Liga Weekend Preview: Pressure On Barca Hots Up

Time is running out for Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal and he will not be relishing the trip to Galicia to face Celta Vigo this weekend. Many predicted that the Dutchman would be pushed out after last weekend's 4-2 hammering by Valencia, but president Joan Gaspart has stuck with him in spite of all the criticism. Whether that is because the Barca supremo is being loyal or that if Van Gaal goes he will have to as well or it is the fact that the club cannot afford to pay him the €6million in compensation that he will demand. Whatever the reason, Barca will need to make some drastic changes if they are to take anything from Celta.

Real Sociedad will be named Spain's Winter Champions if they beat Atletico Madrid in El Calderon after a tremendous first half to the season that has seen them go 18 games without defeat. But Luis Aragones' team will have been inspired by the impressive 2-2 draw against Real Madrid last week and have lost once at home this season. La Real have won five games on the road this term and drawn four giving this encounter all the ingredients for a cracking match.

Real Madrid will hope to resume normal service when they visit Athletic Bilbao after they were criticised for fielding a virtual second string in the 1-1 draw against Mallorca in the Copa Del Rey. Vicente Del Bosque has seen his team qualify for the quarter finals with a team comprising of youngsters and reserves, but their dismal display in midweek did not go down well at the Bernabeu. In the league Madrid's form cannot be argued with as they have lsot only once this season and lie in second place behind Sociedad. Bilbao though are going through a slump and are perilously close to the relegation zone after suffering five defeats in their last seven matches and will do well to take a point off their visitors this weekend.

Valencia will want to keep pace with the league leaders as they entertain Sevilla in the Mestalla. After losing to Deportivo and Real Madrid either side of the Christmas break Los Ches looked to have blown their chance of mounting a serious assault on regaining the title that they won last term for the first time since 1971. But last Saturday's mauling of Barca will have given them a renewed self-belief and with the formidable talent they have available they will certainly be confident of beating the Andalucians. But Sevilla have had a great run of form lately that has propelled them away from teh foot of the table and into 11th place. Three wins and three draws from their last six outings have seen them become a force to reckoned with.

Despite being second from bottom in the table, Espanyol have gained momentum under new coach Javier Clemente. The Catalan outfit have won seven points in his first four games in charge, after picking up just 11 points from their first 14 matches. The chain smoking trainer has guided them to two victories in the Olimpic Stadium and Deportivo will do well to snatch a victory on Sunday. But the Galicians are back in the title race having won four out of their last five outings and will need a win to keep them in touch with the leaders.

In the weekend's other games Real Betis will be favourites to beat Villarreal as they return to their home stadium after playing two games in nearby Xerez after the Spanish Football Asssociation punished them for crowd trouble at the Sevillian derby before Christmas. Mallorca are just behind the Uefa Cup places, but will struggle to beat Malaga in La Rosaleda. Osasuna take on Racing in Pamplona, while Recreativo meet Rayo Vallecano in the Nuevo Colombino and Valladolid play host to Alaves.