La Liga - Team news: Atletico tested

Valladolid coach Jose Luis Mendilibar is confident his side can bring La Liga's early pace-setters Atletico Madrid back to earth when they visit the Zorrilla on Saturday.

"They are experiencing a moment of euphoria at present and are riding the crest of a wave, but we'll see how long it lasts. We will show them respect but it's possible to beat them and beat them well," Mendilibar said.

Atletico qualified for the Champions League group stage with a 4-0 victory over Schalke and followed that up with a 4-0 trouncing of promoted Malaga on the opening day of the season.

With their Champions League Group D opener away to PSV Eindhoven coming up on Tuesday, Atletico may rest some players after international duty during the week including Uruguay's Diego Forlan and Argentina's Sergio Aguero.

New Valencia coach Unai Emery returns to his former club Almeria on Sunday with his side nursing injury problems.

Forward David Silva, midfielder Ruben Baraja and defender Carlos Marchena are all sidelined, while Vicente, Fernando Morientes, Edu and Asier del Horno are doubts.

Real Madrid have a doubt over striker Raul (Achilles), which could give Argentine Gonzalo Higuain the chance to start in attack beside Ruud van Nistelrooy when Numancia visit on Sunday.

Rafael van der Vaart returns from suspension, but Dutch international compatriot Wesley Sneijder is still recovering from a knee injury.

Barcelona are set to rest Uruguay's Martin Caceres, Mexico's Rafael Marquez and Argentina's Lionel Messi for the home match against Racing Santander on Saturday. All three were on international duty during the week.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini will be absent from his side's match at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday for personal reasons. Strikers Nihat Kahveci and Giuseppe Rossi are injured, while defender Diego Godin is suspended. Midfielder Robert Pires and full back Angel Lopez are injury doubts.

Sevilla's 20-year-old winger Diego Capel has brushed off criticism from some sections of the media for his performance in his competitive debut for Spain in the 1-0 win over Bosnia in their opening World Cup qualifier last weekend.

"I have to accept the criticism but it is the way I have always played with Sevilla and I am pleased with my work. I have developed as a player the last few days and they have been some of the happiest days of my life," he said.

Source : eurosport.yahoo.com