02-01-2011 22:00 Valencia - Espanyol

Want More

Fourth meets fifth in the Primera Division on Sunday night, when erratic Valencia meet an Espanyol side not noted for their travelling abilities.

Though the hosts lie stand four in the table, they are a side largely being propped up by their earlier season form. Unai Emery’s outfit picked up five wins from their opening six matches but have since earned only three wins in their subsequence 10 encounters.

At least los Che finished 2010 relatively well. Goals from Tino Costa and Aritz Aduriz turned round a 1-0 deficit against Real Sociedad to pick up a precious victory in San Sebastian, while a 0-0 draw against Villarreal at home in the Copa del Rey was hardly embarrassing, even if it does leave their life in the knock-out competition hanging by a thread.

Indications that all is not well on Spain’s east coast come in the press, where Valencia are being linked with a host of players, including centre-back Adil Rami of Lille and striker Kevin Gameiro of Lorient. Ambitions are high at the Mestalla, with president Manuel Llorente ready to set loft goals for his side.

“We are meeting our objectives, although the staff has changed a lot in the last year. We are in the knockout stages of Europe,” he told the media. “But we have to improve in 2010, because we will meet many skilled opponents.”

Los Periquitos are certainly awkward rivals, but Valencia will be confident of making a quick start after the winter break.

Step By Step

Espanyol have enjoyed a great start to the season. After a number of seasons of mediocrity, the Barcelona club go into 2011 with genuine ambitions of finishing in the top four, though Sunday night’s encounter against Valencia is of particular importance because it is a chance to get the fresh year off on a positive footing.

Despite their strong start, 2010 finished on something of a low for los Periquitos. A defeat against Athletic Bilbao might have been expected, but it was anticipated that Mauricio Pochettino’s side would be good enough to really test Barcelona at the Cornella-El Prat, where they had won seven matches from seven going into the derby. Barca caught fire, and romped to a 5-1 success.

The Copa del Rey was no kinder to the Catalans, who travelled to the Vicente Calderon in the days before Christmas to record a 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid. With three successive defeats behind them, the break could not have come at a better time for Espanyol.

“The goal is to go step by step,” Pochettino told the press on Christmas Eve. “The objective we set ourselves is to move forward in each game. We are a young team who are trying to consolidate and I think the team's play during 2010 is highly commendable.”

With a positive aura still surrounding the team, 2011 promises to be an exciting year, and Sunday’s match could set the tone.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

David Navarro has been training, but as he has only been running. In any case, he's suspended along with Roberto Soldado. Miguel Angel Moya and Cesar have also been battling problems.

Espanyol

David Garcia is out for a couple of weeks due to a muscular problem in his left leg. Javi Lopez is very unlikely to play, and Victor Ruiz is banned.

Prediction

Neither of these sides have been in particularly good form of late, but Valencia will certainly start this match as favourites after finishing 2010 strongly. Espanyol have won only seven of their 28 points on the road, and they would have to be happy with a draw at the weekend.

Valencia 2-1 Espanyol

Read More

02-01-2011 20:00 Sevilla - Osasuna

Six Of The Worst

It’s said that New Year is a time to make a new start, and struggling Sevilla will certainly hope this adage comes true for them. Expected to be challenging for a Champions League spot this season, the Andalucians are mired in the centre of the table and will need a remarkable second half to the campaign if they are to compete at the top. Osasuna, however, will hope to make progress of their own.

Gregorio Manzano was brought to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in October in order to inspire the team after an indifferent start to the campaign, but the former Mallorca coach hasn’t had the desire effect. Indeed, los Nervionenses have been getting worse, losing all of their last five Primera Division encounters, including a home encounter against local rivals Almeria.

“There have been many changes in the team, but the players need to take responsibility for the current situation,” Diego Capel told the Europa Press. “We hope that 2011 will begin with confidence. We must not look down, there is much of the league ahead and there are still many points to win.”

In the week prior to Christmas there were signs of hope. Against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, the southerners were considered to be the better side by some distance but ultimately crashed to another disappointing defeat facing only 10 men. Then came a Copa del Rey match against Malaga, who were defeated 5-3.

