Saturday 21/02
Barcelona vs. Espanyol
Real Madrid vs. Real Betis
Villarreal vs. Sporting Gijon
Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid
Sunday 22/02
Valladolid vs. Malaga
Recreativo vs. Almeria
Mallorca vs. Racing
Osasuna vs. Numancia
Getafe vs. Athletic
Deportivo vs. Valencia
Saturday sees a bumper evening with four matches taking place. Three of the top four are in action as Barcelona, not at their stratospheric best but still 10 points clear, stage the Barcelona derby at the Camp Nou. Guardiola’s men stuttered to a draw last week at Betis, shorn as they were of Messi and Henry. Those two are likely to come back for at least part of this big game. Although there is a massive difference between the two sides in the table, Espanyol were extremely unlucky to lose a controversial first derby back in September, which was marred by crowd trouble. Two coaches have been fired since then and Mauricio Pochettino is still looking for his first win as their coach. Since he took over his side have scored three draws and a defeat, yet they are looking increasingly frail and sit bottom of the table. Barcelona will want to preserve their double-digit lead over Real Madrid, and its been a long time since Espanyol scored a victory at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid, invigorated and disciplined under Juande Ramos, welcome an improving Betis to the Bernabau. The visitors are 5 points above the drop zone and will be anxious to put more daylight between them and fellow strugglers, but it seems unlikely they’ll take anything from the Bernabau which has become a fortress since the ex-Sevilla coach arrived. Real look far stronger and miserly with Raul and Robben bang in form. Elsewhere, Manuel Pellegrini’s frustrating Villarreal side host Sporting Gijon. Nothing less than a win will do for the Yellow Submarine if they value their Champions League prospects.
Completing Saturday’s line-up, two sides with the top four very much in their sights, Sevilla and Atletico. The corresponding fixture in September produced a Sevilla win and both these sides are just emerging from a poor run of form. Five points separate them in the table but in reality I feel there’s little to choose between these two sides. Sunday’s big game is at the Riazor where Valencia visit Deportivo. The hosts’ form is decidedly mixed but they still have the capacity to trouble the big sides at home whilst Valencia’s away form is also a tad shabby, 3 wins out of 11. There is no doubt that the financial turmoil off the pitch, where players have not been paid for at least a couple of months, is affecting morale in Unai Emery’s team and this weekend could see them drop out of the top four, and, less likely, the top six.
Athletic Bilbao visit Getafe with the Basques still very much eyeing a European spot but their away form will have to improve for that to become a reality – 2 wins out of 11 isn’t enough. Alvaro Negredo is single-handedly, it seems, keeping Almeria above the drop zone and a win at Recreativo would allow Hugo Sanchez much-needed breathing space. Racing visit Mallorca as they look to break the top half, while Malaga will look to keep up the pressure on the top six with a win at Valladolid – no mean feat, mind, as Valladolid have picked up 23 of their 30 points from the Zorilla. There’s a crucial game at the bottom too, as Osasuna and Numancia meet. Numancia, somewhat surprisingly, dispensed with Sergio Kresjic’s services midweek and Jose Camacho is desperate for Osasuna to pick up points at home to ignite their escape act.
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