Madrid title bid into tough stretch with Valencia

Real Madrid's bid to end Barcelona's monopoly of Spanish league crowns is set to enter its toughest stretch starting Sunday against third-place Valencia.

Barcelona have what appears to be an easy match at Zaragoza a day earlier, where a victory can cut Madrid's lead to three points to pile on the pressure for the Spanish leaders' match at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Madrid haven't lost in 16 matches, winning four straight overall behind the steady goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain, who have combined to score 100 times this season.

Madrid cannot ease up ahead of their match against the three-time defending champions later this month with a game against a revived Atletico Madrid team also looming.