Chasing pack look to maintain challenge in Spain

MADRID, Oct 26 (Reuters) Real Madrid may be in confident mood after last weekend's victory over Barcelona, but a host of other teams are also hoping to ensure the defending champions do not have it all their own way this season.

Joint leaders Valencia, UEFA Cup winners Sevilla, a resurgent Deportivo Coruna and a stylish Real Zaragoza side have all shown the sort of early season credentials that will give them hope of challenging for honours in the present campaign.

Despite suffering a host of injury problems, Valencia have managed to match Barcelona stride for stride and will be expected to win their match at Racing Santander on Saturday.

Leading striker David Villa, who took his tally for the season to five when he scored the winner in last week's 1-0 win over Osasuna, believes that Barca's defeat to Real will give the chasing pack renewed confidence.

''It proved that Barcelona aren't in as good shape as they were last season and they can slip up,'' he said this week. ''It has given teams like us a boost in morale and let's hope we can stay with them.'' Skipper David Albelda became the latest player to join the club's growing injury list when he strained knee ligaments against Osasuna and with Ruben Baraja and Carlos Marchena also sidelined, Hugo Viana may play alongside the in-form Edu in midfield.

Racing have won just one of their seven matches and have relied almost exclusively on new signing Nikola Zigic to provide them with goals.

The giant Serbia striker has scored half his side's goals but will have his work cut out against the miserly Valencia defence.

TOP SCORER Sevilla moved up to third place after a 2-1 win over Gimnastic, both goals coming courtesy of Mali striker Frederic Kanoute. The former Tottenham Hotspur player is the league's joint top scorer with seven.

With a top-notch midfield line-up that includes the hugely talented youngster Jesus Navas, Brazil's Renato and Danish international Christian Poulsen and a gritty back four, Sevilla have one of the best balanced squads in Spain.

They travel to mid-table Celta Vigo on Sunday as they look to keep the pressure on the top two.

For connoisseurs of the beautiful game, Zaragoza are playing some of La Liga's most attractive football.

With new Argentine duo Pablo Aimar and Andres D'Alessandro are providing a ready supply of ball for prolific strike duo of Ewerthon and Diego Milito, Victor Fernandez's side are joint-top scorers with Barca and will provide a stiff test for Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Two sides that are consistently punching above their weight, Joaquin Caparros's Depor and Bernd Schuster's Getafe, also meet on Sunday.

Caparros orchestrated a close-season clear-out of some of the dressing room heavyweights at the Riazor and has brought in a host of youngsters who shown the hunger and desire that the old guard lacked.

Schuster had to construct a new squad after the club decided to cash in and sell some of its leading players at the end of last season but once again he and his team have proved they are a match for anyone and are only three points adrift of Barca in eighth place.

Real and Barca take on promoted sides Gimnastic Tarragona and Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.

REUTERS PM HS1507