Liga Weekend Preview: Real Host Villarreal, Atletico Travel To Celta
La Liga's big guns will be looking to get back on track after a series of embarrassing slips last week.
La Liga's big guns will be looking to get back on track after a series of embarrassing slips last week.
Talk of a crisis is surely premature as Real Madrid entertain Villarreal at the Bernabeu this weekend.
"There is no loss of form, no crisis or anything, all we are seeing is something that happens throughout a season," coach Vicente Del Bosque told Marca.
For all his assured words this week, he must be slightly concerned. In last week's defeat at Santander they may have had plenty of possession but rarely looked at all threatening. Defensively, also, they were found wanting, and on another day Racing's Francisco Guerrero could have had a hat-trick.
Barcelona host Alaves, with coach Louis van Gaal still under pressure despite the midweek win and subsequent Champions League second phase qualification against Lokomotiv. The Catalans were far from convincing in that match, with the fans getting increasingly frustrated. How ironic it should be the biggest victim of the boo-boys Frank de Boer who should save them with a 75th minute winner.
Despite the poor run of results Van Gaal will remain as coach until the end of the season. If president Joan Gaspart sacked him now, he'd surely have to step down too. An unlikely scenario.
Champions Valencia take on Athletic Bilbao in a match they'll be fully expecting to win.
Last weekend the Ches considered themselves highly unfortunate not to have escaped from Atletico Madrid with all three points. Leading 1-0 thanks to yet another Ruben Baraja strike, Fabio Aurelio curled in a free-kick that Germain Burgos punched out. However, video evidence proved the ball was over the line, the goal wasn't given and Atletico were level shortly afterwards when Javi Moreno netted from close range after a bad error from Santiago Canizares.
Bilbao had the better of their clash against Malaga last week but had to settle for a point against those plucky islanders when Miguel Roteta netted an equaliser after Santiago Ezquerro had put the Basques ahead.
Arguably the most intriguing match-up sees Celta Vigo host Atletico Madrid.
Celta, hardly the kings of consistency, went down 1-0 at home to Rayo Vallecano last week. That result may have surprised many but it is not unusual for the Galicians to string a number of victories together only to drop points against the smaller sides.
Atletico coach Luis Aragones thought his side should have beaten Valencia last week. They didn't and have still yet to win at home. Their away form is decent, though, and they'll be looking for a point from this one.
Deportivo La Coruna travel to Rayo Vallecano in yet another banana skin game for Javier Irureta's under-fire side. Since the unfortunate injury suffered by Juan Valeron, Depor's form has been miserable and they now face a real struggle to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.
Irureta will certainly be looking for a better defensive display from his side after last week's debacle at Villarreal, and a repeat 3-1 defeat to Lens.
Leaders Real Sociedad will be confident of another win when they play host to Racing Santander on Sunday. Defensively they look far from secure, though, and while Argentine Gabriel Schurrer has proved a shrewd addition, they continue to concede goals. Still, while the likes of Darko Kovecevic, Nihat and Valeri Karpin are scoring at the present rate, the Basques will win more games than they lose.
Espanyol, finally got their first win last week when two stunning Roger goals saw off Recreativo. His first was an effort from the halfway line, and his second a delicate lob from the edge of the box. He's always been a technically gifted player, although a lack of aggression has prevented him reaching the very top. His side face Malaga this weekend.
Elsewhere, Recreativo host Betis, Osasuna visit in-form Mallorca, and Sevilla entertain Valladolid.