La liga - Spain Round 27 - tips and previews
Real Madrid - RCD Espanyol
No Copa, no Champions League - there's just one shot at silverware left for the Bernabeu boys. Real Madrid must quickly put midweek's disappointing 2-1 home loss to Roma behind them and focus on the visit of Espanyol.The hosts have lost just once at home in the Liga this season - unfortunately for them, it was their last game at the Bernabeu against Getafe. Indeed, in all competitions, Madrid have lost five of their last seven.Espanyol, however, have actually lost seven of their last nine, providing you count their penalty shoot-out defeat to Athletic. But even waving that away as a draw doesn't make their record that much more impressive.Raul Tamudo could yet make a dramatic injury comeback on Saturday, though, and nothing peps the perequitos quite like their captain's presence.
Tip : x2
Real Zaragoza - Atletico Madrid
Zaragoza, meanwhile, could very well end the weekend in the relegation zone if things don't go their way here. Defeat at home to Atletico will leave them nervously waiting for Sunday's results so as to learn their fate.For now, though, it's in their hands, and the blanquillos will look to build on their fairly respectable home record against the rojiblancos.Atleti, however, are high on confidence after a fine win over Barcelona last week, and will seek to either re-take, or claw clear in forth place, depending on how Espanyol fare earlier.Kun Aguero in particular will look to build on his recent good form, but the shaky defence had better watch out...
Tip: Under 2.5 or x
Sevilla FC - Levante UD
Moving through to Sunday, and Levante travel to Andalucia to meet a demoralised, tired Sevilla. In short, it could be one of those days for the hosts.The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan side found themselves eliminated from the Champions League midweek on penalties after a stunning fightback by Fenerbahce, and the 120 minutes of action - coupled with that heartbreaking loss - will no doubt have taken their toll.Levante, meanwhile, are starting to believe. Only (only!) ten points separate the Valencians from survival, and the completion of an underdog tale that even Hollywood would dismiss as being too outlandish.Their away record remains awful, though, with just four points from a possible 36 so far.
Tip: 1 H(0-1) or Sevilla will score 3 or more
CA Osasuna - UD Almeria
Surprise package Almeria, meanwhile, head north with the hope of punishing struggling Osasuna.This is, of course, Almeria's first season in the top flight, but that's not stopped them from battling up to a highly respectable 8th place.Osasuna, once upon a time a couple of seasons ago, were capable of even better placings, but now they're more apt to battle against relegation.The Pamplonans, however, are back on home soil after a draw at Villarreal last week, and the partisan Navarre crowd has certainly helped them this season more than last.
Tip: x
Athletic Club Bilbao - Real Valladolid
Valladolid, meanwhile, are back in the top flight, and Athletic had better beware.For although the Basques have far greater pedigree in the Primera, they have amazingly failed to beat the Pucela in the last eight meetings between the sides.Still, Athletic won't let head-to-head history put them off. However, the hosts have both Exteberria and Yeste suspended for this one, and are one point behind their visitors...
Tip 1 or Under 2.5
Real Racing Club - Real Betis
Next up, Racing prepare to continue their UEFA/Intertoto challenge with a visit from on-form Betis.The Santander men have gone off the boil just slightly of late, but they remain incredibly tough to beat at home, with the joint-second best defensive record on their own turf in the whole Liga.Betis, however, fear nobody after embarking on a fine run under recently-appointed boss Paco Chaparro. From relegation makeweights to mid-table hoverers, it's a certain improvement for them.However, 11th place can be deceptive, as they're still just three points into the safety zone.
No bet
Real Murcia - Getafe CF
Murcia would love to be in that position. Ill-fortune and a decline in their own standards has seen them slip to 19th place, seven points behind safety.Amazingly, they're just four points ahead of Levante, too, and that's clearly not good enough. Can new coach Javier Clemente turn it around?Geta, meanwhile, have recovered from their own relegation woes to climb up to the top half, albeit with a few scrapes along the way. Tiredness could be a factor for them here, though, after their UEFA Cup heroics in Lisbon against Benfica.
Tip: 1x
RCD Mallorca - Recreativo de Huelva
Mallorca, meanwhile, managed to fight back for a valuable draw against Geta last season, but need to get some wins on the board.They'll be hopeful of doing so against Recre, who have both Beto and - of course - Quique Alvarez suspended after their rigours of Real Madrid last week.The Barralets are on 31 points; a win for Recre will see them leapfrog their hosts, although the Huelvans have never won a top-level game against Mallorca.
Tip: 1
Valencia CF - Deportivo La Coruna
Valencia, meanwhile, have their pseudo-derby for he early evening game. It's going to be a tough one - Los Che have no fewer than three players suspended, and of course their requisite off-pitch problems.Los Che are firmly mid-table, which Depor will be envious of, but coach Koeman will still demand victory of his charges.Miguel Angel Lotina, meanwhile, is riding the crest of a wave of popularity after pulling his side out of the relegation zone for the first time in living memory.Still, they're just one point into safety, and can't rest on their laurels.
Tip: 1
FC Barcelona - Villarreal CF
Nor, for that matter, can Barcelona.The blaugrana toyed with Celtic sufficiently to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League - the only Spanish side to do so - and after a period of rest will welcome the Yellow Submarine to Camp Nou.They'll be without Lionel Messi, of course, which may have Villarreal fancying their chances. However, the free-scoring form of the early season has deserted Manuel Pellegrini's side of late, and recovering it here could well be difficult.
