Madrid cannot yet be considered a team in crisis as they are still well placed in both La Liga and in their Champions League group, but with just one win and three defeats in their last five competitive matches, things are far from rosy.

The latest setback came against Juventus in Europe on Wednesday night, when Bernd Schuster's men suffered their first home defeat since March after going down 2-0.

"We have to really take a good look at what's wrong. I think we have a lot of room for improvement and that we are only halfway to being where we can be," said experienced playmaker Guti.

"In football you have positive and negative runs of form, and we are now in a negative run, above all with regards to results.

"We have to end it as soon as possible and the best time to do this is against Malaga on Saturday.

"I'm sure they won't make things easy for us, but our attitude has to be positive from the start so that we don't get nervous."

The two-time reigning champions will have to do without Arjen Robben against Malaga though, with the Dutch winger set to be sidelined for up to six weeks due to injury.

Promoted Malaga had won four successive league matches before last weekend's 4-1 home loss to Barcelona, and the Andalusian team's striker Javi Calleja is quietly confident they can cause Madrid some problems.

"I'm optimistic but I know how difficult it is to win in the Bernabeu," said Calleja, who came up through the youth ranks at Madrid.

"I have never won there and we will have to do things very well to pick up the points, but we are going there with all the desire in the world."

The Madrid-Malaga match is one of two Primera Liga fixtures taking place on Saturday, with the other seeing new pacesetters Barca looking to continue their fine recent run against Real Valladolid.

Pep Guardiola's side may have seen their 11-match winning run ended by Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw with Basle, but the Catalan giants are still in formidable form.

However, they will be missing midfielder Andres Iniesta, who is likely to miss the remainder of the year due to a knee injury sustained against Basle.

The remainder of the matches take place on Sunday, when east coast neighbours Villarreal and Valencia will look to continue their challenges near the top of the table.

Villarreal are the only unbeaten side left in La Liga following Valencia's shock home defeat to Racing Santander last time out, and Manuel Pellegrini's side will be eager to continue that when they host Almeria.

Valencia, who slipped from top to fourth following their 4-2 loss against Racing, travel to Getafe in a repeat of last year's Copa del Rey final, which Los Che won 3-1.

Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre could put former club Osasuna further into the mire when the Rojiblancos travel north this weekend.

Osasuna are bottom of the standings with no wins and just three goals from their opening nine games.

Elsewhere, Sevilla face Andalusian rivals for the third time in four league games when they host Recreativo Huelva, while Racing meet Sporting Gijon.

Also, Real Mallorca welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Balearic Islands, Espanyol travel to Deportivo La Coruna and Numancia are at home to Real Betis.