Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy expects a tough test at Almeria as the champions bid to extend their lead at the Primera Liga summit.Real extended their lead over second-placed Barcelona to nine points last weekend, while they are 15 points clear of third-placed Villarreal, whom Bernd Schuster's side beat 3-2 on Sunday.

With an eight-game winning streak in the Primera Liga behind them and a favourable run-in ahead, Real look set for a comfortable stroll to the title.

However, they could face one of their trickier away matches on Saturday when they take on eighth-placed Almeria.

Almeria have won each of their last three league matches 1-0 - including ending Espanyol's 17-match unbeaten run - and are just four points off a UEFA Cup spot.

They have also kept things tight at home, scoring eight and conceding just seven in 11 league matches at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Almeria may have lost four of their home games this season, but Van Nistelrooy admits he has been impressed by the top-flight newcomers.

When asked which teams he felt would be up there at the end of the season, the Dutchman told AS: "Villarreal and Atletico Madrid are very good. It has been a surprise for me how well Villarreal have played. I also like Racing (Santander) and Almeria.

"They (Almeria) have the same points as Sevilla, which is also surprising and something I did not expect - not for Almeria to have done what they have, but because it is strange to see Sevilla so far behind.

"Nothing is easy. As such we will have to take care and focus completely on Saturday's game."

Saturday's other match pits Real Betis against second-bottom Deportivo La Coruna, with the rest of this weekend's La Liga fixtures taking place on Sunday.

Barca will hope to take advantage of any Real slip-up when they host Osasuna, and coach Frank Rijkaard could have playmaker Ronaldinho available for that match.

The Brazil international has been sidelined for over a month with a knee injury, but was named in a 16-man Barca squad for Thursday's Copa del Rey tie with Villarreal.

Troubled Valencia will seek to end a nine-game winless streak in La Liga when they travel to Real Valladolid, with Los Che receiving a boost in midweek after reaching the Copa del Rey semi-finals despite a second leg loss to Atletico.

Javier Aguirre's men, who won that match against Valencia 3-2, are also struggling slightly in the league and they will be keen to put back-to-back defeats behind them when they face Real Murcia at the Vicente Calderon.

Getafe continued their love affair with the cup after easing teir way through to semi-finals with an away goals win over Real Mallorca.

The capital club, who reached last year's cup final before losing to Sevilla, host stuttering Espanyol, while Mallorca travel to Villarreal.

Elsewhere, Sevilla go to Andalusian rivals Recreativo Huelva, bottom club Levante welcome Racing Santander and Real Zaragoza are at home to Athletic Bilbao.

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