Liga Sunday Preview: Seville Hoping For Peaceful Derby
Real Betis will be desperate to end their run of five consecutive games without beating Sevilla in the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. Victor Fernandez's side still have Champions League aspirations, but thye will be put aside as they prepare for, arguably, the fiercest derby in Spain. Unfortunately, recent meeting shave been overshadowed by events off the pitch as crowd violence marred last year's game at Betis and this season's encounter at Sevilla. Both teams were forced to play games away from their own ground as the Spanish FA loked to clamp down on the troubles. After the nation witnessed a secur
Real Betis will be desperate to end their run of five consecutive games without beating Sevilla in the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. Victor Fernandez's side still have Champions League aspirations, but thye will be put aside as they prepare for, arguably, the fiercest derby in Spain. Unfortunately, recent meeting shave been overshadowed by events off the pitch as crowd violence marred last year's game at Betis and this season's encounter at Sevilla. Both teams were forced to play games away from their own ground as the Spanish FA loked to clamp down on the troubles. After the nation witnessed a security guard being beaten by fans and Betis' keeper Toni Prats was attacked by a drunk supporter during the game. With fears of even stiffer punishment, Betis have stopped the sale of all tickets for this game with only season ticket holders able to get in.
Real Sociedad will once again be looking to retain their position at the top of the league as they travel to Valladolid. The Basque Country club were forced off the top for 24 hours last weekend and after Real Madrid's victory at Alaves on Saturday night, will have to repeat the trick. Despite some inconsistent displays in recent week's, Sociedad will be confident of beating Valladolid, who go into the match on the back of a three-match losing streak. But they will have David Aganzo back intheir front line after Real Madrid refused to let him play against them last week as part of his loan deal from the Bernabeu.
Inconsistent Celta Vigo host shell-shocked Valencia in an intriguing match-up at the Mestella. The Galicians have flattered only to deceive this season, and once again, a Uefa Cup place looks the best they can muster. Valencia were taken to the cleaners by AS Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, and now face a struggle to qualify for the quarter finals. There's no question of a crisis at the club, though, and lets not forget that the Ches were picking up clean-sheets for fun prior to that match.
Osasuna have claimed some big scalps at El Sadar this season, and Barcelona will have to tread carefully in this match. The side from Pamplona were many people's favourites for relegation at the beginning of the season, but the critics should know not to write off Javier Aguirre's battle hardened side by now. In the last two season's they've managed to avoid the drop by the thinnest of margins. They come up against a Barcelona side, who under Raddy Antic, are proving a breath of thresh air. Last weekend the Catalans were in ruthless form in the 4-0 destruction of poor Real Betis, but they will be missing all three of their captains as Philip Cocu, Carles Puyol and Luis Enrique are all set to miss the encounter.
In Sunday's other games Deportivo La Coruna travel to Racing Santander looking to cement a Champions League place, but the home side go into the game on the back of three consecutive wins. Villarreal and Rayo Vallecano clash in a relegation battle in El Madrigal and Atletico Madrid will be looking to recover from the 3-0 defeat at Recre last weekend as they meet Uefa Cup heroes Malaga in El Calderon.