The cast list for this weekend's clash of the titans at the Mestalla will be missing a host of star names with both Valencia and Real Madrid being badly hit by injuries and suspensions.
Third-placed Real will definitely be without playmaker Guti following his late second-off in last weekend's win over Racing Santander, while Cicinho, Ronaldo and David Beckham are all sidelined with injuries.
But whatever selection headaches Real coach Fabio Capello may have, they are trifling when compared to his Valencia counterpart Quique Sanchez Flores.
He had 12 players suffering from various ailments this week - David Villa, Edu, Raul Albiol, Jose Luis Mora, Emiliano Moretti, Asier Del Horno, Carlos Marchena, Vicente Rodriguez, David Albelda, Jaime Gavilan, Fernando Morientes and David Navarro.
While on top of that, newly-capped Spain international David Silva was facing a suspension following his dismissal in last week's 3-0 defeat to Sevilla.
However, no doubt much to the relief of the under-pressure Sanchez Flores, Silva has been cleared to play on Sunday after the RFEF reduced his red card to a yellow.
Also available for the Valencia coach are Morientes, Vicente, Navarro and Albiol, who have all shaken off their injury problems and been in a 20-man squad.
Villa has been named in the party as well, but it remains to be seen if he will be fit to start against Real.
"With respect to Villa, the final decision will be mine and obviously we will assess the situation until the last moment to see if he can play," said Sanchez Flores, who admits his side will be up against it on Sunday.
"It is never easy against Madrid. They always have fantastic players who play at a great level. Even if they have a bad game they can always score a goal against you."
Morientes, the former Real Madrid striker, added: "The game on Sunday is very similar to the Champions League. Our concentration has to be maximum if we are going to win."
Los Che's injury problems have badly affected their league form, and last week's 3-0 defeat to Sevilla saw them drop to eighth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
Real, although suffering from absentees themselves, are in a much better situation and stayed hot on the heels of leading duo Barca and Sevilla with their win over Racing.
Regardless of their opponents' problems, Real winger Jose Antonio Reyes is expecting a tough match at the Mestalla, where Valencia are unbeaten this season with four wins from five league games.
"It's an exciting match both for the players and the fans. It's one of those games every player likes to play and enjoy every moment of them," Reyes said.
"We are expecting a tough match. The best matches are those which are hard to win. Let's hope we win. We are going to Mestalla with a winning mentality."
Emerson, who has also been struggling with an injury this week but is expected to play, added: "Valencia are always a tough team to play against. They have very good players and they will be tough to beat.
"It's not the same to face a match with so many injured players, but we have to think it will be as hard as always."