With this recent improvement in mind, Sevilla shouldn’t feel too bad going into this important encounter.

Recent Toil

Only four points above the relegation zone, this season hasn’t passed smoothly for Osasuna either. The last time the side from Pamplona claimed three points was a mid-November encounter against Sporting de Gijon, and Jose Antonio Camacho has failed to lead his side to a solitary win away from home this season.

As a result, los Rojillos lie only four points clear of the relegation zone, though the rot was stopped to some extent prior to the Christmas break, when draws against Valencia and Zaragoza offered the club some comfort.

After the tie with Zaragoza, which came as something of a disappointment at the Reyno de Navarra, Camacho was left frustrated by his side’s inability to strike, blaming a lack of fortune and some poor refereeing for thwarting his side in their quest to earn maximum points. The performance level from Osasuna was certainly much-improved, and had they picked up the win, los Manos could not have quibbled.

Only twice have los Rojillos avoided defeat on their travels this season, though against a completely out-of-form Sevilla side, there should be legitimate hope that statistic can change.

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

Ivica Dragutinovic and Federico Fazio are the only two players not training at all. Diego Perotti is still seeking full fitness. Mouhamadou Dabo is banned.

Osasuna

Nacho Monreal has undergone knee surgery and will miss around six weeks. Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei are on international duty with Iran and will miss five matches. Walter Pandiani should return, while Javier Camunas and Rupert missed out a fortnight ago.

Prediction

Sevilla’s recent form suggests that they will struggle to have enough to overcome an Osasuna side who haven’t looked comfortable on their travels. Gregorio Manzano’s side have been in dreadful touch of late, but they did hint at an improvement prior to Christmas and that could be enough to carry them to victory.

Sevilla 1-0 Osasuna

Read More

02-01-2011 18:00 Real Sporting Gijon - Malaga

Down In The Dumps

There was little festive cheer to be had in either the Sporting de Gijon or Malaga camps over the course of the Christmas recess. Both sides found themselves embedded in the drop zone during the break, and as the halfway point of the season approaches, so does the urgency both sides feel for points.

Los Sportinguistas are in a particularly tight spot, lying second from bottom with only 12 points. With only six wins in the previous calendar year, head coach Manuel Preciado is rather clinging to his job, and a failure to win at the weekend would be another important blow to his gut, particularly as the vital January transfer window is opening.

Some solace can be taken from the fact that both of the Asturian side’s victories have come at home, though a run of nine matches without picking up maximum points is a rather alarming statistic. Instead, 1-1 draws are the order of the day – Sporting have earned four such results over the course of the last two months in the league.

In their final match before Christmas, Diego Castro struck a potentially vital last minute equaliser against Deportivo La Coruna to earn his side a point. It may not be much, but it will have kept morale up in a difficult period.

A lack of goals has been los Rojiblancos’ most chronic problem during this campaign, and if they cannot find the net against the Andalucians’ feeble rearguard, it’s questionable whether they ever will.

Changes Aplenty?

Malaga are only marginally better off than their weekend hosts. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have earned 13 points to date but have achieved them in a rather different manner. While Sporting pick up their marks by earning regular draws, los Boquerones are win or bust, ending all square in only one encounter to date this term.

The appointment of Pellegrini in November was designed to change the fortunes of the Rosaleda club, though the Chilean has not had the instant impact that might have been desired. Instead, he will be handed funding in the January transfer window with which to strengthen his squad.

Argentine centre-back Martin Demichelis has already been snapped up from Bayern Munich as the former Real Madrid boss aims to reshape a defence that has been much too profligate in the first half of the season. Demichelis’ arrival is unlikely to be the last addition to the rearguard, with rumours suggesting that Sporting left-back Jose Angel one face who could arrive.

Too often in the early part of the campaign, Malaga allowed the game to be dictated to them. Pellegrini won’t get the Andalucians playing champagne football, but that’s not what’s required just now: wins are.

TEAM NEWS

Sporting

Barral is suspended, but there have been no reports of fresh injury problems in the camp. Gaston Sangoy, Sebastian Eguren and Nacho Novo returned to training later than the remainder of the squad.

