Liga Weekend Preview: How Will Madrid React?
All eyes will be on Real Madrid again this weekend as they entertain Málaga to see if they will forget their performance in midweek or fall further behind in the title chase. However unlikely it may have seemed a few weeks ago, the Andalucians may well fancy their chances of snatching a point in the Bernabeu this weekend. Madrid have lost four of their last eight games and were humiliated 5-1 by Mallorca in their last home match. But it is very unlikely that will allow any more points to be given away this time even though Málaga will offer stiff opposition as they continue their fight for a U
All eyes will be on Real Madrid again this weekend as they entertain Málaga to see if they will forget their performance in midweek or fall further behind in the title chase. However unlikely it may have seemed a few weeks ago, the Andalucians may well fancy their chances of snatching a point in the Bernabeu this weekend. Madrid have lost four of their last eight games and were humiliated 5-1 by Mallorca in their last home match. But it is very unlikely that will allow any more points to be given away this time even though Málaga will offer stiff opposition as they continue their fight for a Uefa Cup place.
The battle royale is surely the encounter in the Riazor where league leaders Deportivo take on struggling Valencia. Javier Irureta's side have overtaken Madrid at the top with five wins in six outings and the coach has already announced that three more wins and a draw will hand his team the title. Depor's visitors have picked up maximum points in only two of their last ten games and instead of battling for the title, they are now having to fight it out with Celta for a place in the Champions League.
Real Sociedad appear to have an easy task ahead of them as lowly Recreativo travel to the Anoeta to take on the championship hopefuls. The Andalucians' survival hopes have improved in recent weeks with three wins in six matches and last weekend's 0-0 draw with Real Madrid will have done a lot to boost their confidence. But Sociedad know they could go back to the top with a win and, more crucially, have not lost at home all season.
Celta Vigo will be hoping to end a run of three consecutive draws as they go to Villarreal looking for three points to stay in fourth place. Miguel Angel Lotina's side conceded their first goals for six matches last week when they shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Racing and will be looking to resume normal service. Villarreal will be hoping to find some kind of consistency after winning at Valencia last Sunday to stay out of the bottom three. But their two games prior to that saw them draw 0-0 against Málaga after being thumped 5-0 at Recreativo.
Athletic Bilbao will not be out to their Basque Country rivals any favours in the local derby at the Mendizorroza. Jupp Heynckes' outfit currently occupy the second Uefa Cup spot, while Alavés are in drop zone on goal difference.
Barcelona and Mallorca are just one point and one place behind Athletic and the Catalans will be hoping that Gregorio Manzano's team play like they did against Sociedad in the 3-1 defeat last weekend, rather than reproduce the form that saw them beat Depor 3-0 and Real Madrid 5-1 in their previous two outings when the Balearic side visit Camp Nou on Sunday.
Betis, who are also one point behind Bilbao, visit Osasuna, while Sevilla play host to Rayo Vallecano, Atlético Madrid travel to Racing Santander and Valladolid welcome Espanyol in the weekend's other matches.