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Primera Liga Weekend Preview: Stiff Tests For The Leaders
League leaders Barcelona and Valencia face stern tests, from Sevilla and Celta Vigo respectively, while Real Madrid travel across the city to take on Schuster? Getafe.
Real Madrid (4th) kick off the weekend? action as they take on Getafe (9th) in El Coliseum on Saturday night, with rumours of Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy starting together doing quite a few rounds.
It is being suggested that Capello wants to test out this combination ahead of next week? ?l Clasico?. However, latest training sessions suggest otherwise - that Raul, Guti and Beckham will play behind the Dutch striker - so one will simply have to wait and watch.
Just one week ago, Real president Ramon Calderon revealed that he was keen on Getafe boss Bernd Schuster, but went for Capello for the sake of quicker results, on the advice of Sporting Director Pedja Mijatovic.
Getafe started their season with two huge wins, but have gone off the boil since losing the third game to Valencia, under controversial circumstances. They are strongly motivated to win and start climbing up the table again, but whether that will be enough to thwart Real Madrid, remains to be seen.
Atletico Madrid (5th) follow their two city rivals into action, as they host in form Recreativo Huelva (7th).
Javier Aguirre? charges have been in good form this season despite a very testing set of opening fixtures. They have faced Sevilla, Valencia, and Real Madrid in the first five rounds, and still managed to amass a very respectable 10 points. However, they will now be without Maxi Rodriguez, possibly for the rest of the season.
Another problem for Aguirre, of course, is that the recently promoted Recreativo have also, incredibly, picked up the same number of points so far. Add to that, their gutsy displays on the road, and it is match on at El Calderon!
Sunday will see Celta Vigo (14th) host Valencia (2nd) in what is set to be a huge test for Los Ches, despite Celta? slow start. Coach Quique Sanchez Flores will know that with Real Madrid and Barcelona concentrating on each other, this is the moment when Valencia can really pull clear in the League with a couple of good wins.
However, they will have to do it the hard way, with Celta lined up this week, and Osasuna next time around. The game will also see exciting Che prospect David Silva face off against his former club, where he made his claim to fame last season with a spectacular loan spell.
The biggest match of the weekend, however, takes place at Camp Nou, with leaders Barcelona facing third placed Sevilla, who are just the solitary point in arrears. Revenge is the word being bandied around the Barca camp, with the Catalans still seething over their 3-0 Uefa Super Cup loss in Monaco in August.
Sevilla, in turn, have heaved a sigh of relief following the recovery of striker Kanoute ahead of the clash, even as Barcelona continue to look for a permanent solution up front, in the absence of Samuel Eto?.
To say that the match is important for Barcelona, is an understatement, as another defeat to Sevilla, at home this time, could have a debilitating effect on the Spanish and European Champions, particularly with Chelsea and Real Madrid lined up. That said, Barcelona are as ready for Sevilla as they have ever been!
Real Betis (17th) host Deportivo (6th) in another key clash, as Javier Irureta faces his former charges for the first time since he left the Riazor just under eighteen months ago. Betis have made a poor start to the season, but can draw some positives from the fact that they have lost some games despite playing well. Deportivo, meanwhile, are upwardly mobile, and could well get themselves into the top four with a win.
Villarreal (10th) are another upwardly mobile team, and can get closer to the top this weekend as they host embattled Espanyol (15th), who have picked up just four points from five games. The Yellow Submarines will be huge favourites for this clash, particularly with Manuel Pellegrini having recovered five injured players this week ? Senna, Josico, Javi Venta, Guille Franco and Pascal Cygan.
Embattled Basques Real Sociedad (20th) host Real Zaragoza (8th), with Bakero desperate to pull his team away from the bottom. However, Zaragoza have European designs for next season, and the personnel to back that, and will take some beating, even in the hostile San Mames.
Fellow Basques Athletic Bilbao (19th) are just as desperate to turn their season around as they visit Catalan minnows Nastic (16th).
Osasuna (11th) seem to have finally put Aguirre? departure behind them, and will look to get closer to the European berths as they host lowly Racing Santander (18th), who seem to be struggling despite the efforts of Zigic.
Finally, Lopez Caro? Levante (12th) will look to pull further away from the bottom as they host Real Mallorca (13th), who just haven? shown enough yet to suggest that this season will be any different from the previous two ? spent fighting tooth and nail against relegation. |
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Post time 13-10-2006 05:46 PM
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