MADRID - A rested and hungry Real Madrid will find a promoted Cordoba feeling confident for their match in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Madrid has had no midweek match to expend energy on, and has a chance to stay ahead of second-place Barcelona, with a game in hand.

But Cordoba won't be a pushover. It has risen from out of the drop zone to mid-table this month, with two of its three wins in the league.

Elche, two places above the relegation zone, welcomes Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid hosts Rayo Vallecano in a capital city derby that will fill Vicente Calderon Stadium and keep police extra vigilant on Saturday.

Here are some things to know about this weekend's matches:

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RESTED REAL: Getting knocked out of the Copa del Rey has meant Cristiano Ronaldo will be well rested for the visit to Andalucia.

When Cordoba visited the Santiago Bernabeu in August for the first match of the season, Ronaldo was held at bay by the defence until the 90th minute. Then he unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from 25 yards that bounced just in front of goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martin Corral before ricocheting in off the post.

Of his 36 goals this season, 28 have come in La Liga.

The other goal in Madrid's 2-0 win was by Karim Benzema.

HISTORIC WELCOME: Spain was still under the military dictatorship of Francisco Franco the last time Cordoba welcomed Madrid.

Hence, Saturday will be a historic occasion at Nuevo Arcangel Stadium, even though French-born Algeria forward Nabil Ghilas tried to play down the significance of the clash.

"It's a week like any other, we have to work and do everything we can to try and come away with something positive," Ghilas said.

"I expect Madrid will attack a lot, and we will strive to take advantage of counterattacks."

Coached by Miroslav Dukic, Cordoba began this season disastrously with a run of 13 league games without a win, but a 1-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in December turned its luck.

BATTERED ELCHE: Barcelona has won five consecutive matches in all competitions, but its midweek 1-0 Copa quarterfinal win thanks to a late penalty against Atletico was laboured.

Coach Luis Enrique hopes to steady the team, and an away win at Elche will remind everyone that Barcelona is still in contention for a treble.

Saturday's match will be the third time the teams have met in a month, with Barcelona having battered Elche twice in the Copa for a 9-0 aggregate.

BATTLE FOR FOURTH: Valencia can leapfrog Sevilla into fourth place after their Sunday matchup. A single point separates them at the halfway point of the league, although Sevilla has a game in hand.

However, Sevilla came away bruised after a 3-1 defeat at Espanyol in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.