FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.11.2009 17:44

Spanish League Preview. Week 11

New Santander boss Portugal faces a baptism of fire in his first game in charge as he takes his new team to face Real Madrid at the Bernabau. Seville and Atletico Madrid also play on Saturday night, with Barca closing the night at San Mamés.

New boss in Santander

After their poorest start ever in La Liga, Racing this week sacked their manager Juan Carlos Mandia, the second La Liga boss to lose his job so far this season. Miguel Ángel Portugal could have picked an easier game to start his second stint at the club, with Real Madrid hungry for a convincing win ahead of next week's trip to the Nou Camp. Pellegrini is without Ramos, Lass and Van Nistelroy for the game and the Madrid crowd will be looking for a considerable improvement over their last home game against Alcorcon. Seville's Catalan defender Sergio Sanchez misses the team's trip to Tenerife after coming down with flu, whilst Atletico Madrid yet again try to put their season on track when they face Deportivo at the Riazor. Good news for the Madrid team is that their manager Quique Sanchez Flores is over his bout of flu and will be in charge of the team after missing training since Monday.

Tough trip for Valencia

Sunday's big game is the visit of fourth place Valencia to Pamplona to face Osasuna, whose defender Juanfran has also recovered from the flu and warned his teammates: “Valencia are on to form and we'll have to put in appearance as good as we did against Barca if we want to take the points”. Valencia boss Unai Emery demanded that: “the ref has to be mentally strong and not be influenced by the crowd” at the intimidating Reyno de Navarro ground. Villarreal will be looking to continue their revival when they face Valladolid at the Madrigal: Valverde's team have scored 12 goals in their last 4 games, Valladolid have scored just once in their last three.

De la Peña out again

Espanyol will be without Ivan de la Peña for up to six weeks with a muscle injury, but welcome Tamudo back into the fold for their home game against Getafe, whilst Mallorca and Sporting will fancy their chances of taking the three points when they face Almeria and Jerez respectively. Finally, basement club Malaga will hope to lift themselves off the bottom with a win at home to Zaragoza.