MADRID, Spain (AP) -With all four Spanish teams through to the knockout round of the Champions League, attention turns to a difficult league finish to 2008.
Barcelona, with the best record and most goals scored in Europe, takes its 18-match unbeaten run and two-point lead over Real Madrid to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday to face fifth-place Sevilla.
Lionel Messi scored to lead Barcelona to a 5-2 victory over Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, reaffirming the Catalan club's dependence on its star player. Despite a lineup that includes Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi Hernandez, when there's no Messi, there's no offense.
"I don't think the team depends on me," said Messi, who leads Europe with five goals. "We have enough players and we work as a team. It doesn't matter who's on the field."
Messi didn't play last Sunday when Barcelona had to rally for a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou against mid-table Getafe.
Messi appears to have overcome a muscle strain but coach Pep Guardiola substituted the Argentina winger - as well as Henry - early against Sporting and rested Eto'o with Sevilla in mind. Andres Iniesta is still injured.
Sevilla is putting last season's erratic form behind it and could be ready to contend for a league trophy for the first time in 63 years. Striker Luis Fabiano, an apparent Manchester City target, wants to send a message.
"We're doing really well and Saturday we'll try to have a good game to keep rising," the Brazil striker said. "It's a difficult game and I want to give the fans something to cheer about."
Guardiola's incredible debut since replacing Frank Rijkaard - Barcelona hasn't lost since August - will be tested with matches against Valencia, Madrid and Villarreal before Christmas, while Sevilla still has Madrid and Villarreal waiting.
Madrid's confidence has returned after two straight victories, including Tuesday's 1-0 win at BATE Borisov.
Defender Fabio Cannavaro returns for Saturday's match at Getafe, but Gabriel Heinze injured his left leg in the midweek game and will be out for three weeks. Madrid is already missing a handful of international players because of injury.
Villarreal's 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Tuesday came at a price, with several starters expected to miss Sunday's match at last-place Recreativo Huelva because of injury.
Robert Pires will not travel with the team, while Marcos Senna, Guillermo Franco, Diego Godin and Ruben "Cani" Gracia are all game-time decisions. Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci should return after missing almost two months with a leg problem.
