Real Madrid will be looking to maintain its improving form against Almeria in the Spanish league and Barcelona will be hoping to protect its five-point lead at the top when it visits Deportivo La Coruna.Barcelona beat Madrid 1-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday and then defeated last-place Xerez on Wednesday in a rescheduled game to improve to 33 points and remain unbeaten. Madrid is second in the standings with 28 points, followed by Sevilla with 26 and Valencia and Deportivo with 25 each.Barcelona and Xerez have played one game more than the other teams.Despite losing the “clasico,” Madrid managed to pressure Barcelona for much of the game after a run of mainly unimpressive performances.“In the Camp Nou we showed that we are at Barcelona’s level,” Madrid defender Pepe said. “We are clear on what line to follow. We returned from Barcelona without the three points but with plenty of confidence, knowing which is the way forward.”However, while Cristiano Ronaldo returned to face Barcelona, another major signing, Kaka, is a doubt for the Almeria game at the Bernabeu on Saturday due to injury.Barcelona goes into Saturday’s game against Deportivo with morale sky-high. Besides a cushion at the top of the…