Liga General Preview: Barca Must Put Aside Their Problems
Barcelona have had a hectic time recently, but it is the end result for many Catalans that were desperate to see the back of both the club's coach and president. Louis Van Gaal agreed to leave after the 2-0 defeat at Celta two weeks ago and now Joan Gaspart has agreed to stand down on March 1. It is an incredible turn of events at Camp Nou and only time will tell if their replacements can do a better job. Barcelona desperately need to beat visitors Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening as Raddy Antic takes charge of his first game in charge of the club. But the Basque Country side recorded an impr
Barcelona have had a hectic time recently, but it is the end result for many Catalans that were desperate to see the back of both the club's coach and president. Louis Van Gaal agreed to leave after the 2-0 defeat at Celta two weeks ago and now Joan Gaspart has agreed to stand down on March 1. It is an incredible turn of events at Camp Nou and only time will tell if their replacements can do a better job. Barcelona desperately need to beat visitors Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening as Raddy Antic takes charge of his first game in charge of the club. But the Basque Country side recorded an impressive 2-1 victory at Barca last season and will be confident of repeating the trick while their hosts are regrouping.
Real Sociedad will undergo a stern test of their championship credentials against a revitalised Espanyol side in the Anoeta on Sunday evening. Raynald Denoueix's outfit suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend as they went down 3-0 against Athletic Bilbao. Now they have to prove to themselves that they have what it takes and regain the four-point lead they enjoyed before Real Madrid's victory over Betis. Espanyol may not appear to be too much of a threat as they lie just one place above the relegation zone, but Javier Clemente has been working his psychological magic.
Recreativo are no longer the pushovers they were at the start of the season and Valencia wil not find a trip to the Nuevo Colombino easy. LuiS alcaraz's side maybe sitting on the bottom of the table at present but last Thursday they created history and gave themselves an excellent chance of reaching the Copa del Rey final with a 2-0 semi-final first-leg win over Osasuna and that will have lifted the whole club. But Valencia seem to be clicking into gear at present, and have won each of their last three league games. The club from the Mestella are now right back in the title race, and just five points behind Real Sociedad, who one senses, maybe about to hit a rocky patch.
Deportivo La Coruna will be confident of maintaining their place in the Champions League zone as they welcome Osasuna to the Riazor, while Atletico madrid face a tough task as they travel to Sevilla in search of a victory that would help their push to earna Uefa Cup place at the end of the season. Mallorca will be hopeful that they can draw level with their visitors Celta Vigo, who are currently in sixth place and Rayo Vallecano and Malaga lock horns in the Theresa Rivero. Racing will be looking for a much needed when as Alaves travel across northern Spain to Cantabria.