Madrid, Nov 21: In the week that Real Madrid inked a marketing deal with Disney, it was appropriate that the talk was of the reigning Spanish champions avoiding another Mickey mouse display against Albacete on Sunday. Real's last outing two weeks ago saw them crash 4-1 at Sevilla, with jokes after real went three down in 15 minutes that Donald Duck and Goofy could have done better than Beckham, Zidane and Ronaldo, and they need an emphatic win to restore morale and keep up their championship challenge.
Deportivo la Coruna lead the lead with 25 points after 11 games with Valencia, who travel to struggling Murcia on Sunday, and real second and third respectively with 23 points but separated by goal difference.
"Everybody is saying that Albacete should be a push over but there have been enough surprises in the league so far this season. I just hope there is not another one on Sunday," said real defender Francisco Pavon yesterday. The odds suggest real, who have a perfect record in the Santiago Bernabeu this campaign, should have no trouble overcoming their relegation-threatened visitors, who have yet to get an away point.

However, real coach Carlos Queiroz will have spent the past day or so pondering what to do about the Centre of the defence now that it looks like all of his players on midweek international duty have returned unscathed.

Michel Salgado will return at right back after suspension with Pavon moving back into the middle of the defence alongside Spanish international Ivan Helguera, while Raul bravo continues to deputise for the injured roberto carlos at left back.

Bureau Report