Osasuna - Espanyol 
A new era is underway at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra; the departure of Jose Antonio Camacho will have surprised few, with their winless away record now extending to a year, and relegation a real concern.
Former Valladolid Jose Luis Mendilibar has taken the reins, and faces a tough start against an Espanyol side desperate for points at the opposite end of the table.
The Blanc I Blau will feel they squandered a significant opportunity to topple ten-man Real Madrid last weekend, and their form is beginning to waver slightly, falling off the pace of the top four positions that they looked destined to challenge for.
Striker Pablo Osvaldo’s continued absence is stunting their attacking threat, and coach Mauricio Pochettino needs his other forwards such as Luis Garcia, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Vazquez to fire the goals to keep them into contention.
Team News in brief:
Osasuna: Javad Nekounam and Carlos Aranda were absent from training on Friday and are doubtful, but winter signing Alvaro Cejudo could make his debut.
Espanyol: Victor Alvarez is out for a fortnight after suffering a blow to the leg in training, while Jesus Datolo could miss out with a muscle problem.
Almeria - Deportivo 
Former Valladolid Jose Luis Mendilibar has taken the reins, and faces a tough start against an Espanyol side desperate for points at the opposite end of the table.
The Blanc I Blau will feel they squandered a significant opportunity to topple ten-man Real Madrid last weekend, and their form is beginning to waver slightly, falling off the pace of the top four positions that they looked destined to challenge for.
Striker Pablo Osvaldo’s continued absence is stunting their attacking threat, and coach Mauricio Pochettino needs his other forwards such as Luis Garcia, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Vazquez to fire the goals to keep them into contention.
Team News in brief:
Osasuna: Javad Nekounam and Carlos Aranda were absent from training on Friday and are doubtful, but winter signing Alvaro Cejudo could make his debut.
Espanyol: Victor Alvarez is out for a fortnight after suffering a blow to the leg in training, while Jesus Datolo could miss out with a muscle problem.
Almeria - Deportivo Almeria are one of a host of sides in the midst of one of the most closely-contested relegation scraps in recent seasons, and will be looking to recover from last week’s damaging 1-0 reverse against Levante.
That result left the Andalucians second bottom and three points from safety; coach Jose Luis Oltra knows that they must starting picking up victories, particularly at home, in order to survive. Two victories and six draws from eleven matches hasn’t been of a sufficient standard, and fixtures such as this, against a Deportivo team who themselves have only won twice on the road, become absolute must-win contests.
Indeed the Galicians are by no means clear of the bottom three, but clinched an impressive 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the Riazor last weekend to open some daylight between them and Sunday’s opponents. That result effectively kept coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who have came under increasing pressure, in the position for another week, and he will be confident that his team can build on the momentum gained from last week’s win.
Team News in brief:
Almeria: Juanma Ortiz is injured, while Michel is suspended.
Deportivo: Mexican winger Andres Guardado is still short of fitness after being out since October, but should be ready to face Real Madrid next weekend.
Villarreal - Malaga 
That result left the Andalucians second bottom and three points from safety; coach Jose Luis Oltra knows that they must starting picking up victories, particularly at home, in order to survive. Two victories and six draws from eleven matches hasn’t been of a sufficient standard, and fixtures such as this, against a Deportivo team who themselves have only won twice on the road, become absolute must-win contests.
Indeed the Galicians are by no means clear of the bottom three, but clinched an impressive 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the Riazor last weekend to open some daylight between them and Sunday’s opponents. That result effectively kept coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who have came under increasing pressure, in the position for another week, and he will be confident that his team can build on the momentum gained from last week’s win.
Team News in brief:
Almeria: Juanma Ortiz is injured, while Michel is suspended.
Deportivo: Mexican winger Andres Guardado is still short of fitness after being out since October, but should be ready to face Real Madrid next weekend.
Villarreal - Malaga The Yellow Submarines are currently experiencing their first crisis of what has been an almost flawless season. Two consecutive league defeats to Levante and then against Deportivo, in what was their poorest performance of the campaign, has cast doubt over their capacity to last the pace in the top four.
Teams such as Athletic Bilbao are waiting to pounce should their sub-standard displays continue, and so it is imperative that they are commanding against bottom side Malaga, who are suffering from a whole host of problems.
