Spanish first division title run-in
seven games to go, the Spanish first division title race has boiled down to a three-way battle between Real Madrid, Deportivo Coruna and Real Sociedad.
With seven games to go, the Spanish first division title race has boiled down to a three-way battle between Real Madrid, Deportivo Coruna and Real Sociedad.
Following is a look at the prospects for each club:
REAL MADRID:
League titles: (28) 1932, 1933, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986. 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2001.
Current position: 1st, 64 points, four ahead of Deportivo and Real Sociedad.
Key player: Zinedine Zidane.
Strengths: Even without the goal-scoring talents of Raul -- who will be out for at least three more weeks while he recovers from an appendix operation -- Real possess the most potent attacking force in the game.
With the dribbling and dead ball skills of Luis Figo, Zidane's ability to control the game from just outside the opposition's penalty area, and the deadly finishing of Ronaldo there are few sides that can live with Real when they are firing on all cylinders.
Claude Makelele adds steel to the midfield while keeper Iker Casillas can keep the European champions in the game when things are not going right.
Real, unbeaten at home in the league in 2-1/2 years, have the added bonus of playing four of their remaining seven games at the Bernabeu.
Weaknesses: Real are vulnerable if opponents have the courage to take the game to them. Roberto Carlos often leaves gaps with his rampaging forward runs and although skipper Fernando Hierro is brilliant at marshalling the back four, he can struggle against quick strikers.
There is also a chance that their presence in the Champions League semi-finals could take its toll. Real were strong favourites to win the league last season but their domestic form slipped alarmingly as they closed in on their ninth European Cup win and Valencia were able to take advantage.
Remaining games and predicted results:
May 3: Real Mallorca (H) Win.
May 10-11: Recreativo Huelva (A) Win.
May 18-19: Malaga (H) Win.
May 24-25: Valencia (A) Lose.
May 31-June 1: Celta Vigo (H) Draw.
June 15: Atletico Madrid (A) Lose.
June 21-22: Athletic Bilbao (H) Win.
Final predicted position: champions 77 points
DEPORTIVO CORUNA:
League titles: (1) 2000
Current position: second, 60 points, four points behind Real Madrid, level on points with Real Sociedad.
Key Player: Roy Makaay.
Strengths: Dutch centre-forward Makaay has been prolific this season, scoring 24 of Deportivo's 52 goals and rarely failing to net even from a half chance.
Behind him, Depor have the finesse of Juan Carlos Valeron, who is capable of prising open even the most watertight of defences, while the pace and passing of wingers Victor and Fran cause real problems.
Diego Tristan is currently out with a thigh strain but coach Javier Irureta has the option of throwing on Albert Luque, another natural predator in the area. Former Brazilian international Mauro Silva adds experience in midfield and Jose Molina is a top class keeper.
Weaknesses: A succession of injuries has played havoc with the Depor defence this season and Irureta has not had a settled line-up at the back. The Galicians have made a number of errors in recent matches and look vulnerable to sides playing on the break.
Irureta has been accused of being over-cautious in his tactics and has not enjoyed the smoothest of relations with a number of players, something that could damage his side's title chances as the tension increases.
May 3: Recreativo Huelva (H) Win.
May 10-11: Malaga (A) Draw.
May 18-19: Valencia (H) Win.
May 24-25: Celta Vigo (A) Lose.
May 31-June 1: Atletico Madrid (H) Win.
June 15: Athletic Bilbao (A) Draw.
June 21-22: Espanyol (H) Win.
Final predicted position: third, 74 points
REAL SOCIEDAD:
League titles: (2) 1981, 1982
Current league position: third, 60 points, four points behind leaders Real Madrid, level on points with Deportivo.
Key player: Nihat Kahveci.
Strengths: Sociedad's surprise challenge is based on traditional virtues of determination, hard work and a fierce team spirit, nurtured by their perceptive French coach Raynald Denoueix.
The team has a lot of genuinely talented players. The midfield offers the guile of Valery Karpin, the delicate ball skills of rising star Xabi Alonso and the brilliant passing of Javi de Pedro.
Up front the Basques have the most effective strike pairing in the league. Serbian target man Darko Kovacevic and live-wire Turkish forward Nihat Kahveci have terrorised defences with their direct attacking play, scoring 36 of Sociedad's 58 goals between them.
Weaknesses: Of the three sides battling it out for the title, Sociedad have conceded the most goals. They have been hit hard by the injury to Argentina's Gabriel Schurrer and are prone to lapses of concentration at the back. Keeper Sander Westerveld is brilliant at launching counter-attacks and can produce outstanding saves but he has made a few gaffes.
Sociedad have been accustomed to battling against relegation in the last few seasons and may become a little dizzy as they fight it out with the more experienced title contenders.
Remaining games and predicted results:
May 3: Sevilla (H) Win.
May 10-11: Mallorca (A) Lose.
May 18-19: Recreativo (H) Win.
May 24-25: Malaga (A) Win.
May 31-June 1: Valencia (H) Win.
June 15: Celta Vigo (A) Draw.
June 21-22: Atletico Madrid (H) Win.
Final predicted position: second, 76 points.