Real Madrid will seek a return to winning ways and possibly widen its one-point lead atop the Primera Liga when Espanyol visit the Bernabeu on Saturday a day before rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid meet at the Nou Camp.

After setting a club record of 22 successive wins in all competitions, Real have failed to win a match so far in 2015; following up a 4-2 friendly loss to AC Milan at the end of 2014 with a 2-1 reverse at Valencia in the league and a 2-0 loss to city rivals Atletico in the Copa Del Rey round of 16 first leg.

Ballon d’Or hopeful Cristiano Ronaldo played only the second half at the Calderon in midweek but is expected to return to the starting line-up this weekend against an Espanyol side also seeking a return to winning ways.

The Catalan club have also lost its two matches so far in 2015 after ending 2014 with a run of three successive wins and five wins in their last six matches, but getting a result at Real would be a tall order.

More so as Carlo Ancelotti’s men have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the league table, with second placed Barcelona – on 38 points – hosting Atletico that lies in third place behind Barça on goal difference.

Espanyol’s bigger Catalan neighbour Barcelona would be hoping an upset can occur at the Bernabeu however, as would reigning champions Atletico, as both clubs aim to, at least, maintain the pressure on Real at the top of the league table.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw when both teams last met at the Nou Camp, a result that handed Atletico the league title on the final day of last season though both clubs would rather not see a similar outcome this weekend.

Atletico go into the crunch encounter relatively refreshed as the likes of Mario Mandzukić, Arda Turan, Juanfran and Koke are expected to return to the starting line-up after being rested in the win against Real.

Barcelona meanwhile must put behind it a turbulent week which has seen assistant Sporting Director and club legend Carles Puyol resign after Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked.

Along with the rumoured rift between manager Luis Enrique and talisman Lionel Messi as well as Messi sparking transfer speculation after following Premier League club Chelsea on Instagram, Barcelona would be desperate to end the week on a high.

Elsewhere in La Liga, David Moyes’ Real Sociedad will hope to carry on from the shock 1-0 win over Barcelona in the match against struggling Granada on Sunday.

Ik Uche’s Villarreal will pay Malaga a visit on Sunday as well while the weekend’s action will kick off on Friday night at the Estadio Ciutat de Valencia where Levante host Deportivo La Coruña.