MADRID - Real Madrid travels to Mallorca knowing a victory would stretch its lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga to eight points, before Barca faces Real Betis in the Nou Camp on Sunday.

The title race shifted dramatically in Madrid's favor last weekend when Barca dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol, a huge blow to the Catalans' aspirations to claim a fourth consecutive league title.

With the great rivals not due to meet again in the league until April, the attention has moved to the probable clash between the two teams in the first leg of the Spanish Cup quarterfinals in Madrid next Wednesday.