LONDON (Reuters) - Real Madrid are away to Mallorca on Saturday without a group of injured players.
In addition to Marco Asensio, who has a long knee injury, there are doubts about Nacho, Toni Kroos, Luca Modric and Lucas Vazquez facing Mallorca.
Mallorca are struggling to escape the relegation zone, where they are 18th after returning to the top flight this season.
Casemiro's numerous absences left Zinedine Zidane the only option available to the attacking midfielder.
Real are top of the standings with 18 points and two points ahead of defending champions Barcelona, who will face a tough test against Eibar the same day.
The Catalan team's victory will make it top of the standings, even for the first time.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi says the team knows very well that their main goal is to retain the title.
"The Champions League carries a special taste that we all want to win, but we know that the first division is the most important."
"We never forget the league and the King's Cup because Barcelona wants to win all the titles."
The Argentine recovered his fitness after his absence from the start of the season and acknowledged that his body needs special treatment as he ages.
"It's hard because you mentally feel like you're 25 years old, and you can do what you were doing at the time, but your body tells you otherwise. For training and matches. "
Barca will miss suspended pair Gerard Pique and Osman Dembele on their trip to the Basque Country, where they drew 2-2 on their last visit in May.
Elsewhere, Granada host Osasuna on Friday, while Valencia visit Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Leganes, who have yet to win this season, play Granada on Sunday.