Real are safely through to the second phase of the Champions League however their aim of winning back the Spanish league title could hinge on two potentially explosive encounters in the space of five days.

Beckham -- who experienced at close range the ire of Osasuna's fans last weekend -- will experience his first Madrid derby when fellow league contenders Atletico visit the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday.

Days later, the England midfielder will hope the footballing qualities that got him awarded an OBE (Order of thge British Empire) by the Queen last week come to the fore in Catalunya.

Despite their star-studded line-up Real go into their 14th league match of the campaign in second spot, trailing Valencia on goal difference while Atletico sit in fourth - although a win for the poorer of the capital's top flight teams would close the gap to just two points.

For Beckham, who is set to recover in time from an ankle strain which forced him to withdraw near the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Osasuna, Wednesday's match will be another test of temperament as he renews his acquaintance with Argentine star Diego Simeone.

Beckham's petulant kick at former Lazio midfielder Simeone earned him a red card at the 1998 World Cup where Argentina won a tense second round match on penalties.

Beckham, already booked, kicked Simeone while lying on the floor after being fouled by the Argentine.

But the pair had buried the hatchet by the time they met in last year's World Cup rematch where Beckham, this time wearing, rather than seeing, red scored the only goal from the penalty spot.

"That's all forgotten now," said Beckham of the incident which saw him vilified in England as the man branded responsible for his country's World Cup exit.

Beckham, whose weekend reception at Osasuna was hostile as fans pelted him with fruit, can expect more of the same on Saturday having opted not to succumb to Barca's overtures in the summer.

Some Barcelona fanatics threw a pig's head, a mobile phone and part of a brick at Real teammate Luis Figo when the Portuguese playmaker returned to his former stamping ground after committing Spanish football's cardinal sin of swapping Barca's claret and blue for Madrid's white.

Putting the Barca visit to one side, Beckham is focusing squarely on his first Spanish derby encounter.

"I'm sure it will be a special match for us and for the fans," he forecast.

One doubt for Real is talismanic striker Raul, who missed a Monday training session with a groin strain.

Ronaldo, Raul's strike partner, told Marca magazine that Real had to ensure they do not slip up either in midweek or on Saturday, when he will also have to brave the wrath of Barca fans having left the Catalan club for Inter Milan six seasons ago.

"It's an important week for Real Madrid. I think we can beat Atletico and Barcelona in the same week and I'm counting on six points," the Brazilian marksman told Marca.

Barcelona, who are in Malaga on Wednesday aiming to eat into a seven-point deficit to Valencia, suffered a blow on Monday when the club revealed Brazil star Ronaldinho would miss the game and the meeting with Real as he battles to get over a torn leg muscle suffered three weeks ago.

Barca defenders Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez are also out of the Malaga game with an ankle strain and gastroenteritis respectively but both hope to be fit to host Real.

Valencia visit struggling Real Sociedad in a game brought forward to Tuesday.