The restart of European competition is nearing and teams involved will see rotations in their lineups and will look to solidify their identities and build momentum. Barcelona and Real are ready to engage in an enthralling feud for first. Barcelona enter this week amidst referee controversy and injuries but remain the team to beat. Real, on the other hand, are claiming a newfound hunger and style, and a comfortable win against last place Xerez would further dispel doubts. Valencia, Sevilla, and Deportivo will continue to add spice to the league, with Mallorca playing the Cinderella role, as they continue their undefeated run at the Ono Estadi. The middle of the table promises to sizzle, as only 10 points separate 6th place from 10th and traditionally strong sides like Athletic Bilbao, Atlético, Getate, and Villarreal are in the mix. At the bottom, Valladolid and Zaragoza hope that their new coaches can steer them clear out of relegation. Watch Atletico Madrid vs FC Barcelona Live
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona – 3:00 PM EST (Vicente Calderón)
Atlético historically plays open, high-scoring games versus Barcelona, although last year the much-anticipated match-up Agüero-Messi at the Camp Nou resulted in a lopsided win for the Blaugrana. Atlético are 12th with 24 points and must begin looking upward on the table in a season filled with inconsistencies. This week they will not prepare for Barcelona until they stamp their passport to the Copa final this Thursday versus Santander. They travel to Rácing with a 4-0 lead and they won’t want this opportunity to pass them. Their performance in this game will surely condition play versus Barça on Sunday. But Atlético have plenty of firepower of their own and their fans will push them to ride the Copa del Rey success until Monday.
Barcelona will be short of defenders this weekend as Álves, Abidal, Chigrinski, Márquez, Piqué, and Touré Yayá will sit out due to injuries or suspensions. Barcelona will have to rely on their offensive prowess more than usual as they try to outgun the Colchoneros and maintain their 5-point lead and undefeated season intact. Creating offense should not be a problem for the acclaimed Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, et al, but questions in the back will have to be answered by youngsters from the second team, and this might be too great a puzzle for even the great Barcelona to resolve.
Saturday, February 13, 2010 La Liga Match Previews
Sporting de Gijón vs Valencia – 12:00 PM EST (Stadium: El Molinón)
Sporting lost 3-1 versus Almería and is in a real slide after having lost the last four. Preciado’s men will attempt to facelift last game’s image versus Almería. Up 0-1 and with a man advantage since the 11th minute, they lost their composure and drive and conceded the win. Sporting are in 13th place, only 4 points ahead of the danger zone and view this game as a chance to nurse their injured pride.
Valencia come off a convincing victory against a diminished opponent, Valladolid, and have found a new midfield baton in argentine Ever Banega. The midfielder is in great form and will be flanked by the talented Silva and Mata. Up front, Villa will look to add to his fifteen goals and focus attention on his scoring instinct rather than on rumors about his future. The Che are in 3rd place and will doggedly protect their comfortable position.
Xerez vs Real Madrid – 2:00 PM EST (Municipal de Chapín)
Newcomers Xerez, in 20th place, need a victory desperately and will examine their future in the Primera by trying to upset Real Madrid. They allowed Athletic Bilbao to come back from a 1-2 deficit at San Mamés last week and they will want to make up for their blunder this weekend. A win versus the Madrid giants would bring prestige to the organization and Xerez are confident that Madrid are beatable if approached with patience.
Real Madrid are in hot pursuit of Barcelona and will continue to pressure the Culés and hope that the catalan rivals will drop some points at Atlético’s Calderón. French international Benzema will miss action due to a muscle injury but Cristiano Ronaldo returns after his 2-game suspension. With Guti’s revival, Granero’s poise, and Kaká’s finesse, Madrid’s midfield has been generating fireworks. Add to this Higuaín’s confirmation as a world class striker, --his goal last week after settling a ball from some 40 yards was magnificent--, and it will be fun to see if all the stars align and Real can maintain its creative high-scoring game.
Villarreal vs Athletic – 4:00 PM EST (El Madrigal)
Villarreal have lost three of their last four competition matches. New coach Garrido and veteran midfielder Senna agree that Villarreal are on the right track after the image displayed versus Mallorca. Despite the 1-0 loss, Villarreal had three or four good scoring chances and could have faired better. But coulda, woulda, Villarreal must capitalize on their opportunities this weekend if they are to have a successful run this campaign. Spain international defender Capdevila may miss the game due to a knee injury.
Athletic, the club from San Mamés, barely edged last place Xerez 3-2 last weekend thanks to another miracle goal by Llorente, but they will continue to play valiantly to earn a spot in Europe. Athletic are in 7th place with 33 points, 2 less than Deportivo, and cannot let up at this stage, especially as they restart play in the Europa League. Athletic will have to rotate players as they look ahead to the round of 16 match versus Belgian Anderletch.
Sunday, February 14, 2010 La Liga Match Previews
Espanyol vs Deportivo – 11:00 AM EST (Cornellà-El Prat)
Espanyol, in 14th place with 23 points, are hampered by injuries: experienced play-maker Iván de la Peña may miss the rest of the season, but Osvaldo and Pareja will probably play. Coach Mauricio Pochettino looks to quickly forget the 3-0 defeat versus Real Madrid and expects the team to conserve the ball and make better decisions. The Periquitos looked rather fragile versus Real last weekend, as Real clearly won the midfield match-ups and moved the ball with ease.