Malaga

Martin Demichelis has trained with the club and could debut. A host of players, including Edu Ramos, have been told to look for new clubs in January.

Prediction

Malaga should improve in the second half of the season, but it’s unlikely that the revolution will begin with particular speed. Nevertheless, a trip to Sporting would offer the possibility of three points in the opening weeks of the season, so a victory should not be discounted on Sunday. A tense affair will be on the menu if there’s not an early goal.

Sporting de Gijon 1-1 Malaga

Read More

02-01-2011 18:00 Barcelona - Levante

As Good As Ever

Barcelona were once again the dominant force in Spanish football over the course of 2010 and will be aiming to recapture their domestic crown in the spring. Pep Guardiola’s men are on course, sitting at the summit of the Primera Division and in good form approaching Sunday’s encounter with Levante.

The Catalan outfit were in terrific form prior to the winter break, though they were stifled surprisingly by Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey just a couple of days before Christmas. Prior to that encounter, Barca were in magnificent form, scoring goals at an almost unprecedented rate – 29 in six domestic matches.

That draw will have served to remind a feverishly competitive Barca side that they are not completely invincible and will act as a prod to induce them to ever-higher levels. Guardiola’s men have had several of these prompts over the course of the campaign, almost inevitably happening at Camp No, where they’ve been held by Mallorca and beaten by newly promoted Hercules.

Another fresh face amongst Spain’s elite will not be treated with any disdain by la Blaugrana, who are aware that a remarkable pace must be kept if they are to remain ahead of Real Madrid in the title race. Bolstered by the addition of Ibrahim Affelay, Barca go into the new year in arguably their strongest ever state.

Fine Margins

Primera Division life is proving to be awkward for a Levante side who have earned the reputation of being a yo-yo club over the last decade, three times ascending to the elite level of the Spanish game only to suffer relegation shortly afterwards.

Once again an intense battle against relegation is on the cards. While fellow new-boys Real Sociedad and Hercules squabble towards the middle of the table, los Granotes are doing their best to tread water just above the relegation zone. Commanding 15 points to date, they are only a couple of marks better placed than 18th placed Malaga, who appear intent on strengthening over the coming month.

Head coach Luis Garcia is unlikely to be handed a significant war chest to bolster his side, so instead he will simply have to work with the tools he already has. He has seen his side score 18 times and concede 26, which are statistics not a great deal different from the Espanyol side who currently occupy fifth, highlighting the fine margins between success and failure at this level.

There was nothing marginal about los Granotes’ Copa del Rey defeat against Real Madrid, which will have shot their confidence ahead of a Primera Division trip to the other of Spain’s ‘Big Two’. Embarrassed 8-0 at the Bernabeu, albeit with a significantly changed side, Levante will hope to show they belong alongside the very best on Sunday night, just as they did when they drew 0-0 with los Blancos earlier this season.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Carles Puyol is the sole injury issue for Barca. Ibrahim Afellay has trained with the squad and has reportedly impressed but cannot debut as he isn't yet registered. Lionel Messi is set to be rested after being excused from training.

Gerard Pique is suspended.

Levante

Felipe Caicedo and Javi Venta have both been ruled out due to injury issues. Ruben Suarez will be able to feature, however.

Prediction

Pep Guardiola will want his Barcelona side to show that the pre-Christmas draw against Athletic Bilbao was nothing more than an unfortunate slip. At full strength, it’s tough to see how a Levante side who have been conceding goals freely all season will live with the hosts.

Barcelona 4-0 Levante

Read More

02-01-2011 17:00 Wigan Athletic - Newcastle United

Home Comforts Boost For Latics

The two sides have met nine times in the Premier League with both sides dominant on their own grounds. Wigan have won all four clashes at the DW Stadium, three of them by one goal to nil, scoring five goals in the process while restricting Newcastle to just one goal.

When the clubs met earlier in the season at St James' Park they fought out an action-packed 2-2 draw. Two goals by N’Zogbia looked to have given Wigan victory but a Shola Ameobi strike and a last-minute Fabrizio Coloccini header earned the Magpies a dramatic point.

