Atletico de Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna - Atletico Madrid aim to keep title hopes alive

Atletico Madrid hope to keep their faint hopes of catching Primera Division leaders Barcelona alive when they face Deportivo La Coruna at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Saturday.

Diego Simeone's men head into the weekend eight points behind the leaders and four ahead of Real Madrid, who must wait to travel to struggling Las Palmas on Sunday.

Despite winning their last two games it is looking increasingly likely that Real's 1-0 home defeat to their city rivals last month could determine who finishes runners-up to Luis Enrique's all-conquering leaders.

Atletico go into their game against Deportivo on the back off a seven-match winning streak in all competitions but hampered by injury concerns arising from their win in Valencia last weekend.

Fernando Torres is definitely ruled out after sustaining a knee injury during his appearance as a late substitute at the Mestalla, while Tiago and Stefan Savid are also definite absentees.

Simeone has continually refuted suggestions his side are playing for second place but says they cannot afford to start thinking about their eventual finishing position as they approach their crucial run-in.

Simeone told a press conference: "In these last 10 games every point is crucial to each club's ambitions but we must try to treat the game against Deportivo the same as we have treated every other game so far.

"No matter what is the situation we are in, however long we have, we always work with the same enthusiasm and the same commitment because what excites us is playing for Atletico Madrid."

Visitors Deportivo still sit 13th in the table despite failing to win any of their last 12 league games, a last-minute Alejandro Arribas own goal costing them a rare victory in a 3-3 draw against Malaga last week.

And coach Victor Sanchez admitted his side, whose winless run stretches back to last year, will have to be on the top of their game to get something out of one of the best teams in the league.

Sanchez said: "We will go in search of that much-desired victory with great enthusiasm and confidence, but we know we are facing a great team with great players.

"Atletico are in a very good moment of form but these challenges and difficulties motivate us. We are prepared to be effective in every aspect of our game but we must be concerned because Atletico can do a lot more than simply defend and attack."