FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.04.2010 13:06

Spanish League Preview, Week 34

Nick Bedson

Real Madrid kick off at Zaragoza a couple of hours after Barca, in a game they have to win to keep in touch with the reigning league title holders.

At the other end of the table, Xavier Clemente’s Valladolid will be looking to beat Sporting in Gijon and drag their hosts down into the relegation battle themselves.

The top three all play on Saturday, with Valencia at home to Deportivo, whilst Mallorca entertain Malaga, Seville are away to Getafe and Villarreal visit Racing on Sunday. Atletico Bilbao, currently in seventh, play Osasuna on Monday.

Pressure on Madrid again

Once again, Madrid will start their game after Barca have finished and could find themselves four points behind at kick off in La Romareda. Pellegrini has Kaka fit again, though the Brazilian is unlikely to start. It’s an equally big game for Zaragoza, who are just two points off the drop zone and who know that a defeat could see them slip into the bottom three if other results go against them. Third place Valencia also need the points from their game at home to the out of form Deportivo to keep Mallorca, just 4 points behind them, at bay.

Mallorca on course for Europe

Mallorca play their second home game within a week after seeing off Osasuna 2-0 at the ONO last week and if they beat Malaga, it will be their 15th win at the stadium this season. Malaga are in big danger of dropping into the bottom three and last week’s result against Valladolid was a real body blow to the team’s hopes of salvation. Tenerife are now just a point behind Malaga and with their confidence high after wins against Sporting and Getafe, they will hope to take advantage of the visit to Atletico Madrid, who seem to have given up on the league as they concentrate on their cup challenges. Below Tenerife, Valladolid appear to have been boosted by Xavier Clemente’s arrival and if they can win in Gijon against a Sporting team who’ve taken just 2 points from the last 5 games, they could move to within a point or two of salvation and with Sporting themselves just five points off the relegation places, they could drag Preciado’s team into a nervy season climax.

Tough trip for Seville

The battle for UEFA spots continues with Seville, just a point behind Mallorca and eyeing a top four finish again, facing a difficult trip to Getafe whose own hopes of breaking into Europe are still very much alive with Michel’s team just two points adrift of Villarreal and Bilbao. Villarreal’s run of four wins in five games has taken them to sixth place and a win tomorrow against the struggling Racing could see them just two points behind Seville should the Andalucians slip up. Bilbao face Osasuna in the Basque derby in Pamplona on Monday and with Camacho’s team virtually safe, Caparros will be looking for a morale boosting win to keep his team’s European qualification hopes alive.

In the weekend’s other game, Espanyol can virtually ensure another season in the top flight if they can see off Almeria , who’ve taken just two points from their last five games.