FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.11.2009 11:00

Spanish League Preview Week 10

It's the Madrid derby on Saturday night, with Atletico desperate to beat their city rivals and lift themselves out of the relegation places, whilst Real need a win to keep in touch with Barca.

“Game of the Season” for Atletico

Atletico have made a disastrous start to the season, winning just one of their 9 league games, sacking their manager Abel and already knocked out of the Champions League. They currently lie third from bottom, but new boss Quique Sanchez Flores reckons: “this is the game of the season for us”, unfortunately it's also a game that his team have failed to win on the last 15 occasions they've met their city neighbours. Real Madrid are without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, whilst Guti has again been left out of the squad. Third placed Seville, who booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions on Wednesday, face a Villarreal team who seem to have woken up after their terrible start to the season, putting five past Tenerife last weekend and another four past Lazio in midweek. Boss Ernesto Valverde will be without Senna, Ibazaga, Cazorla and Llorente for the trip, but insists: “we go to Seville to try and win and we'll do everything we have to to take the points”.

Deportivo with chance to rejoin top four

Valencia are fourth in the league and take on Zaragoza on Sunday in a game they will hope to win – Zaragoza have not won at the Mestralla since 2004. After failing to win in their last two games, Deportivo have the chance to redeem themselves on Saturday night when they visit Getafe – a win would put the Galicians back in the Champions League places at least until the Mallorca and Valencia results, whilst Getafe will look to improve on their poor performance at the Bernabeu last week. Lotina is without the Tunisian forward Lassad and gives the much travelled Mista a chance up front.

Positive signs for Espanyol and Sporting

Seventh and eighth placed Sporting and Espanyol have both made excellent starts to the season and they meet on Sunday in Gijon. Sporting are unbeaten at home and although they have drawn their last three games, they have not lost since September, whilst after losing their first two league games, Espanyol have been unbeaten since then and picked up valuable draws on the road at Seville and Villarreal as well as beating Deportivo at the Riazor. De la Peña is again doubtful for Espanyol, with Michel and Barral both missing for Sporting. Mid-table Bibao travel along the coast to Santander on Sunday, whilst fellow Basques Osasuna go to Almeria,who should be on their guard against late strikes from the Pamplona outfit!

At the bottom, Tenerife and Malaga meet on Saturday, whilst Jerez travel to Valladolid on Sunday, with all four clubs desperate for points.