Liga Weekend Preview: Sevilla Host Sociedad, Real Travel To Mallorca
League leaders Real Sociedad face a potential banana skin game against Sevilla this weekend.
League leaders Real Sociedad face a potential banana skin game against Sevilla this weekend.
The Basques produced a storming performance when beating Barcelona 2-1 last week, and thoroughly deserved their victory. The Catalans rarely threatened, and on another day Raynald Denoueix's side could have won by four or five.
Sevilla may be at the wrong end of the table, but have lost just once in four league and cup games. They will also be nicely rested after their match against Real Madrid last week was postponed due to the Merengues' Intercontinental Cup commitments.
Real Mallorca are known for rattling the cages of the big boys at Son Moix, and Real Madrid know they won't be in for an easy ride this time around.
The Islanders were highly impressive in last week's controversial 2-2 draw at Deportivo. It was almost as if going down to ten men helped them -Ariel Ibagaza has since had his red card rescinded- and for the rest of the encounter they were more than a match for the hosts. Had Samuel Etoo not blown a golden late chance, they would have snatched all three points.
One wonders just how much the trip to Asia for the Intercontinental Cup final will have taken out of Real Madrid. The Merengues impressed against Olimpia and secured the win thanks to strikes from man-of-the-match Ronaldo, and Guti.
Vicente Del Bosque will not be underestimating quite how important this game is. A defeat could see them fall nine points behind leaders Real Sociedad, and even at this stage of the season, that is a huge gap to bridge.
Third-placed Valencia will be confident of all three points at home to Racing Santander. The Ches were far from impressive against Alaves last week, but in the home comforts of the Mestella they should have more than enough to take out Racing. Rafa Benitez was given a boost this week with the news that Pablo Aimar should be fit for next week's game against Arsenal. Santi Canizares, Francsco Rufete and Kily Gonzalez, though, will all miss that game.
Things are going well for Celta Vigo at present, and they should pick up the necessary three points against Alaves this weekend. Defensively they have been superb of late, and if they can just get a little more consistency in the attacking third, they could pose a real threat to the big sides. The trio of Alexandre Mostovoi, Gustavo Lopez and Catanha are vital to them. If they can stay fit, Miguel Angel Lotina's side could do big things.
Two under-pressure coaches meet at the Estadio Teresa Rivero as second from bottom Rayo Vallecano host mid-table Barcelona. Fernando Vasque will not be on the touch line as he is serving a three-match ban following his red card last weekend.
His counterpart Louis van Gaal would be under quite a bit more pressure if it wasn't for the club's amazing run in the Champions League. After last week's defeat at Sociedad, the Catalans are now 10 points off the Liga lead.
Betis make the trip to Espanyol looking to keep up the heat on those above them. They are a very dangerous side away from home, and are one of the best counterattacking units in world football. Last week Marcos Assuncao scored a trademark free-kick to see-off Athletic Bilbao.
Espanyol, meanwhile, beat Rayo 3-1, thanks in no small part to two goals from Raul Tamudo. The little Spanish striker's body language wasn't particularly encouraging, though, and he's known to be upset with certain developments in the club.
Deportivo will be confident of picking up a victory away at bottom-club Recreativo. Roy MaKaay will again be the man to watch. He's Europe's form striker at the moment.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid host Valladolid, Malaga entertain Villarreal, and Osasuna travel to Athletic Bilbao.