After the unfortunate
technical difficulties which scuppered Saturday's previews, we're
back in the gane. Here are all of Sunday's games, in briefer form
than normal.
We'll have a preview
for the Monday night game up later on.
As ever- ALL KICK
OFF TIMES CET
GETAFE V ESPANYOL
(12:00)
Getafe did well to
fight back for a 2-1 win over a gutsy Valladolid side. Luis Garcia
Plaza's use of the bench was key, with the sub Lafita settling the
game with a cracker.
Espanyol's rotten luck
continues. They played very well Valencia and were worth a point. A
penalty that was never was, and two sendings off off the back of it
somes up their luck this season.
They can't keep
dropping points in games where they've played well, but Getafe are in
fine form here and will win.
ATHLETIC BILBAO V
DEPORTIVO (17:00)
Finally, the question
will be answered. With top scorer Aritz Aduriz suspended following
his yellow at the Bernabéu last week, will the ever-stubborn Bielsa
continue to overlook him? He did just that on day 1, starting with
the goal-shy Gaizka Toquero.
They'll be fresh at
least following the suspension of Thursday's Europa League tie in
Israel, a competition which they are now out of.
Even when playing well-
and they have performed very well times, Deport struggled to turn
draws into victories, or go down to defeat. A porous backline hasn't
helped, though they are now back to full strength there. Going down
2-0 at home to Levante last time (the team with the least shots on
traget in the league) tells you something. On the road, they've found
things particularly tough.
The key to this lies in
the atmosphere withing Athletic- especially with the farcical
incident during the week *I wrote about here*. If the mood is right,
they should resume the recent good form they took the Bernabéu
they'll win this. If they're not, an improved Depor perormance could
really put the hurt on Bilbao. I'm going with a home win
ATLÉTICO MADRID V
SEVILLA (19:00)
An interesting game,
this. Already the colchonero fateful oare donning their cloak of
pessismm. If anything, Real's defeat earlier tonight v Betis only
heightens that. With the derby on the way, and the chance to move 8
points clear of their crosstown rivals, they've reverted to their
fatalistic type. They also saw Sevilla produce their best football in
years in that evisceration of Betis last week.
But a ouple of things-
Cholo opted to give a rest to many players midweek, meaning the big
guns go in fresh. And the sad news for their opponents is that top
scorer Álvaro Negredo is injured. He didn't score in last week's
rout (but was unlucky not to) but his abscence simply cannot be
overstated.
There's a further knock
on. José Antonio Reyes had his best game by a mile that night since
his return to this club 11 months ago. And for sure, he'll not be
wanting for motivation against the club he left. But will he and
Navas be able to reach such heights in the absence of Negredo? On the
plus side, Ivan Rakitic was sensational and Gary Medel excellent.
Whatever about the
fans, I think Cholo will keep the jitters at bay for the Atleti
players. One game at a time... and without their most potent
attacking threat, I expect Sevilla to lose.
 |
| Sergio Ballestetros - "None shall pass!" |
LEVANTE V BARCELONA
(21:00)
Levante, put simply, is
a horrible place to go; and not just when the place was reduced to a
waterpolo court on Real's recent visit. The fact that Real hadn't
scored on this ground in four prior visits to that explains a lot.
There is no great secret to Levante's style, but it's a succesful
one. Outside of the top 2, they picked up more points in the league
than any other side in the calendar year 2012, eventually making the
Europa League where they've reached the knockouts already. Despiting
the least possession of any team in the league, less shots on goal
than anyone in the top half too, they're sitting 6th.
They're organised and
teak tough. They know how mix it up physically, but are clever enough
to play the refere in this regard. This is crucial as the level of
inconsitency between referees in La Liga drives one to distraction at
times. Suffice to say the homeside will have done their homework on
today''s official, Pedro Jesús Pérez Montero.
In short, this is tie
in which a Guardiola team might have struggled but Tito Vilanova is
making a habit of winning games that previously had proven
problematic in years gone by. Scoring lots of goals helps, for sure,
but their propensity for scoring late goals is staggering- goals to
run up the score, goals to turn around defeats. Goals, and lots of
them.
The defence has been a
problem for sure. No team in the last 32 years has led with so many
conceded. But with the first choice centre pairing back fit, and with
quality cover both there and in the full back positions, the days of
leaking like a sieve at the back might just be over.
This is going to be a
really challenge, but after a real fight I expect Barcelona to sneak
off with a win.
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