Bottom of the table and five points from safety, coach Manuel Pellegrini, despite all of his experience, has been unable to get it right so far, and they remain without a win in 2011. Coupled with innumerable injury concerns to key players including Julio Baptista and Duda, it is a worrying time for the Chilean.
Team News in brief:
Villarreal: Full back Angel is out for the entire season with a cruciate injury, Rossi has been struggling with a virus but should be fit enough to start.
Malaga: Manuel Pellegrini is contending with a whole host of injuries including Jesus Gamez, Helder Rosario, Kris Stadsgaards, Sergio Asenjo and Duda. Julio Baptista needs knee surgery is out for six weeks.
Getafe - Racing 
Teams such as Athletic Bilbao are waiting to pounce should their sub-standard displays continue, and so it is imperative that they are commanding against bottom side Malaga, who are suffering from a whole host of problems.
Bottom of the table and five points from safety, coach Manuel Pellegrini, despite all of his experience, has been unable to get it right so far, and they remain without a win in 2011. Coupled with innumerable injury concerns to key players including Julio Baptista and Duda, it is a worrying time for the Chilean.
Team News in brief:
Villarreal: Full back Angel is out for the entire season with a cruciate injury, Rossi has been struggling with a virus but should be fit enough to start.
Malaga: Manuel Pellegrini is contending with a whole host of injuries including Jesus Gamez, Helder Rosario, Kris Stadsgaards, Sergio Asenjo and Duda. Julio Baptista needs knee surgery is out for six weeks.
Getafe - Racing The Azulones squandered the chance to stake a real claim for European football next season when they squandered a two-goal lead at Malaga last weekend, but will look to bounce back against Racing at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Michel's side looked to be in control before two late strikes from the Boquerones turned the match around, and is symptomatic of the inconsistencies suffered by the capital club this season.
Racing on the other hand enjoyed a stunning win over Sevilla last weekend, marking a stunning comeback for coach Marcelino, and he will look to maintain the impetus into this match. Relegation remains a threat, however, and every point in crucial heading into the closing weeks of the season.
Team News in brief:
Getafe: Javier Arizmendi could return for the match, but definitely out are Manu del Moral (knee) and Oscar Ustari (jaw) missing for three and six weeks respectively.
Racing: Markus Rosenberg missed last weekend's win but could return for this match, while Cristian's red card agaisnt Los Nervionenses means he is suspended.
Sevilla - Hercules 
Michel's side looked to be in control before two late strikes from the Boquerones turned the match around, and is symptomatic of the inconsistencies suffered by the capital club this season.
Racing on the other hand enjoyed a stunning win over Sevilla last weekend, marking a stunning comeback for coach Marcelino, and he will look to maintain the impetus into this match. Relegation remains a threat, however, and every point in crucial heading into the closing weeks of the season.
Team News in brief:
Getafe: Javier Arizmendi could return for the match, but definitely out are Manu del Moral (knee) and Oscar Ustari (jaw) missing for three and six weeks respectively.
Racing: Markus Rosenberg missed last weekend's win but could return for this match, while Cristian's red card agaisnt Los Nervionenses means he is suspended.
Sevilla - Hercules Sevilla entertain Hercules at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Sunday night, with the home side looking to recover from the last gasp defensive error against Porto which cost them the leg the Europa League tie on Thursday. Despite performing well, it was another blow in what has already been a below-par season. However, they will hope that this is the game to get their season back on track, given the visitors' woeful record on the road.
Indeed, Esteban Vigo's men will need to improve on their displays away from the José Rico Pérez, having not found the net in their last seven outings.
The last encounter of the two sides in La Liga was at the end of September, with Hercules 2-0 winners at the Jose Rico Perez after a brace from then new signing David Trezeguet. Los Nervionenses will be out for revenge in the return affair.
Team News in brief:
Sevilla: Sevilla have no major concerns for the match.
Hercules: Royston Drenthe is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, while striker Nelson Valdez faces a race to make the match due to a similar injury.
Indeed, Esteban Vigo's men will need to improve on their displays away from the José Rico Pérez, having not found the net in their last seven outings.
The last encounter of the two sides in La Liga was at the end of September, with Hercules 2-0 winners at the Jose Rico Perez after a brace from then new signing David Trezeguet. Los Nervionenses will be out for revenge in the return affair.
Team News in brief:
Sevilla: Sevilla have no major concerns for the match.
Hercules: Royston Drenthe is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, while striker Nelson Valdez faces a race to make the match due to a similar injury.
