FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.09.2009 13:35

Spanish League Preview Week 5

Nick Bedson

The Spanish La Liga teams face their third game in a week this weekend, with Real Madrid playing Tenerife at the Bernabeu on Saturday evening and third and fourth placed Seville and Bilbao fighting it out in San Mames at the same time.

Pepe and Xabi Alonso back for Madrid

Madrid boss Mauricio Pellegrini accepts that his team isn't playing brilliant football yet, but insists: “people thought we'd have a tougher start to the season, but we are keeping up with Barca and we've conceded fewer goals.”. Pellegrini should be able to welcome back Pepe, who has been banned since last season and Xabi Alonso who's been injured. Tenerife captain, the Catalan Marc Beltran, was adamant that his team were going to Madrid with a positive attitude, claiming:”we'll go out without fear and get right in their faces”. Bilbao lost their 100% record against Tenerife in midweek and this Saturday they face Seville, who have won their last three league matches and are ahead of them in third place on goal difference.

Valencia and Atletico both in need of a win

As well as the Barca, Madrid, and Seville games, the other big match on Saturday sees Valencia take on Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla. Neither team has made the start they might have hoped for, with Atletico floundering second from bottom and still without a win and Valencia taking just 1 point from the last two games. Despite the bad start and speculation about a change in manager, Atletico President Enrique Cerezo assured Abel that he'll be the boss: “ for the rest of the season, without a doubt”. Watch this space. Valencia boss Emery is also under some pressure and will be without the injured David Abelda for the game.

Espanyol out for third win in a week

Mallorca suffered their first defeat against Seville on Tuesday and will look to bounce back against Valladolid on Sunday, whilst Espanyol, again without Tamudo and De la Peña, will be going for their third win this week when they take on bottom club Jerez in Cornella. Villareal face a tough trip to Coruña as they look for their first win of the season and boss Ernesto Valverde is “convinced” that their luck is about to change and hopes to have Marco Senna back from injury to play some part in the game.

In other games, Racing will be hoping to put their midweek defeat against Barca behind them when they visit Almeria , Zaragoza are at home to Getafe and Osasuna and Sporting meet in Pamplona.