Barcelona fans sometimes refer to Valencia as the black beast, the persistent nightmare which always returns, and the 11-man league leading monster will be back in the Nou Camp tomorrow.
The Nou Camp has always been an intimidating citadel for visiting teams, although it has lost some of its aura in recent years, but Valencia teams have rarely been cowed despite usually around 100,000 baying Catalan fans.
Last season's match was a typically full-blooded affair, with Valencia running out 4-2 winners, and there is as much as ever at stake this year.
Valencia are bidding to defend their position as unbeaten league leaders with 13 points while Barcelona may be back in sixth with nine points -- but they have still yet to lose.
One man looking forward to the encounter is Valencia's new striker Ricardo Oliveira, who scored his debut goal in the Spanish top flight in Valencia's 2-0 defeat of Real Madrid last Saturday.
"I have friends who have told me about the games of recent and especially last's season's win. I hope we can do the same on Sunday and I think we will enjoy the space that the big pitch at the Nou Camp gives us," said the Brazilian on Thursday.
Barcelona will be without Philip Cocu and Thiago Motta, who were both sent off in last week's 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid.
Spanish international midfielder Xavi Hernandez is expected to occupy the place left vacant by Cocu while Argentine striker Javier Saviola should fill in for Motta.
Third-placed Real Madrid will try to restore their domestic poise, after losing their own unbeaten record at Valencia, by thrashing struggling Espanyol.
Real are likely to have Raul Gonzalez back to partner Ronaldo up front although they may still be without David Beckham, who missed their Champions League win at Porto on Wednesday.
Beckham is suffering from a bruised foot and Real coach Carlos Queiroz has the choice of replacements Ivan Helguera and Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez.
Deportivo La Coruna lost their 100 percent record last Sunday when they went down at Osasuna but the Galicians are still second with 12 points and could go back to the top if Valencia slip up.
They play host to Atletico Madrid, who have scored only one goal so far this season. A sign of Atletico's desperation is that they have already used 24 different players in just five matches.
Villarreal lie fifth and they could make further progress if they notch up a club record fifth game without defeat against Real Zaragoza today.
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