New Year Could Lead To New Start

Wigan grabbed themselves a deserved point against Arsenal after coming back from 2-1 down to get a 2-2 draw despite being down to 10 men. The Latics are now unbeaten in six league games at home, and are currently on a four-match unbeaten run which has seen them rise to 16th in the Premier League table.

However the pressure is on new Magpies boss Alan Pardew, who arrived at the club in early December and after winning his first match against Liverpool has lost the two matches since. Newcastle have recorded impressive away victories at Arsenal, Everton and West Ham already this season but are currently on a three-game losing streak away from home and will be hoping to put an end to that at the DW Stadium.

Team News

Wigan Athletic

Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia is unavailable for the visit of his former club as he starts a three-game suspension after being sent off against Arsenal for a headbutt on Jack Wilshere. James McArthur and Jordi Gomez will be battling it out to replace the French winger to provide that creative spark the Latics will need to record a third home victory of the season.

Defender Emmerson Boyce and striker Franco Di Santo could make a return to the squad following leg and ankle injuries respectively but both are still doubtful. However James McCarthy (ankle) and Victor Moses (shoulder) are both long-term absentees and therefore will still be unavailable.

Potential Starting line-up: Al-Habsi; Stam, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Cleverley, Watson, Thomas, Diame, McArthur; Rodallega

Newcastle United

Alan Pardew has no new injury worries ahead of their trip to the North West, but he may be able to welcome back striker Shola Ameobi and midfielder Dan Gosling. Ameobi has been out with a hamstring injury but is still doubtful for the clash, while Dan Gosling could be in contention to make his first appearance since arriving at the club on a free in July.

Meanwhile, striker partner Andy Carroll has been ruled out with a thigh injury meaning Ameobi may be thrust back into things quicker than expected.

However Pardew may not want to rush either player back into the first team in case they pick up further injuries whilst still lacking match fitness. Defender Ryan Taylor and midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa are still sidelined for the Magpies and are unlikely to be available for selection until mid February.

Potential Starting line-up: Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Taylor, Perch; Routledge, Barton, Smith, Tiote, Gutierrez; Ameobi.

Prediction

Newcastle are struggling at the moment, and with Wigan’s impressive home record the Latics could extend their unbeaten run to five games. They will feel the effects of the absence of Charles N'Zogbia through suspension but they should still have enough to beat a Newcastle side struggling for confidence under their new manager.

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Newcastle

Read More

02-01-2011 16:00 Athletic Bilbao - Deportivo La Coruna

Still Singing At La Catedral

The year 2010 finished on something of a high for Athletic Bilbao, who had the resilience to hold out for a 0-0 draw against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Ahead of the second leg of that encounter, los Leones will hope to kick 2011 off with a positive result against Deportivo La Coruna.

Joaquin Caparros’ side have installed themselves on the fringes of the Europa League race. Always capable of winning at San Mames, away from la Catedral the Basques side tend to struggle. Of their 25 Primera Division points won this term, 18 have come in front of their home support, and with Depor struggling on their travels three points will be anticipated on Sunday.

Athletic are currently on a two-match winning streak in La Liga. High flying Espanyol were dispatched comfortably enough at home before an important win was recorded over Levante.

Though the year finished with los Leones drawing a blank against Barca, Caparros has rarely seen his side struggle to find the net this season. Only Real Sociedad have shut the Bilbao side out in Primera Division action this season, though much of their offensive success is thanks to Fernando Llorente, a player likely to be surrounded by a good deal of speculation over the coming month.

Come Sunday, Caparros won’t be looking at the long-term future of the club but instead focussing on their short-term success. Three points against Depor should be attainable, and if a win is achieved, Athletic can look forward to a fight for Europe over the coming months.

Looking Up

This time last season, Deportivo La Coruna were a side threatening the challenge for a continental berth. Things started to fall apart for the Galician outfit in a match that pitted them against Athletic Bilbao in January. Though the fixture was won 3-1, erstwhile left-back Felipe was the recipient of a broken leg, and the season crumbled thereafter.