Tip: 1 H(0-1)
No Copa, no Champions League - there's just one shot at silverware left for the Bernabeu boys. Real Madrid must quickly put midweek's disappointing 2-1 home loss to Roma behind them and focus on the visit of Espanyol.The hosts have lost just once at home in the Liga this season - unfortunately for them, it was their last game at the Bernabeu against Getafe. Indeed, in all competitions, Madrid have lost five of their last seven.Espanyol, however, have actually lost seven of their last nine, providing you count their penalty shoot-out defeat to Athletic. But even waving that away as a draw doesn't make their record that much more impressive.Raul Tamudo could yet make a dramatic injury comeback on Saturday, though, and nothing peps the perequitos quite like their captain's presence.
Tip : x2
Real Zaragoza - Atletico Madrid
Zaragoza, meanwhile, could very well end the weekend in the relegation zone if things don't go their way here. Defeat at home to Atletico will leave them nervously waiting for Sunday's results so as to learn their fate.For now, though, it's in their hands, and the blanquillos will look to build on their fairly respectable home record against the rojiblancos.Atleti, however, are high on confidence after a fine win over Barcelona last week, and will seek to either re-take, or claw clear in forth place, depending on how Espanyol fare earlier.Kun Aguero in particular will look to build on his recent good form, but the shaky defence had better watch out...
Tip: Under 2.5 or x
Sevilla FC - Levante UD
Moving through to Sunday, and Levante travel to Andalucia to meet a demoralised, tired Sevilla. In short, it could be one of those days for the hosts.The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan side found themselves eliminated from the Champions League midweek on penalties after a stunning fightback by Fenerbahce, and the 120 minutes of action - coupled with that heartbreaking loss - will no doubt have taken their toll.Levante, meanwhile, are starting to believe. Only (only!) ten points separate the Valencians from survival, and the completion of an underdog tale that even Hollywood would dismiss as being too outlandish.Their away record remains awful, though, with just four points from a possible 36 so far.
Tip: 1 H(0-1) or Sevilla will score 3 or more
CA Osasuna - UD Almeria
Surprise package Almeria, meanwhile, head north with the hope of punishing struggling Osasuna.This is, of course, Almeria's first season in the top flight, but that's not stopped them from battling up to a highly respectable 8th place.Osasuna, once upon a time a couple of seasons ago, were capable of even better placings, but now they're more apt to battle against relegation.The Pamplonans, however, are back on home soil after a draw at Villarreal last week, and the partisan Navarre crowd has certainly helped them this season more than last.
Tip: x
Athletic Club Bilbao - Real Valladolid
Valladolid, meanwhile, are back in the top flight, and Athletic had better beware.For although the Basques have far greater pedigree in the Primera, they have amazingly failed to beat the Pucela in the last eight meetings between the sides.Still, Athletic won't let head-to-head history put them off. However, the hosts have both Exteberria and Yeste suspended for this one, and are one point behind their visitors...
Tip 1 or Under 2.5
Real Racing Club - Real Betis
Next up, Racing prepare to continue their UEFA/Intertoto challenge with a visit from on-form Betis.The Santander men have gone off the boil just slightly of late, but they remain incredibly tough to beat at home, with the joint-second best defensive record on their own turf in the whole Liga.Betis, however, fear nobody after embarking on a fine run under recently-appointed boss Paco Chaparro. From relegation makeweights to mid-table hoverers, it's a certain improvement for them.However, 11th place can be deceptive, as they're still just three points into the safety zone.
No bet
Real Murcia - Getafe CF
Murcia would love to be in that position. Ill-fortune and a decline in their own standards has seen them slip to 19th place, seven points behind safety.Amazingly, they're just four points ahead of Levante, too, and that's clearly not good enough. Can new coach Javier Clemente turn it around?Geta, meanwhile, have recovered from their own relegation woes to climb up to the top half, albeit with a few scrapes along the way. Tiredness could be a factor for them here, though, after their UEFA Cup heroics in Lisbon against Benfica.
Tip: 1x
RCD Mallorca - Recreativo de Huelva
Mallorca, meanwhile, managed to fight back for a valuable draw against Geta last season, but need to get some wins on the board.They'll be hopeful of doing so against Recre, who have both Beto and - of course - Quique Alvarez suspended after their rigours of Real Madrid last week.The Barralets are on 31 points; a win for Recre will see them leapfrog their hosts, although the Huelvans have never won a top-level game against Mallorca.
Tip: 1
Valencia CF - Deportivo La Coruna
Valencia, meanwhile, have their pseudo-derby for he early evening game. It's going to be a tough one - Los Che have no fewer than three players suspended, and of course their requisite off-pitch problems.Los Che are firmly mid-table, which Depor will be envious of, but coach Koeman will still demand victory of his charges.Miguel Angel Lotina, meanwhile, is riding the crest of a wave of popularity after pulling his side out of the relegation zone for the first time in living memory.Still, they're just one point into safety, and can't rest on their laurels.
Tip: 1
FC Barcelona - Villarreal CF
Nor, for that matter, can Barcelona.The blaugrana toyed with Celtic sufficiently to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League - the only Spanish side to do so - and after a period of rest will welcome the Yellow Submarine to Camp Nou.They'll be without Lionel Messi, of course, which may have Villarreal fancying their chances. However, the free-scoring form of the early season has deserted Manuel Pellegrini's side of late, and recovering it here could well be difficult.
Tip: 1 H(0-1)
posted by Midnight Sun @ 12:29,
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