Villa celebrates his goal against Numancia [AFP]

Villa has scored eight times in the opening seven matches to head the league's scoring chart and has also collected five goals in Spain's four recent World Cup qualifiers.

The 26-year-old forward, who four months ago top-scored for winner Spain at the European Championship, has helped Valencia establish a two-point lead in the standings.

Coach Unai Emery's team has won six matches and drawn one, equaling the club record for this stage set in the 2003-04 season when, under Rafa Benitez, Valencia went on to be crowned champions.

Villa thinks Valencia could repeat the feat and win the seventh league title in its history.

In control

"This year we are where we are on merit ... being at the top after seven games makes us believe that if we continue like this we could enjoy a good end to the season," said Villa, who signed a six-year contract with Valencia in August to frustrate Real Madrid's attempts to sign him.

The 18th-place Recreativo has already conceded 12 goals, the third worst figure in the league at nearly two a game.

Valencia leads with 19 points, two more than Sevilla and Villarreal.

FC Barcelona and defending champion Madrid follow with 16.

On Sunday, Sevilla hosts Malaga, Villarreal entertains Atletico Madrid and Madrid welcomes Athletic Bilbao.

Almeria visits Barcelona on Saturday.

Joseba Llorente is focused on maintaining unbeaten record

Villarreal unbeaten

Villarreal plans to worsen Atletico's woes by extending the visitors' domestic losing streak to four games.

While Atletico gained a creditable 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, it has lost to Sevilla, Barcelona and Madrid and slipped to eighth place, raising doubts about coach Javier Aguirre's future.

Villarreal, unbeaten in the league and the Champions League this season, continued its impressive form on Tuesday when it downed Aalborg 6-3.

Striker Joseba Llorente, who appeared as a second-half substitute and scored three goals in 17 minutes, may well have earned a place in the starting line-up on Sunday.

Sevilla hopeful

Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop aims to extend his club record 5 1/2 games without conceding a goal.

Palop, who has helped Sevilla stay unbeaten this season, will need to beware of promoted Malaga, which has recovered from a poor start to win its past three games.

Pep Guardiola dishes out the instructions

Barcelona firing

Barcelona will be seeking its ninth straight win in all competitions against sixth-place Almeria.

Pep Guardiola continued his triumphant coaching start on Wednesday when his team trounced Basel 5-0 to make qualification for Champions League second round a formality.

Guardiola, whose team has won its three previous meetings with the Andalusian team, warned against complacency.

"The result is no help to us with a view to the match with Almeria," Guardiola said.

Striker Samuel Eto'o, who has scored six league goals, is expected to be back after being rested on Wednesday.

Wesley Sneijder complains to the referee

Madrid confident

Madrid hopes to banish the memory of Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Juventus in the Champions League.

The defending champion, which remains unbeaten in six league games, is confident of dispatching 17th-place Bilbao, which has managed just one win so far.

"If we play the same as we did in the second half (against Juventus), I'm sure we won't have any problems in winning," Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder said.

Madrid looks set to lack the marksmanship of suspended striker Ruud van Nistelrooy although the club's appeal against the Dutchman's ban is still to be heard.

However, midfielders Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez and Mahamadou Diarra are expected to return from injury.

Other games this weekend are: Getafe vs. Valladolid; Mallorca vs. Espanyol; Osasuna vs. Real Betis; Deportivo La Coruna vs. Gijon; and Numancia vs. Racing Santander.

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