Osasuna 2/10 The Pamplona side have slowly improved since Jose Antonio Camacho’s arrival in October but remain bottom of the table. Camacho’s managed over 600 league games and will need all his nous to get his team out of this. Goals have been the problem, with just 19 scored but this stat has got considerably healthier recently – they pushed Barcelona mighty close and scored a draw in Sevilla. Don’t write off a great escape, assuming someone (Pandiani probably) scores enough goals.
Racing Santander 6/10 With Marcelino moving to Zaragoza, no-one was expecting Racing to repeat their exploits of last season in making a European spot. Typically miserly at the back thanks to Cesar Navas, Ivan Marcano and Exequiel Garay, creativity and goals were their problem with the January signings of Nikola Zigic and Toni Moral made with the specific aim of rectifying that. Zigic has already found the net twice since returning to Cantabria and his goals should bean, barring a disaster, a mid-table finish.
Real Betis 2/10 Betis had a purple patch in November which saw them jump to 8th, but since then have been in freefall and Paco Chaparro must fear for his job under the notoriously trigger-happy Juan Lopez de Ropera. New signing Achille Emana has impressed but their home record is woeful, taking just 8 points from 9 games. Betis are a big club but continually underachieve and, even with a six point gap to the drop zone, look anything but comfortable.
Real Madrid 7/10 Real Madrid have been so comprehensively overshadowed by their Catalan rivals it has clouded everyone’s judgement – Bernd Schuster was unceremoniously fired after calling an El Clasico victory ‘impossible’ and Juande Ramos has, barring that defeat, improved the team. Arjen Robben is in great form and so are Higuain and Casillas. Realistically the title is out of their reach, but for people to say this season has been a disaster is rather inaccurate. New signing Diarra should help things out in the centre of the park.
Recreativo Huelva 3/10 Given their small squad and smaller budget, no-one expects miracles from Recre and so it has proved. The excellent Javier Camunas apart, Huelva cannot find the net and no-one has scored fewer goals in La Liga. Upcoming games against Betis, Espanyol and Athletic could have a huge bearing on their season one way or the other.
Sevilla 8/10 Some Sevilla fans are calling for Manolo Jiminez’s head but this reporter has no idea why. Only Barcelona have lost fewer games or a better away record. He has got the team functioning whether or not Kanoute or Fabiano are scoring. Renato is in inspired form and Prieto, Escude and Navarro are solid at the back. Should they fail to make top four Jiminez will be out but so far I think he’s done a very good job.
Sporting Gijon 7/10 Sporting Gijon have defied my prediction of relegation to enter half-way in the top half. The Asturians are shit-or-bust – 18 games, 8 wins, 11 defeats, 0 draws. Carmelo and Mate Bilic are doing the business up front and they have a couple of top young players elsewhere, including highly rated left-back Roberto Canella. 39 goals conceded though – not infallible.
Valencia 8/10 After such a turbulent 07/08, Unai Emery has brought welcome stability on the pitch but financial malaise paralyzes the club off it. The debts are huge and may mean the sale of top assets (but not this season, apparently). Villa, Silva and Mata are in superb nick but Emery deserves more credit for how he’s shored up the back and midfield. Get rid of unreliable Brazilian flap-merchant Renan in goal and you’re onto a winner. Top 4 contenders and I reckon they’ll pip Atleti to that 4th place.
Valladolid 6/10 Mid-table at half way, Valladolid’s fans will take that. Jose Mendilibar has built this season’s success on a terrific home record where they’ve beaten, amongst others, Real Madrid. Jonathan Sesma and Pedro Leon have caught the eye on the wings and Valladolid should, at worst, finish in lower mid-table.
Villarreal 5/10 Manuel Pellegrini has much to ponder at half way. His usually reliable team have become increasingly inconsistent, particularly at the back, and it has cost them their once-assured placed in the top four. Injuries up front have hardly helped, but Joseba Llorente has proved a good acquisition from Valladolid, supported well by Giuseppe Rossi. The spending power of the other top sides is perhaps starting to show, it may be a case of Villarreal occupying the UEFA cup slots for a while. Yellow Submarine fans spoilt by recent success have cause for concern.
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