Lionel Messi will be the big absentee on Saturday, when Spanish leaders Barcelona take on lowly Mallorca.
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The World Player suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg in Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain, and will miss the Mallorca game in an attempt to be fit for the April 10 return leg against PSG.
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As a result, Messi's record-breaking run of scoring in 19 consecutive Ligas matches has come to an end.
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An online poll taken by Sport showed on Thursday that no less than 77 per cent of readers believed the little Argentine will play in the second leg against PSG.
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In the meantime, coach Tito Vilanova will have to patch together a makeshift team to face Mallorca.
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His other injury absentees are Carles Puyol, Adriano, Javier Mascherano and Pedro. In addition, Xavi will almost certainly take a rest before the visit of PSG.
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This will open the door for youngsters Martin Montoya, Marc Bartra and Thiago, as well as veteran Eric Abidal, finally fit again after a year out following a liver transplant.
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"We are really being hit by injuries this season," defender Gerard Pique said. "But we have a squad big enough and good enough to overcome these."
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Barca are 13 points ahead of Real Madrid atop La Liga. Mallorca, in contrast, are second from bottom and in big trouble.
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"We cannot give anything away now, given the situation we are in. We just have to carry on fighting," Mallorca's Israeli keeper Dudu Aouate said.
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"We know just how difficult things will be on Saturday, but we should see the game as an opportunity rather than a problem."
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Also on Saturday, Real host midtable Levante while Malaga - like Real and Barca in the Champions League quarterfinals - visit surprise package Real Sociedad.
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Sociedad, one of the Liga teams with the lowest budget, are one point above fifth-placed Malaga, and really enjoying life at the moment.
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"This is a great situation for us," midfielder David Zuruzuta said. "Nobody expected great things from us this season, but look how things have turned out."
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He added that "we will need to continue working really hard" in order to get into Europe next season.
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Saturday's other game will be a relegation battle between bottom team Deportivo La Coruna and fourth bottom Zaragoza.
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Friday sees an Andalusian derby between Granada, who are fifth from bottom, and seventh-placed Betis.
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Meanwhile, there will be a Madrid derby Sunday between Getafe and third-ranked Atletico. The day's other matches are Celta v Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna v Espanyol and Valencia v Valladolid.
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Monday will see a midtable clash between fallen giants Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca won't be of great importance to them like the return leg against PSG. They would focus more on that