Previews: Pellegrini - Real squad complete
MADRID - Brief news from La Liga ahead of this weekend's matches as Real Madrid meet Valencia, Barcelona host Espanyol, Sevilla take on Sporting and Atletico Madrid face Villarreal: Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has not asked the club to buy any reinforcements for his squad in the January transfer period, he told radio station Cadena Ser.
"I think the squad is complete and I am not that convinced by signings in the winter except when there are injuries or if the squad is incomplete," the Chilean said.
Second-placed Real must ignore the absence of suspended forward Cristiano Ronaldo and injured playmaker Kaka for Saturday's trip to Valencia, who are three points behind in third, defender Sergio Ramos said.
"Real Madrid cannot depend on any individual player," Ramos told Onda Cero radio. "We have a large squad and whoever plays will produce the goods for sure."
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, midfielder Guti and defender Christoph Metzelder are also out injured.
The more players from Real's squad that are unavailable the better, Valencia striker and this season's top scorer in La Liga David Villa said.
"It's stupid to talk about them (Ronaldo and Kaka) because they won't be playing," the Spain international told a news conference on Thursday. Valencia will be without injured midfielder David Silva.
Barcelona will discuss the renewal of coach Pep Guardiola's contract with him after this month's Club World Cup, president Joan Laporta said.
"We should all be relaxed with regard to Guardiola's renewal - he loves Barca, he's comfortable and enjoying himself and I am sure he would never leave the club without a coach," Laporta told RAC1 radio.
The Spanish and European champions would only dip into the January transfer market in exceptional circumstances, he added.
Saturday's home clash against struggling city rivals Espanyol will be a typically unpredictable derby with the usual tension, Barca midfielder Xavi said.
"They are not visiting at a good time for them and we have to make the most of that," the Spain international said on the club's website.
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Barca, who will be without the injured Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp, have a five-point lead over Real at the top of the standings, having played one more match, and Espanyol are in 14th out of 20.
Sevilla midfielder Diego Perotti said he hopes to remain at the Andalusian club for many years after signing an extension to his contract on Thursday.
"The demands on me will be greater now - we are on a good run and I'll try to live up to them," the 21-year-old Argentine told the club's website.
Out-of-sorts Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo is hoping his luck in front of goal changes for Sunday's trip to Sporting Gijon.
"I need to be calm and both the coach and my team mates are supporting me," Negredo, who joined from Real Madrid in the close season, told a news conference on Friday.
"I hope this bad run comes to an end because the team needs it too."
Sevilla have slipped one point behind Valencia into fourth place after two straight draws.
Atletico Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi has shaken off a muscle problem and said he is ready to return against visiting Villarreal on Sunday.
"I am training again and I feel good," the Czech said on the club's website.