A 10-match unbeaten run, which included a 3-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, has taken the Catalans to the top of the table while Villarreal are five points behind in third spot after going nine games without losing.

Both made a sluggish start to the season, Villarreal not managing a victory until their fifth outing and Barca winning just two of their first five games. They hit form in October, however.

With their devastating attacking trio of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, Barca have fired in 20 goals in a dazzling six-game winning streak.

Meanwhile a well-oiled Villarreal, marshalled by the ice-cool Juan Roman Riquelme, have been using their patient passing game to put their opponents to the sword with brutal efficiency.

Although Barca have heavily outscored Villarreal, Manuel Pelligrini's side have had to make do without last season's leading scorer Diego Forlan for the last month because of a hamstring injury.

Forlan returned to training on Wednesday, but Pellegrini is unlikely to risk him before next week's decisive Champions League match against Lille.

Barca will be taking nothing for granted, though, as the last time they visited Villarreal they were dealt a shattering 3-0 defeat with their former player Riquelme running the show at the Madrigal.

Villarreal striker Luciano Figueroa, who is likely to start in place of Forlan up front, is hoping the team can cash in on its present form.

"We aren't scared of anyone at the moment," said the Argentine. "The club is going through a great period. We're on a run, we're playing well and we want to take advantage to beat Barcelona."

Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid, who scrambled a 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad last week thanks to two last-gasp strikes from Raul Bravo and Zinedine Zidane, entertain neighbours Getafe at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

With the contract renewals of goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Ivan Helguera taking some of the attention away from their recent poor performances, Real will be looking to pull rank on their modest opponents from the south of the city.

Ronaldo should reappear after missing out last week because of a recurrence of an ankle injury, but Zidane is a doubt once again after suffering a minor groin strain in training.

Getafe, who are coached by former Real Madrid player Bernd Schuster and contain a host of players from the Real youth-team ranks, are hoping to avenge their undeserved 2-0 defeat at the Bernabeu last season.

Second-place Osasuna, who are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, face a tricky trip to Malaga on Sunday.

FIXTURES
Primera Liga Fixtures
Saturday
Celta Vigo v Real Betis, Real Madrid v Getafe, Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid
Sunday
Alaves v Mallorca, Cadiz v Real Zaragoza, Espanyol v Valencia, Racing Santander v Real Sociedad, Malaga v Osasuna, Villarreal v Barcelona,

Sevilla v Deportivo La Coruna