Valencia winger Juan Mata is out to add to Real Madrid's problems as he faces his former club at the Bernabeu this weekend.

However, the Spanish international is also wary about the threat of Valencia possibly reaping the backlash for Real's humiliating loss to Barcelona.

Real suffered a 5-0 thrashing at the Camp Nou on Monday, their first defeat under Jose Mourinho, and they will be desperate to get back on track when they play host to Los Che.

Mata, who came up through the youth ranks at the capital club before moving to the Mestalla in 2007, said: "I think they will come out hard to try and win and forget the game from the other day, but I hope we don't have to pay the penalty for that. Their fans are going to be demanding after such a big defeat, but we are going there to win.

I think they will come out hard to try and win and forget the game from the other day, but I hope we don't have to pay the penalty for that.
Juan Mata, Valencia winger

"We are going to try and create problems for them, and after not doing so well in recent trips to big grounds we have the desire to do things well and bring something good back to Valencia." Valencia have taken just one point from their trips to Barcelona, Sevilla and Villarreal so far this season.

Real's headaches do not end with their mauling by Barça. Suspension means they will be without two key defenders in Sergio Ramos and Ricardo Carvalho, while striker Gonzalo Higuain is facing a possible two-month spell on the sidelines with a back problem.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer in La Liga with 14 goals, has also been struggling with an ankle injury this week, although he could well be fit to play.

Regarding Real's absentees, Mata told Super Deporte: "They are important losses for them, especially at a defensive level, but [Alvaro] Arbeloa and [Raul] Albiol, or whoever plays, will do well.

"If Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance to play he will, because he's an important player for them and he never wants to miss a game. He would be a very big loss because he can win a game on his own."

Aside from their defeat at Sevilla, Valencia are in a decent run of form with six wins and two draws from their last nine games.

Unai Emery's side are fifth in the Primera Division standings, ten points behind leaders Barcelona and a point adrift of Espanyol in fourth place.