Madrid: Real Madrid may just get through the rest of 2010 relying on a single striker after Karim Benzema's hat trick in the Champions League on Wednesday provided needed assurance heading into this weekend's Spanish league play.
The France striker's best performance since his € 35 million (then $ 49 million) transfer from Lyon last summer has come with regular striker Gonzalo Higuain out injured until January.
Madrid is at last-place Zaragoza on Sunday hoping to make up its two-point deficit to leader Barcelona, which hosts Real Sociedad.
"I know everyone is talking about me and I answered on the field today," Benzema said after Madrid's 4-0 win over Auxerre at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. "It was my best night with Real Madrid. I feel important."
Cristiano Ronaldo may lead the team with 16 goals, but Higuain is next with seven and the Argentina striker is sidelined by a lower back injury. Benzema has scored six goals in 20 games in all competitions, with one in league play.
"We know what Karim is capable of and so it was important for a day like today to arrive," said assistant coach Aitor Karanka, who was filling in for suspended coach Jose Mourinho against Auxerre. "This will be great for the team."
Madrid is without suspended midfielder Sami Khedira, while Antonio Adan replaces Jerzy Dudek as backup goalkeeper after the Polish player fractured his jaw against Auxerre.
Zaragoza coach Javier Aguirre is still seeking his first win in his fourth game in charge. Zaragoza has drawn two of those to sit four points behind 17th-place Malaga, which holds the last safe spot.
"It's going to be an intense game," the Mexican coach warned.
Barcelona showed in its own midweek Champions League victory that it has no shortage of players after a squad made up largely of reserves cruised to a 2-0 victory over Rubin Kazan.
But regulars Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Daniel Alves will all return for Sunday's match against Real Sociedad, which is a surprising sixth in the standings.
Barcelona leads with 37 points from 14 games, while Madrid has 35. Villarreal is third with 30, Espanyol is fourth with 28 points and Valencia is next on 24.
Villarreal will need a victory at Getafe on Saturday to keep pace with the leaders, while Sevilla is hoping a visit from second-bottom Almeria can help it end a three-game losing streak.
Strikers Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar have combined for 17 goals for Villarreal, which is looking for a third straight win to maintain its advantage over Espanyol in the league's last automatic qualifying spot for the Champions League.
"There's still a lot of points in play," Villarreal defender Carlos Marchena said. "Holding an advantage is always positive but it's by no means definitive at this point of the season."
Sevilla, meanwhile, is a lowly 10th with 20 points and players Didier Zokora and Ndric Romaric have just been fined € 30,000 ( $ 40,000) each for leaving the team hotel late the night before its match against Barcelona in October. It went on to lose 5-0.
Sevilla's players are not expecting the warmest of receptions at their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on Saturday.
"We've got to change the stadium's attitude," midfielder Renato said.
Atletico Madrid is also looking to end a three-game losing streak in all competitions Saturday against Deportivo La Coruna, which has turned its terrible start around with four wins in its last six games.
In Sunday's other 15th-round games, it's: Athletic Bilbao vs. Espanyol; Sporting Gijon vs. Levante; Hercules vs Malaga; and Mallorca vs Racing Santander.
Valencia will be without David Albelda for Monday's game against Osasuna after the midfielder was banned for two games for showing unsportsmanlike behavior towards a referee.
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