Real Madrid will again be without Kaka and Karim Benzema for Saturday's visit of Sporting Gijon.

Kaka, who moved to Madrid for £56million from AC Milan, is still affected by the thigh problem that ruled him out of last weekend's 4-1 win over Real Valladolid.

Benzema, meanwhile, has been absent since the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against his former club Lyon over a month ago due to a groin problem.

The £30million striker had looked on course to face Sporting after training with his team-mates over the last few days, but Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has decided against calling up the France international.

Therefore, the players who downed Valladolid last week to keep Madrid narrowly ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table will be the ones who tomorrow will try to lead the Whites to their 14th home win out of 14 this season.

A victory tomorrow would also see Madrid provisionally move three points clear of Barca, who are away to Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

If Madrid can put daylight between themselves and their arch-rivals it would ease some of the pressure on Pellegrini, who has found himself under increased fire following his side's Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon.

A host of coaches have been touted in the media as possible replacements for Pellegrini, but the Chilean coach insists he is not letting that get to him.

"We are going well and for me the most important thing is the support of the fans and the people at the club. It's easy to blame the coach when you lose and never praise the virtues of the team. I'm very happy with the football that Madrid are playing," said Pellegrini, whose side are the leading scorers in La Liga with 71 goals - 44 of which have come at home.

"The fans have seen some good spectacles. The league is very important and we are leaders.

"I like my teams to score goals, and fans like this. The statistics back that up and the fans are backing what the team is doing on the pitch.

"I'm very happy with everything, although very upset for not being in the Champions League anymore."

Madrid thrashed Sporting 7-1 in last season's corresponding fixture, but were held to a goaless draw away to the Asutrian side earlier this term.

Pellegrini, who is also without Pepe, Royston Drenthe and Mahamadou Diarra through injury, added: "I remember the game in Gijon was very even. They are a team who are fighting to get as high as possible and we will have to have a good game to beat them."

Sporting have lost just once in their last five games since suffering four defeats on the trot, and they travel to the capital in 12th spot, nine points above the relegation zone.

Sporting coach Manuel Preciado said of tomorrow`s match: "We have a lot to gain and very little to lose.

"We will go out with the same philosophy as always, without fear and with the intention of winning so that, whatever happens, we can return with our heads held high."

Ivan Cuellar, Lola Smiljanic and Francisco Maldonado are out through injury for the Gijon club.