MADRID (AFP) - Spanish league leaders Real Madrid hope to bounce straight back from their shock mid-week Spanish Cup exit when they tackle city rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

The Spanish giants went down 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca on Wednesday, losing their 100 percent record in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and delivering a huge blow to the morale of the reigning Spanish champions.

"We could have won handsomely but if you let teams off the hook, you pay the price," said Real coach Bernd Schuster.

Despite being well into January, Real seem to be suffering from a hangover from the two-week holiday period, which no doubt including some celebrations after winning at their bitter rivals Barcelona in their last game of 2007.

"We've got to put Christmas behind us now but it's difficult to go from zero to 100 percent in such a short space of time," admitted Schuster.

Nevertheless, while not yet reaching the heights of their form which they displayed at the end of 2007, Real still lead the league at the halfway point in the Spanish season with 47 points from their 19 games.

They have a comfortable seven-point advantage over Barcelona with Sunday's opponents Atletico a further three points back.

Much of the credit for Real having such a substantial lead must go to their goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has kept a clean sheet in their last five league games.

Casillas, who was rested against Mallorca to leave reserve Jerzy Dudek to take his share of the blame, will almost certainly face his strongest test for some time against Atletico.

"I don't think Atletico's defence is as good as ours but they have some huge threats among their forwards. Reyes, Forlan, Aguero and Simao are all very dangerous," said Casillas's teammate Sergio Ramos.

The central defender was one of the few players to come through the Mallorca defeat with some credit.

With injuries to both Gabriel Heinze and Christophe Metzelder, and Pepe doubtful with a sore right achilles, Schuster has limited options at the back.

Ramos is expected to play in the centre of the defence alongside Fabio Cannavaro with either the slowing veteran Michel Salgado or the erratic Miguel Torres taking over at right back.

Atletico's Kun Aguero believes his colleagues might be able to put the brakes on Real's seemingly runaway championship campaign.

"Casillas is a good keeper but he's not unbeatable, let's see what happens on Sunday. I'd love to score against Real but I'm also patient. If I get the winning goal in the last minute then that will be fine," said Atletico's highly regarded teenage striker.

"We know Real will come here with a point to prove after their loss to Mallorca but we are also bidding for a place in the Champions League so we are not going to give up easily."

If Real repeat last season's 1-1 draw in the Vicente Calderon stadium, or even lose there for the first time in nine seasons, then Barcelona will have the chance to reduce their lead at home to Racing Santander later on Sunday.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has lost his Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who has scored four goals in as many league games, to African Nations Cup duty.

Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho is still recovering from tendinitis in his left knee and will also be absent but Rijkaard will at least be buoyed by the likely return of Lionel Messi.

The Argentine winger has been absent for a month with a torn muscle in his left thigh but has trained this week.

Saturday (kick off times in GMT)

Getafe v Sevilla (1900)

Villarreal v Valencia (2100)

Sunday

Almeria v Deportivo La Coruna (1600)

Real Betis v Recreativo Huelva (1600)

Levante v Real Mallorca (1600)

Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (1600)

Valladolid v Espanyol (1600)

Real Zaragoza v Murcia (1600)

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (1800)

Barcelona v Racing Santander (2000)