18:00 Hercules - Racing
18:00 Sporting Gijon - Deportivo
18:00 Athletic Bilbao - Levante
18:00 Getafe - Almeria
Sunday
21:00 Zaragoza - Osasuna
Hercules - Racing
- Hercules have won 12 of their 23 meetings with Racing in the top flight.
- The meeting earlier this season was the first-ever goalless draw between the sides in La Liga.
- Hercules have taken just seven points from the last 27 available.
- Racing have scored the highest proportion of their goals from outside the area in Liga BBVA this season (26%).
Hercules
The best news Djukic will have heard this week is that Trezeguet might make his return from injury against Racing, one small ray of hope in what looks to be a bleak end of season for Hercules, languishing last from bottom in the relegation zone. Fritzler is suspended, and Farina is doubtful. It's a must win for Hercules - a loss will see them drop into the Segunda.
Racing
Tziolis is back! Tziolois? Greek midfielder, odd haircut? No? It's no wonder you don't recall him, considering he's been out for seven months after breaking a leg back in October. But back he is, great news for both him and Racing. Serrano and Colsa are still out, although the biggest blow for the team will be the suspension of Kennedy, one of the star players this season.
Sporting Gijon - Deportivo
- Deportivo have won just one of their last six league encounters with Sporting at El Molinon.
- Preciado's men are unbeaten at home in the league since defeat to Malaga on the 2nd January, bagging six wins and two draws since.
- Depor have scored the fewest goals in the competition in 2010/11 (27), as well as the fewest in the first half (nine).
- Sporting remain the only side yet to win in Liga BBVA after conceding first this season.
Sporting
Preciado has some changes to ponder after losing Nacho Novo to suspension and Diego Castro to injury. Long term injuries include Sastre, Sangoy, and Andre Castro. With 42 points, Sporting is just a couple of points away from definite safety, and will be looking to tie up their season with a sigh of relief by winning at El Molinon.
Deportivo
The last time relegation was this close for Depor, they had just come up into the Primera in the 1991-92 season. Coach Lotina will be greatly hoping that the team doesn't drop down again under his watch. He will have to do without the injured Lopa, although Riki, recently returning from injury, will make his first start since February.
Athletic Bilbao - Levante
- Levante have never won on five trips to Athletic in the top flight (two draws, three defeats).
- Athletic have won only two of their last five league games at home (three defeats).
- The Basques have scored the most headed goals in the league this season (17).
- Only Barcelona and Real Madrid have picked up more points than Levante in the second half of the
- Fernando Llorente has not scored at San Mamés since the end of February.
Athletic Bilbao
Susaeta will be unavailable after sustaining an injury in Thursday's training session, though he is said to be progressing favourably. Caparros will be happy with the almost complete squad with which he'll welcome Levante to San Mames, and will be desperate to move up from seventh to leapfrog a reinvigorated Sevilla.
Levante
Asier del Horno will undergo surgery on his Achilles tendon next Tuesday, which will put him out for up to four months, leaving no room for a return this season. Xavi Torres returned to training this week, but Juanlu, Sergio and Montero are all recovering from respective injuries and will be unavailable for selection in tomorrow's crucial game.
Getafe - Almeria
- Getafe have taken just 11 points from their last 10 league games at home.
- The Madrid side are in the relegation zone for the first time this season. After matchday 18 they were 14 points clear of the bottom three.
- Almeria have been in the bottom three since the first matchday of 2011.
- Almeria have only won one league match after going behind this season.
Getafe
Newly rebranded Team Dubai will be hoping not to cast a downer on their owner's new purchase by being relegated in their first season, but it remains a distinct possibilty. It all hinges on tomorrow's game, in which a win is a must, which may be more feasible with a lack of any major injuries (and the fact that a downcast Almeria now has nothing to play for...)
Almeria
Ah, what to say. After last weekend it became a mathematical certainty that Almeria will be playing in the Segunda next season. A win tonight would only succeed in dragging Getafe down with them, it being unlikely to prevent the sacking of the hapless Olabe. I bet the 8-0 loss to Barcelona was a blast compared to this.
Zaragoza - Osasuna
- Zaragoza are without a win in their last four league meetings with Osasuna (one draw, three defeats).
- The manos have failed to score in all four of these games.
- Osasuna have only won one of their last five games in La Liga, losing their last two away games.
- Javier Aguirre's men have received the most red cards in Liga BBVA this season (nine).
TEAM NEWS:
Zaragoza
Still perilously close to the much dreaded bottom three, Zaragoza need a win as much as Osasuna do, setting up what ought to be a fiesty struggle. Edmilson and Lanzaro are doubtful, but Nico and Bertolo look likely to be available for tomorrow's crucial match up.
Still perilously close to the much dreaded bottom three, Zaragoza need a win as much as Osasuna do, setting up what ought to be a fiesty struggle. Edmilson and Lanzaro are doubtful, but Nico and Bertolo look likely to be available for tomorrow's crucial match up.
Osasuna
Just two places behind Zaragoza, and with just one point separating the two, a victory for Osasuna would put them just fingertips away from Liga safety. Vadocz trained normally with the group today, Flano trained solo and Masoud didn't train at all. Lazy. Or maybe just injured.
Just two places behind Zaragoza, and with just one point separating the two, a victory for Osasuna would put them just fingertips away from Liga safety. Vadocz trained normally with the group today, Flano trained solo and Masoud didn't train at all. Lazy. Or maybe just injured.
