5 things to know about the Spanish league

MADRID (AP) Cristiano Ronaldo can continue to boost his Ballon d'Or credentials as the Spanish league returns for the 13th round of games. Defending champion Barcelona, on the other hand, is missing a number of injured regulars, including Lionel Messi. Atletico Madrid looks to rebound from its first draw of the season and keep pace with Barcelona, which leads on 37 points. Atletico has 34 points, and Madrid is third with 31 points.

Here are five things to know about this weekend's games:

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RAMPANT RONALDO

Even Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly impressed by his own form of late.

"Maybe because of the quantity of goals I have scored I could say this is the best moment of my career," Ronaldo was quoted as saying in AS sports daily on Thursday. "This could be my best season."

The Real Madrid forward just about single-handedly clinched Portugal's place in next summer's World Cup, scoring all four goals in the two-legged victory over Sweden.

Ronaldo has been so impressive that even Lionel Messi has taken notice of his Ballon d'Or rival.

"He is always there scoring goals in all the games and taking part in his club and national side," Messi was quoted as saying in Spanish sports daily Marca on Thursday. "He has been doing that for many years and whether he is at his peak or a bit less, there is no difference."

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NEYMAR'S MOMENT

With Messi out, this appears to be Neymar's moment to take the reins at Barcelona.

The Brazil striker has publicly taken a backseat to Messi since his 57 million (then $74 million) summer arrival from Santos. But with Messi sidelined for the rest of the calendar year, Neymar may finally take center stage.

"I don't feel extra pressure because Messi's out," Neymar, who has scored five goals, said.

Chile teammate Alexis Sanchez, who has also been enjoying a strong start to the season, has netted seven goals this season. Fabregas has also been a regular forward for Barcelona, and the Spain midfielder should get more playing time with Messi out.

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INJURED INTERNATIONALS

The international break was not kind to Barcelona and Real Madrid on the injury front.

Barcelona was already missing Messi and left back Jordi Alba. Midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas, and defender Gerard Pique are all questionable to play Saturday against Granada, when the Catalan club will be without goalkeeper Victor Valdes and back Dani Alves. The pair of players were injured while on international duty.

Madrid is likely to be without midfielder Sami Khedira for the remainder of the season after the Germany injury required knee surgery following an injury on international duty. Fullbacks Marcelo of Brazil and Fabio Coentrao of Portugal are also unavailable because of injuries.

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ATLETICO TO KEEP PACE

Atletico Madrid also has concerns, with strikers Diego Costa and David Villa both questionable for Saturday's game against Getafe.

Diego Costa, the team's leading scorer, missed his first cap for Spain because of a leg injury while Villa returned from Spain duty nursing a sore right leg. That could give striker Adrian Lopez a bigger role against Getafe.

"We'll keep working the same way, with the same humility and solidarity that the team has always had," Lopez said. "I think these have been the keys to our success."

Midfielder Mario Suarez is also sidelined by injury, but Atletico has mostly been spared any major problems.

Uruguayan internationals Cristian Rodriguez and Diego Godin may not start after returning from their World Cup qualifying success against Jordan.

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FRIENDLY DERBY

The Seville derby between Real Betis and Sevilla used to be one of the most vicious and bitter in Spain. Several years ago, former Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious by a plastic bottle thrown from the stands.

How times have changed.

The economic crisis has united fans from both clubs, who decided it was easier to share a space in the Seville neighborhood of San Diego and create a single members club rather than to lose one or the other.

"This is a small neighborhood. Here we are all friends and we've known each other for years, our kids grew up together," Betis supporter Manuel Carrascosa told El Correo newspaper. "Both clubs were having economic difficulties and, faced with the option of closing them both or surviving together, we put the latter option forward to our members who voted in favor with a majority."

The Sevilla-Betis Cultural Club includes 120 members with the president representing Sevilla and the vice president a Betis supporter. They will all likely be on hand Sunday when the clubs meet for the 87th time.

"We don't just meet to watch football but to play dominoes, cards, and to take excursions," Carrascosa said.

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Follow Paul Logothetis on Twitter @PaulLogoAP