No Barca side has ever started a campaign with seven successive wins but that is the prize on offer to Pep Guardiola's side for their trip down the east coast, where a triumph would also ensure last season's treble winners will stay at least three points clear at the top of the standings.

Barca defender Dani Alves insists that, more than records, it is taking another step towards retaining their title that is spurring him on.

He said: "They are just statistics, it's not important. The Valencia game is another one along the path we've marked out for ourselves.

"If we beat them we'll open up a gap on a team that we'll be competing against at the end of the season so we have to go for a win and take our chances."

The champions' hopes of beating Valencia could be boosted by the possible absence of Los Che's star striker David Villa due to injury.

Villa missed Spain's final two World Cup qualifiers this week after suffering a leg injury in Valencia's last match against Racing Santander, and it remains to be seen if he will be able to face a Barca side who he was closely linked to this summer.

Alves said: "He's very important for them. Villa shoulders the responsibility for their attacking game and he is their main goal scorer.

"If he doesn't play it'll be good news for us. If confirmed, his absence will be very important."

Valencia, who might also be without former Spain wingers Joaquin Sanchez and Vicente Rodriguez, are not the only side who could be missing key players this weekend either as second-placed Real Madrid have some injury concerns of their own ahead of Saturday's visit of Real Valladolid.

Madrid, who are three points behind Barca after seeing their winning start to the season ended by Sevilla last time out, could be without Cristiano Ronaldo, Guti, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernando Gago, Christoph Metzelder and Alvaro Arbeloa due to fitness concerns.

Ronaldo could be out of action for up to a month with an ankle injury and his loss will be the keenest felt by Madrid, although captain Raul is confident there is enough strength in depth to cover the absentees.

"Cristiano is a very important player for us, but there are also other injured players. We are suffering too many injuries, but we have a big squad," Raul said.

"We hope they return as soon as possible. We've got some very important games coming up, both in the league and Champions League, especially the double-header against AC Milan."

Sevilla, who are level with Madrid on 15 points, will look to continue their impressive run of form when they travel to face fourth-placed Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday having won each of their last seven domestic and European matches.

Elsewhere, rival coaches Jose Angel Ziganda and Ernesto Valverde will be feeling the heat as Xerez welcome surprise strugglers Villarreal with both clubs occupying the bottom two places in the standings.

Ziganda's Xerez, playing in the top flight for the first time in their history, prop up the table with two points while Villarreal are just a point better off, leaving new coach Valverde under increasing pressure.

Villarreal midfielder Robert Pires said of the match: "It's a strange game because nobody thought it was going to be a key clash. Our advantage is our experience and we need to use this because we have the team and the quality. The most important thing is to win."

In this weekend's other games, Atletico Madrid go to Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao host Sporting Gijon, Tenerife are at Espanyol, Real Mallorca meet Getafe, Real Zaragoza take on Racing Santander and Almeria make the short trip to Malaga.