Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has to resolve a striking dilemma when his side travel to play Espanyol in the Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona this Sunday.
The arrival of Emanuel Adebayor on a loan deal from Manchester City has had the effect Mourinho was looking for. The Togolese striker has scored twice in his three appearances and has already gone some way to winning over any fans worried about his reputation as a troublesome personality.
Now Madrid face a game that defender Raul Albiol classified as 'must win' during the week and Mourinho must decide whether to start with Adebayor or Karim Benzema, who was also showing signs of improving before Adebayor's arrival.
Adebayor probably provides his side with more aggression, while Benzema links up well with his companions and Mourinho knows that leaving the Frenchman out now would probably condemn him to leaving the club at the end of the season.
Real Madrid recover Sergio Ramos on defense following suspension and Pepe could also return after injury. Meanwhile there is a doubt as to whether Mourinho will prefer Marcelo or the defensively more secure Alvaro Arbeloa at left back.
Depending on FC Barcelona's result in Gijon on Saturday night, Madrid could kick off on Sunday finding themselves 10 points behind the BBVA Primera Liga leaders
Espanyol go into the match sixth in the table but on the back of defeats at home to Villarreal and away to struggling Almeria.
Mauricio Pochettino's side have struggled to adapt after effect of selling defenders Victor Ruiz and Didac Vila over the winter transfer window. That was made clear as they conceded three goals in just 20 minutes in Almeria last weekend.
Sergio Garcia will lead the Espanyol attack and in a week when Mourinho has complained yet again about the number of fouls received by Cristiano Ronaldo, attention will be focused on the Portuguese star and also on Espanyol winger Jose Callejon.
As Callejon's team-mate Luis Garcia pointed out on Friday, the player who receives most fouls in Spain is not Ronaldo, but former Madrid youth team player - Callejon.
