The newspaper allegations of a vote-rigging scandal that led to the resignation of Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon have overshadowed the club's preparations for the visit of Osasuna.
Calderon threw in the towel to be replaced by interim president Vicente Boluda after a torrid week of lurid headlines, but still professed his innocence from any wrong-doing at a news conference.
The champions are showing definite signs of improvement under Juande Ramos having registered their third consecutive victory with a 3-0 win at Real Mallorca last weekend.
They have edged up to second in the standings but still trail leaders Barcelona by 12 points.
The feelgood factor generated by the turnaround in results, however, has now been overtaken by a sense of uncertainty at the prospect of a new presidential election and the newspaper headlines that will generate.
Madrid's experienced defender Michel Salgado has seen it all before at the nine-time European champions, and called for the players to keep their attentions trained on the pitch.
"We are on the up and need to isolate ourselves from everything that is going on,'' Salgado told sports daily AS.
"It's an institutional problem... and the players can do nothing about it. What we have to do is support the club, the current president, and focus on sporting matters.''
The match at the Bernabeu is shaping up to be a turbulent affair with fans expected to give their verdict on the week's events, and could offer up an uncomfortable atmosphere for the home side.
Incoming president Boluda asked for calm from everyone connected with the club.
He said: "The teams still have important objectives to achieve, and they deserve to have all of us behind them.''
Ramos will have to do without injured playmaker Guti and reserve goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, but that should not affect his starting 11.
He will also have the added advantage of a full week's rest in comparison to Osasuna, who were knocked out of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 defeat away to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. Madrid went out of the competition in the previous round.
Bottom club Osasuna have enjoyed a slight upturn in fortunes of late and had gone three matches unbeaten in all competitions before the visit of Barcelona last weekend.
They put up a spirited display to overturn a one-goal deficit to lead 2-1 with 10 minutes to go before Xavi and Lionel Messi snatched victory away from them.
But their best performances have all come at home, and they have yet to win on their travels in the league.
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