Spanish League Preview Week 5

25.09.2010 11:24

Spanish League Preview Week 5

Nick Bedson

The top five all face away games this weekend, as the La Liga teams face their third game in a week. Down at the bottom, Zaragoza have a tough trip to the Calderon, whilst Deportivo and Almeria are involved in an early six-pointer at the Riazor.

Levante won their first game of the season midweek at Almeria and they will be hoping to spring a surprise against leaders Real Madrid, who will be without the suspended Pepe, though they themselves will be without seven first choice players for the game. Valencia kick off a couple of hours earlier at the Molinon where Sporting boss Manuel Preciado will field a full strength team, whilst Emery rests Albelda, Joaquim and Miguel with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League game against Man Utd. Third place Villarreal close the weekend’s games on Monday with a trip to Malaga, whilst under pressure Seville boss takes his team to Alicante to face Hercules, whose boss Esteban Vigo reckons: “I don’t understand the pressure on him, they’ve taken eight from twelve possible points. “ and believes this game is: “tougher” than the matches against Valencia or Barcelona.

Deportivo, Almeri and Zaragoza out for first wins

Deportivo boss Miguel Angel Lotina had a clear the air talk with the squad after Thursday’s defeat to Villarreal left them third from bottom and still looking for their first win of the campaign. They’ll be hoping to break that duck at home to the equally winless Almeria at the Riazor on Sunday in an early season six-pointer. Tiago and Kun Aguero will be both be back and fit for Sunday’s visit of bottom team Zaragoza, who are the third La Liga team yet to win a game so far.

Strikerless Espanyol

Espanyol’s have won both games at home so far, but they take on Osasuna on Sunday without a recognised striker after Sergio Garcia joined Osvaldo and Ivan Garcia on Pochettino’s injury list, though Ivan de la Peña may be back after his injury lay off. Mallorca, Real Sociedad, Racing and Getafe are all on four points and the Basques travel to Mallorca whilst Michel’s Getafe face a trip to Racing on Sunday, as all four teams look to consolidate a safe mid table berth and avoid dropping into early relegation worries.