Deportivo will appeal the one game suspension to Pablo Álvarez after a second yellow card for diving resulted in the player’s early send-off versus Málaga. On the other hand, Depor players want to look beyond referee performances and focus on having a strong match. Midfielder Sergio has reinjured his right-leg calf and will miss 6 to 8 weeks. The good news is that coach Lotina has confirmed the reappearance of Mexican star midfielder Guardado. Last week, Depor stayed organized on defense versus Málaga despite playing with 10 and tallied one point in their visit. They will look to end a run of bad luck against an Espanyol side with their share of problems. Watch Espanyol vs Deportivo Live
Valladolid vs Zaragoza – 11:00 AM EST (Nuevo Zorrilla)
Valladolid are in search of an identity with new coach Onésimo Sánchez. They have only scratched away two ties in the last five games and are currently in 18th place and in danger of losing their membership in the División de Honor. The arrival of coach Sánchez and new winter signings such as veteran Del Horno ought to revitalize the Pucelanos. On an anecdotal note, the club is even promoting discounted tickets for Valentine’s Day to attract the faithful.
The recent decline of Zaragoza continues to surprise after a few seasons where they played the role of spoiler and were a high-flying and balanced team that were very tough to defeat. However, Zaragoza have earned the last 6 points and coach José Aurelio Gay sees improvement in the team’s play. Valladolid are a direct rival to stave off the much feared descent to second division and this match will prove to be very interesting, as both teams will look to solidify their real intentions in the league. Watch Valladolid vs Zaragoza Live
Getafe vs Almería – 11:00 AM EST (Coliseum Alfonso Pérez)
Getafe will play on a short week after winning 1-0 against Sevilla in the Copa semifinal, but falling eliminated 2-1 in the overall tally. Getafe are in 8th place with 31 points and their coach Michel affirms that the team played well against Sevilla and deserved better. Getafe lost to Barcelona 2-1 last week in a game mired in controversy over red cards to Piqué and Márquez that left Barcelona with 9 men. Despite playing with a man advantage, Getafe were poor and were only able to score in the last minute of the game.
Almería are 15th in the table with 22 points and only 4 points out of the relegation zone. They played bravely against Sporting, defeating them handedly 3-1, after playing with 10 men for most of the match and overcoming a 0-1 deficit. Defender Bernardello stepped up and the team rallied around his strength and the scoring return of recently troubled Guilherme. This week Almería will play without midfielder Corona and will have to demonstrate their winning character if they are to beat Michel’s squad. Watch Getafe v Almeria Live
Racing vs Málaga – 11:00 AM EST (El Sardinero)
Racing are in 11th place and 10 points from the last spot to the Europa League. Racing will try to improve upon last week’s draw versus Atlético. Racing will also have to rotate players and hope that this Thursday’s second-leg match versus Atlético in the Copa del Rey semifinal renders them match-fit and optimistic. Racing look to overcome a 4-0 deficit in the Copa, an almost impossible feat. They will look to their young rising star and virtual Real Madrid player Canales to provide the inspiration.
Málaga on the other hand view this game as an opportunity to steal 3 points on their way to assure their survival. Having struggled most of the season near the bottom of the table, Málaga have been infused with youthful talent and want to continue climbing from their 16th place after a useful 0-0 tie versus Depor in the last match day. Watch Racing v Malaga Live
Sevilla vs Osasuna – 1:00 PM EST (Sánchez Pizjuan)
Sevilla qualified for the Copa del Rey final despite losing 1-0 to Getafe and being outplayed. Goalkeeper Palop heroically protected Sevilla’s goal against Getafe’s lashings. Their coach Jiménez will likely rotate players and try to field an aggressive lineup that can entangle the midfield and fend off Osasuna counters. But Sevilla has a lot of depth as well and, despite a lackluster performance versus Getafe, players like Jesús Navas, Kanouté, Capel, and Negredo will undoubtedly combine to create their fair share of chances.
This match has the making of a great opportunity for Osasuna. The Rojillos have won the last four and will rely on Camacho’s tenacious and counter-attacking football to give Sevilla a scrappy fight. Osasuna may also have Sevilla’s euphoria for advancing to the Copa del Rey final as an ally. The side from Nervión may be emotionally and physically drained and will have to be very cautious if they want stay on board the Europe train. Watch Sevilla vs Osasuna Live
Monday, February 15, 2010 La Liga Match Preview
Tenerife vs Mallorca – 3:00 PM EST (Heliodoro Rodriguez)
Having earned only 2 points of the last 15, Tenerife meet the other islanders of the Spanish Primera. While Mallorca sit in 4th place and have their eyes set on Champions, Tenerife are diametrically opposed and will appeal to the spirit of the Carnival festivities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for good luck. Tenerife played to a difficult 1-0 loss against Osasuna last weekend and players and coach recognize that the team must stay together in these difficult times and have a positive mindset.
Mallorca, undefeated in their home turf, but inconsistent in the last few weeks want to fend off the likes of Sevilla and Deportivo and prove that Mallorca will make noise for weeks to come. Gregorio Manzano always works wonders with the Mallorca side and they look optimistic before they take on Tenerife. Mallorca strong-armed Villarreal to a 1-0 win last game and will have to be organized and tough-minded again this week because they will be short-sided on defense.
By Jesús M. Sendón
