FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.03.2010 11:33

Spanish League Preview Week 27

Nick Bedson

There are five games brought forward to Saturday in La Liga, including the clash between basement strugglers, Jerez and Tenerife, seventh placed Bilbao playing eighth placed Getafe, Seville travelling to Espanyol and Real Madrid hosting Sporting.

Real Madrid, who will be without the injured Benzama, face the Bernabeu crowd for the first time since their Champions League exit when they entertain Sporting on Saturday night . Madrid’s under-pressure manager Pellegrini reckons: “it’s easy to criticise the boss when we lose and not see any of his influence in the great league season we are having”. At the other end of the table, Jerez are at home to Tenerife, whose manager Jose Luis Oltra claims: “this is a life or death game for them and for us”. The Canary Islanders are eight points clear of Jerez and if they take the points they could draw level with fourth from bottom Zaragoza. A win for the hosts would still leave them two points adrift of next to bottom Valladolid, who kick off at Deportivo at the same time.

Fight for fourth spot

Deportivo are currently sixth on 42 points, one ahead of Bilbao who open the weekend’s fixtures when they entertain Getafe at six, and two behind fourth placed Seville who play at Espanyol in a ten o’clock kick off. Bilbao welcome back Koikili, Yeste and Exteberria from injury and their keeper Iraizoz will be making his hundredth appearance for the club. After their midweek exit from Europe, Seville could find themselves out of the Champions League spots too if they fail to beat Espanyol, who have not lost at home since the beginning of December. The Catalans will be without their keeper Kameni, who’s injured his left wrist, whilst Seville will be missing Luis Fabiano and Konko, whilst Kanoute is also doubtful.

Sunday’s games

Mallorca are the other team in the fight for fourth, wedged between Seville and Deportivo on 43 points and they will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s heavy defeat when they entertain Atletico Madrid on Sunday. The Madrid team won their way through to the quarter finals of the Europa League on Thursday where they will meet Valencia, who go into the first of two successive home games against Almeria in real need of re-launching their challenge for third place after three games without a win. Villarreal are fighting hard to make contact with the leading pack and they will be hoping to take advantage of Malaga’s recent drop in form – they’ve lost their last three- to celebrate Marcos Senna’s 200th league appearance for the club when they travel to La Rosaleda. In Sunday’s other game, Osasuna prepare for their trip to Barcelona this Wednesday with a home game against Racing with Pandiani and Sergio both doubtful for the game.