That haul, aided by a Liga best ten goals from Ronaldinho and five from ex-Chelsea man Eidur Gudjohnsen -- one more than Eto'o managed before a serious knee injury in September sidelined him until the New Year -- is the best the club have managed in a decade.

But if three more points should come their way at Levante, struggling in the bottom six, nobody at the Nou Camp is quite nonchalant enough to ask: "Crisis? What crisis?"

Not, at least, until the pressing matter of Tuesday's Champions League do-or-die final Group A encounter with Werder Bremen has been dealt with.

Despite sweeping almost all before them at home, reigning continental champions Barca face elimination in Europe unless they beat the Germans after a stuttering campaign.

Gudjohnsen told reporters Thursday that Barca intended to stay right where they are -- in the Liga driving seat.

"It's important to stay out in front with Sevilla and Real Madrid racking up the wins as well," the striker said.

Levante's former Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro expressed the hope that coach Frank Rijkaard may rest Ronaldinho, though the latter declared he wants to play.

"But it's the gaffer's decision," said the Brazilian.

For a change, Barca fans will be rooting for their city neighbours Espanyol on Sunday as they play host to second-placed Seville, who had they not lost in the Nou Camp last month would now have a two-point lead at the top rather than the one-point deficit they must make up.

Real Madrid, three points off the pace and still blowing hot and cold, take on an Athletic Bilbao side who are, as last season, stumbling along in the drop zone with just one win from their opening 12 games.

Nine-times European champions Real are set to find at least a place on the bench for ex-England man David Beckham, who returned to training Wednesday after two weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Ronaldo, who missed last week's encouraging win in Valencia, also trained after missing a month with damaged knee ligaments and could make a return to action.

Bilbao announced on Wednesday they had appointed Jose Manuel Esnal Pardo, better known as Mane, as their new coach to replace the sacked Felix Sarriugarte.

Along with Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Basque outfit have never been relegated but they are once more walking a tightrope.

In Mane, they have turned to a man who took tiny Alaves to the 2001 UEFA Cup final where they lost a drama-ridden encounter 5-4.

Real's sporting director Pedja Mijatovic, meanwhile, said he expected Beckham, sidelined by coach Fabio Capello for most of the season, to put pen to paper soon on a long drawn out extended contract.

"As far as I know Beckham is happy at Real," said Mijatovic, who said that the midfielder would not necessarily remain out of the starting eleven for long.

While the champions look set to come from any one of the current leading trio fourth-placed Real Zaragoza are pushing hard on their heels just three points behind Real Madrid.

A draw at Vigo last week represented two points lost for Zaragoza, who have never won the title, but the club will look to Argentine hitman Diego Milito, joint second-top scorer in the ountry with Seville's Freddy Kanoute, to roll over strugglers Osasuna.

Valencia, having seen former Real Madrid forward Fernando Morientes fail to see off his former teammates last week in slumping to eighth in the table, tackle promoted Huelva hoping to end a terrible run which has brought just two points from five games.

In addition, star striker David Villa is being linked -- in the British media at least -- with a move to Chelsea.

Huelva, currently a surprise package in seventh spot, will be out to ensure they stay ahead of their illustrious visitors.
Fixturer
(1600 GMT kick-off unless stated)
Saturday
Levante v Barcelona (1900), Recreativo Huelvo v Valencia (1900)
Real Betis v Atletico Madrid (2100)
Sunday
Real Sociedad v Getafe, Villarreal v Gimnastic Tarragona, Real Mallorca v Celta Vigo, Deportivo La Coruna v Racing Santander, Espanyol v Seville, Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (1800), Real Zaragoza v Osasuna (2000)