Now lying in a relatively modest mid-table position, head coach Miguel Angel Lotina will simply be aiming for his side to preserve some momentum through the festive period. Having lost only two of their last eight top flight matches, there can be little doubt that after a disappointing start to the campaign, Depor are moving in the right direction.

Prior to the winter break there was some disappointment in losing away to Atletico Madrid and then failing to overcome Sporting Gijon at home, especially as this was followed up with a 1-1 draw against Segunda Division outfit Cordoba on a water-logged pitch in the Copa del Rey just before Christmas.

Matters on the field appear to be looking up somewhat, despite only nine wins in 39 Primera Division matches throughout 2010, and these have been echoed financially for Depor, whose debt has been reduced significantly over the course of the last 12 months.

The Galicians are by no means out of the woods, and only three points at the weekend will guarantee them a mid-table spot approaching the remainder of January’s fixtures.

TEAM NEWS

Athletic

A shoulder problem will keep Jon Aurtenetxe out for between four and six months. Fernando Llorente is a serious injury doubt too. Mikel San Jose is a slight doubt due to illness.

Deportivo

Andres Guardado and Riki are both definitely missing due to injuries. Illness threatens the participation of Yves Desmarets, Jonathan Urreta and Antonio Tomas. Laure, Lassad Nouioui and Knut Olav Rindaroy are all doubts too.

Prediction

Deportivo La Coruna can be a stubborn defensive force, so a tight game should be anticipated. Given the home form of Athletic, however, the hosts should be expected to start the year by claiming all three points.

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Deportivo

Read More

02-01-2011 14:30 Chelsea - Aston Villa

Back On Track?

Chelsea finally got that elusive win on Wednesday night at home to Bolton and the sighs of relief in west London were positively palpable. The Blues just might have turned a corner and can begin hauling back the ground that has opened up between them and the top three of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

At Arsenal on Monday the Blues looked like they couldn't decide if they wanted to win the league or not, but there was a more determined streak about them two days later against Bolton and if success is measured in confidence, Chelsea really need to believe they can still nab the title.

The Fall

Villa are also suffering a crisis of confidence but find themselves even further down the table. A terrible festive period that saw Gerard Houllier's team concede six goals in two outings, scoring just one, means the Villans are firmly involved in a relegation battle.

The arrival of former Arsenal star Robert Pires has failed to lift the mood at Villa Park and with a combination of injuries, self doubt and aggitated fans, there is a distinct feeling of gloom around the place at the moment. If results go against them they could even be dragged into the bottom three with defeat at Stamford Bridge, almost unthinkable for the side that was pushing for Europe last season under Martin O'Neill.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti's defensive woes continue after Branislav Ivanovic picked up his fifth booking of the season against Bolton, meaning he will sit out the visit of Aston Villa. Paulo Ferreira made sure he won't be selected at centre-back again after his nightmare display against Sunderland so it falls to youngster Jeffrey Bruma to fill the void. The 19-year-old hasn't yet made a first-team start but it looks like Ancelotti is out of options.

Meanwhile, fellow defender Alex remains sidelined for at least another month while Yossi Benayoun's Achilles injury means he won't see any action until the end of the season.

Possible lineup: Cech; Bosingwa, Bruma, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Ramires, Lampard; Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Aston Villa

Emile Hesky has shaken off his ankle knock and is available for the trip to Stamford Bridge. The former Liverpool striker has scored five goals in 12 games for the Villans this season and, despite receiving plenty of criticism, could be just the outlet Gerard Houllier's men need at Chelsea, especially if young Bruma plays.

In other news, Ashley Young resumed training this week after recoving from a knee problem that had kept him sidelined for two weeks and is likely to make the bench. Luke Young's ankle injury, though, hasn't healed in time for him to be involved.

Possibe lineup: Friedel; Cuellar, Lichaj, Collins, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing; Heskey, Agbonlahor.

Prediction

Two sides who desperately need a break in their favour meet but with Villa's terrible away record (one win and seven defeats) it's hard to look beyond a slim home win.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

Read More