat to us," admitted Real coach Juande Ramos on Wednesday.

Fortunately for Ramos, Zigic will be without his usual partner in crime, since little veteran Pedro Munitis is suspended.

Ramos has transformed Real since taking over from Bernd Schuster two months ago, changing an attacking, open, defensively weak side into one solid at the back, hard-working in midfield - and quick on the break.

The contain-and-counter style imposed by Ramos has not delighted all the "madridista" fans, but the results speak for themselves: played seven, won six, drawn none, lost one (2-0 away to leaders Barcelona), goals for 11, goals against three.

Even so, Real are still 12 points behind Barca. And on Saturday they may be without their form player, because Arjen Robben has gone down with flu.

The "Flying Dutchman" has become the central element in Ramos' counter-attacking system, and is in his best form yet since coming to Madrid from Chelsea in 2007.

Saturday's other game will be the Seville derby between third-placed Sevilla and struggling Betis.

Defeat against the old enemy would almost certainly spell the sack for embattled Betis coach Paco Chaparro.

The big game on Sunday, will be the Barcelona-Sporting Gijon clash, with the Barca fans keen to see another goal-fest from Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi.

Gijon coach Manuel Preciado promised on Wednesday that "we are not going to make things easy for them...they will have to work really hard."

Fourth-placed Valencia will be away to lowly Osasuna, while faltering Villarreal will face dogged Numancia.

Abel Resino, meanwhile, will be making his debut on the Atletico Madrid bench away to Recreativo Huelva.

Also on Sunday, Malaga will take on Almeria and Valladolid will face Athletic Bilbao, whilst Getafe play Espanyol and Mallorca square up to Deportivo Coruna.