La Liga Weekend Preview: Round 29

Saturday 22 March 2008 (all times local)
20:00 Mallorca - Deportivo
22:00 Sevilla - Atlético Madrid
Sunday 23 March
17:00 Barcelona - Vallaolid
17:00 Levante - Villarreal
17:00 Murcia - Espanyol
17:00 Osasuna - Betis
17:00 Racing - Recreativo
17:00 Zaragoza - Almería
19:00 Real Madrid - Valencia
21:00 Athletic - Getafe

RCD Mallorca - RC Deportivo La Coruña

Mallorca's unbeaten run - albeit one mostly consisting of draws - came to an end at Espanyol last weekend, but they'll hope to get back on track against Deportivo.

The A Coruña side have themselves been in a decent bit of form of late, with three wins in their last four taking them up to 34 points, level with the Barralets.

Dani Guiza, still on cloud nine after another Spain call-up, has recovered from a training knock in time to make the squad. Depor, meanwhile, will welcome back Cristian Wilhelmsson after the same.

Sevilla FC - Club Atlético de Madrid

Saturday's late-night clash is arguably the weekend's biggest. A win for the hosts will see them rejoin the Champions League fray for the first time since September, and knock Atleti out of the top four.

However, Kun Aguero and his merrymen will look to repeat the last scoreline between the sides: a 4-3 home win at the Vicente Calderon.

That game was thrilling for the neutral - if embarassing for any defensive purists - and the two sides may be called upon once more to put on such a show.

However, both the rojiblanco coach and Manolo Jimenez will no doubt prefer a quieter evening.

FC Barcelona - Real Valladolid

Barcelona could cut the gap between themselves and Real Madrid to four points - albeit temporarily - should they overcome the Pucela at Camp Nou.

It's been a bad week for the blaugrana, with a 2-2 draw at Almeria being followed up with a vastly disappointing defensive display at the Mestalla, with FCB thus falling from the Copa del Rey semi-finals for the second time in two seasons.

Valladolid, meanwhile, managed a 1-1 draw against Barça on their own patch earlier in the season, but they haven't won here in seven Liga attempts, the last one coming way back in 1997.

Levante UD - Villarreal CF

Two consecutive defeats have seen Levante slip back down to thirteen points clear of safety, and as such the survival dream is looking ever dimmer for the Valencia-based side.

However, there's a bit of local pride to play for as Villarreal come calling, particularly since the granota side will be eager to avenge the 3-0 away loss from earlier in the season.

The Yellow Submarine seem to be a good bet for third spot, and they've already started strengthening in anticipation of a Champions League campaign. Apparently they're also chasing Chelsea's Claudio Pizarro, displaying their ambition.

That could unsettle their current strikeforce, but it's just as likely that it could spur Nihat, Rossi and Tomasson into proving that they're worthy of a starting spot next season.

Real Murcia - RCD Espanyol

Murcia boss Javier Clemente will come face to face with one of his many, many former sides as he looks to keep the Pimentoneros up.

Under Lucas Alcaraz his side managed a 0-0 draw at Montjuic earlier in the season, but the outspoken coach will surely be aiming for something a bit more substantial this time: after all, it's nine points to safety.

Espanyol got back to winning ways - and kept their Champions League dreams alive - with a 2-1 triumph over Murcia last week, but they've still not yet rediscovered their early season consistency.

CA Osasuna - Real Betis Balompié

Nobody needs to tell either of these two sidse about inconsistency. Osasuna may have managed a four-game unbeaten run, but they're still not entirely clear of relegation; indeed, they're just two points clear of Betis, who are themselves only safe on goal difference.

Betis actually won this fixture 2-0 last season, but they're still reeling from being slapped with a two game closed-door order after some moron threw a bottle at Athletic 'keeper Armando last week.

All the same, there is something of a bunker mentality about the Beticos at present, and they'll look for their third away win of the season.

Real Racing Club - Recreativo de Huelva

Racing, meanwhile, lost out to Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-final midweek 4-2 on aggregate, and while they complained about Getafe's goal at the Sardinero, ultimately they did not quite do enough to win.

One wonders if they can take their frustrations out on Recre, who are still 18th despite beating Murcia last week in that vital six-pointer.

The Huelva outfit have been dogged by inconsistency all season, though, and haven't won here in three top flight attempts.

Real Zaragoza - UD Almería

Zaragoza felt hard-done-by after narrowly losing out at Villarreal last week, but it's time for them to convert their hard-luck stories into results before relegation troubles swallow them whole.

One thing that will help their cause is that they've amazingly lost just twice at the Romareda all season, this being in spite of the fact that they've shipped 18 goals there.

Almeria, meanwhile, are high in confidence after holding Barcelona at the weekend, and are still in the hunt for the lower reaches of the European zone, although a tendency to draw or lose on their travels doesn't help much.

Real Madrid CF - Valencia CF

Valencia couldn't be happier after their advancement to the Copa del Rey final, and one presumes that Madrid might be somewhat pleased, too.

For not only did the blancos' rivals lose out on a final place, but now Los Che can seek European football through a knockout contest, lessening the severity of their Liga problems.

But that's just one way of looking at it. The far more plausible alternative is that the Mestalla men are chomping at the bit to avenge Real Madrid's 5-1 mauling of them earlier in the season.

The Bernabeu side haven't been overly convincing of late, such as when they lost out to Deportivo last week, and without Ruud van Nistelrooy it remains to be seen how they'll fare here.

Athletic Club Bilbao - Getafe CF

Finally, Athletic will look to build on last week's abortive but awarded 2-1 win over Betis as Getafe come calling.

The Azulones have made their second consecutive Copa del Rey final - quite a feat for a club their size - but tiredness could yet tell at San Mames.

They did win the last meeting between the sides by two goals to nil, but prior to that they haven't managed a victory in the last four.

The Lions, meanwhile, are one point clear of the relegation zone after embarking on a good run of form since the New Year. Can they keep it up?