MADRID (Reuters) - Brief news from La Liga ahead of this weekend's matches:
* Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message to Real Madrid fans saying he will return soon from the ankle injury that has prevented him playing for the club for almost two months.
"Thank you to all the Madrid fans for the support they have given me during my injury," Ronaldo wrote on the club's website (www.realmadrid.com). "I will be back soon."
* Central defender Raul Albiol suffered a knee injury in Spain's 2-1 win over Argentina on Saturday and is a doubt for Saturday's match at home to Racing Santander (1900 GMT).
Real have 25 points from 10 matches, one behind leaders Barcelona, who play at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday (2100).
* Racing, fourth from bottom, are capable of surprising Real, according to new coach Miguel Angel Portugal, who was appointed on Thursday to replace the sacked Juan Carlos Medina.
"You can't set off a revolution in one training session," told As newspaper. "But I know that we have a squad capable of performing at a higher level than they have shown up to now."
* Barca cannot afford to slip up in Bilbao ahead of their eagerly awaited match at home to Real on Nov. 29, defender Gerard Pique said.
"It's vital for us to be on a good run and make our rivals focus on us and try to catch us," Pique said on the club's website (www.fcbarcelona.com). Barca will be without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has a thigh strain, when they visit Bilbao.
* The achievements of Pep Guardiola's Barca side will never be repeated and it will be impossible for Real to match them, Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros said.
"Real can play well but in a different way," Caparros told Spanish radio. "They are anxious because they are not only obliged to win titles but they have to do it playing marvellous football like that of Barca."
* Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores was unable to oversee training again on Thursday as he is still recovering from swine flu, the club said ahead of Saturday's trip to fifth-placed Deportivo Coruna.
Atletico have just one win from 10 matches and are in 18th place, behind Racing on goal difference.
* Valencia are not considering selling any players, including Spain internationals David Villa and David Silva, despite their financial difficulties, according to president Manuel Llorente.
"The team has to concentrate on performing well and playing," Llorente said at a reception on Thursday. Valencia are fourth on 21 points and play at Osasuna on Sunday (2000).
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Kevin Fylan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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