Three weeks ago, Sevilla tried to bring Barcelona down to earth - and were hammered 3-0 at home.

Two weeks ago, Valencia tried to do the same - and crashed 4-0 in the Camp Nou.

Last Saturday came the turn of Real Madrid - who lost 2-0 in the Catalan capital.

All of which has prompted the following question in Spain: is there any team out there capable of beating Lionel Messi and company?

The next top team in line to face Barca are Villarreal, in their tiny Madrigal stadium on Sunday.

Villarreal have been in poor form recently and have slipped down to fourth in La Liga, one point behind Valencia and Sevilla - and nine behind brilliant Barca.

"We know that it will be complicated," said Villarreal veteran Robert Pires, "because they are very strong now, scoring many goals and conceding few.

"They are by far the best team in the league now, but they are not unbeatable. If we go onto the field with that idea, then we can beat them."

Barca have lost on their last two visits to the Madrigal, with Pires playing a starring role on both occasions.

Earlier on Sunday, Sevilla are away to struggling Mallorca.

Sunday's other games are Osasuna-Getafe, Sporting Gijon-Almeria, Betis-Athletic Bilbao, Racing Santander-Malaga, Numancia-Valladolid and Deportivo La Coruna-Recreativo Huelva.

The last round of matches before the Christmas break will explode into life on Saturday with two fascinating clashes: Real Madrid-Valencia and Espanyol-Atletico Madrid.

Real have lost their last three games and are still immersed in a massive injury crisis. However, they have no choice but to win, in order not to lose sight of the top four places.

Real are sixth right now, four points behind Valencia and 12 behind Barca.

New coach Juande Ramos is working hard to strengthen his injury-plagued squad. On Wednesday, teenage midfielder Daniel Parejo was brought back early from his loan period at Queens Park Rangers.

Real hoped to clinch the signing of Frenchman Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth on Thursday.

Valencia won 3-2 in the Bernabeu last season, and will be looking to turn the same trick again in order to keep ahead of Real.

Later on Saturday, Atletico Madrid - in fifth place, one point above Real - will be trying to keep their good run going against an Espanyol team that has slumped to fourth from bottom in recent weeks.