FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.01.2010 11:27

Spanish League Preview Week 17

Nick Bedson

Barca close this weekend’s league programme on Sunday night in Tenerife, but before that there are plenty of interesting games in La Liga, with positions at the top and the bottom up for grabs.

Seville, who’ve lost their last two games and haven’t won at home since early November, will be hoping that their midweek cup win will help put an end to their recent run of poor results in the league which has seen them drop out of the top four. They have a chance to get back into winning ways on Saturday when they face Racing at the Sanchez Pijuan. Unfortunately for them though, they will be without the host of big names who missed the Nou Camp game and could also have to make do without Jesus Navas, who picked up a knock in that game. Rcaing need the points, but they seem much improved since changing their manager and will look to their young striker Canales to spring a surprise.

Six-pointer in Valladolid

Villarreal proved at the Nou Camp they are a much more dangerous outfit know than they were at the start of the campaign and they will expect to take the points at Almeria on Saturday night. Saturday’s other game sees Atletico Madrid visit Valladolid. Atletico, who lost 3-0 in the cup in midweek to Huelva, are in 11th place, but on 17 points they are one of 9 teams separated by just 4 points with Zaragoza on 13 sitting next to bottom. Valladolid are in 13th with a point less than Madrid and the game is already looking like a six pointer.

Tough games for teams at the bottom

Espanyol and Zaragoza met in Cornella on Sunday in another big game at the bottom: Tamudo could be back for Espanyol who desperately need the points, as of course do Zaragoza. Of the other clubs at the bottom, Jerez and Malaga are both at home to Valencia and Bilbao respectively, whilst Osasuna face a difficult trip to Deportivo.

Second play fourth at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid missed the chance to take advantage of Barca’s draw last weekend when they were held in Pamplona and this Sunday they will have another opportunity, if only for a couple of hours, when they take on fourth placed Mallorca at 19.00. Madrid striker Higuain admitted: “we’ll have to be very careful against Mallorca and play at a hundred percent if we aren’t to let the victory slip”.