By Phil Minshull BBC Sport, Madrid

Diarra has played in 32 of Real's 37 league games this season

Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra confirms he will not be available to play in the team's final game of the season because he has to play for Mali.

The Madrid giants face Mallorca on Sunday in the game which could see them crowned Spanish champions.

But Diarra says he will answer his country's call for their vital Group 9 Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone in Bamako a day earlier.

"I'm going to go to Mali. After the game against Zaragoza (on Saturday, which Real Madrid drew 2-2) we are almost champions," said Diarra.

"Mali's game is in my home town and the national team is in a complicated situation.

"For Mali, three points from this game is crucial, very important and I have an obligation to play for my country."

However, Spanish media reports on Monday said that Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello had asked club president Ramon Calderon to make a special plea to Mali to release Diarra.

Real have to beat mid-table Real Mallorca at home on Sunday in order to ensure they capture La Liga.

Diarra has been a key figure in Real's successful second half of the season which has seen them overhaul bitter rivals Barcelona.

Barcelona, who have the same points as Real but lie behind them on the head-to-head tie break rule used in the Spanish league, and dent the hopes of Samuel Eto'o of notching up a third successive Spanish league triumph.

"The loss of Diarra will be fundamental. In the centre of the field, Diarra is the lungs of the team," commented Spain's biggest selling newspaper Marca.

"He is always helping his colleagues with his tackling and balls into the air, which is one of his great virtues."

Diarra has played in 32 of Real's 37 league games this season, starting 29 of them.

The 26 year-old player, who moved to Real from French champions Lyon last year, has also bounced back to become one of the fans' favourites again after a loss of form during the middle of the season.

He will possibly team up in Bamako with Sevilla's Fredi Kanoute, whose team are also still in the Spanish title race despite being two points behind the leading pair.

Kanoute is struggling to recover from a ligament strain in his right knee acquired in Mali's 0-0 draw with Benin in Porto Novo on 3 June.

He missed Sevilla's 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca on Saturday.

With Spain's top club's all losing key players - Eto'o is expected to play for Cameroon against Rwanda - while La Liga is still in the balance.

Up to 27 Primera Liga players could miss the final league match of the season because of international call-ups for the Nations Cup qualifiers, the Copa America and the European Under-21 championships.