08-01-2011 22:00 Dep. La Coruna - Barcelona

The Curious Case Of Deportivo
Deportivo La Coruna are in a curious position in the Spanish Primera Division table. Having collected 21 points from 17 matches, the Galician side are 12th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone and six points off a Europa League slot - the perfect example of an also-ran with no urge of an adventure for the remainder of the league campaign.

Adventure for Depor, though, comes in the form of the Copa del Rey. The 3-1 extra-time defeat of Cordoba in the second-leg of their Round of 16 tie secured them a place in the quarter-finals and also saw them win their second successive game in the new year. On Sunday Depor defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the Basque country for only their second away victory of the season in La Liga.

Going into Saturday's encounter against mighty Barcelona, Depor would be seeking at least a point at the Riazor. Miguel Angel Lotina's side are not exactly formidable on their home ground as they have won just three times. On the positive side, though, they have lost just once and have conceded only five goals in eight matches.

Picking Up Pace

Barcelona may still remain the best club side on the planet but the Spanish champions have yet to pick up momentum in the new year. The Blaugrana did commence 2011 on a winning note but the 2-1 league victory over Levante didn't come without moments of nervousness and doubt. Then in midweek Pep Guardiola's team just about crawled into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey as they got the better of Athletic Bilbao in the Round of 16 only on away goals' rule.

However, the former European champions have bounced back in style every time they have struggled and one expects them to do so this time too. Barcelona have a phenomenal away record in the Spanish Primera Division as they have won all eight matches on the road. Not only have the Blaugrana emerged victorious in those games, they have triumphed too, having scored a whooping 29 goals, conceding a miserly four.

Against a Deportivo La Coruna side who are floating in mid-table, Barca would expect themselves to pick up maximum points. With Lionel Messi back in the team, the world's most entertaining football team would also look to play exhibition football.

With 46 points from 17 matches, the Catalan side are currently two points clear of arch-rivals and second-placed Real Madrid and a win will increase that advantage to five until Sunday at least.



TEAM NEWS

Deportivo La Coruna

Riki, Michel and Andres Guardado are set to miss the game through injury, while Urreta and Knut Olav Rindaroy are doubtful. Albert Lopo, Manuel Pablo and Lassad Nouioui all will return after being rested in midweek.

Barcelona

Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all will start the league encounter against Deportivo after missing last weekend's encounter. Ibrahim Afellay, signed in the winter, is in line to make his league debut. Left-back Maxwell has been included in the squad after overcoming a thigh strain. 

Prediction

A win for Deportivo La Coruna even at home against Barcelona looks a bleak option. The Blaugrana have a 100 per cent record on the road this campaign and even though they haven't looked exactly Barcelona-esque so far this new year, they will still be more than a match for the Galicians.

Deportivo 1-3 Barcelona

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08-01-2011 20:00 Real Sociedad - Sevilla

Mid-Table Security
Real Sociedad returned to the Spanish Primera Division after a gap of three years during which they featured in the sundry regions of the Segunda Division. Even for a big club such as la Real, it was not expected to be an easy ride in the top flight this season but the Basque giants have proved themselves to be perfectly at home rubbing shoulders with the big guns.

Currently stationed in 11th place in the league standings, Sociedad have mustered a laudable 22 points from 17 matches and are five points off a Europa League slot. Martin Lasarte's side have also won five home league matches this campaign but started the new year with a 2-1 defeat to Zaragoza away from home.

However, with no commitment in the Copa del Rey in midweek, the Txuri-urdin would have got more preparation time for Saturday's encounter against Sevilla. But la Real have struggled against the big sides at the Anoeta, having lost to Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia at home.

The Manzano Effect

Gregorio Manzano was expected to be Sevilla's saviour when he replaced Antonio Alvarez in September. The much heralded coach, who had worked wonders at Mallorca last season, though, struggled to keep afloat one of the biggest clubs in Spain as results didn't improve.

But Manzano is one of the better Spanish tacticians and his effect is now being felt in the Andalucian city. Sevilla have commenced the new year in perfect fashion, defeating Osasuna 1-0 at the Pizjuan on Sunday and then hammered Malaga 3-0 in the local derby in the Copa del Rey, Round of 16, second-leg tie.

With 23 points from 17 matches, Sevilla are four points off a Europa League slot and a further four behind Valencia, who occupy the final Champions League berth. The Rojiblancos' away form, though, is rather disappointing as of the eight matches on the road, they have won just three and lhave ost five.

However, striker Luis Fabiano believes that Sevilla are returning to their best and enthuses, "We had a bad run but now we are winning, there's still a lot of work to do and we have to improve many things, but Sevilla are returning little by little."



TEAM NEWS

Real Sociedad

Antoine Griezmann is suspended for the match.

Sevilla

Didier Zokora is suspended and will miss the trip to the Basque country. 

Prediction

Real Sociedad will be keen to win in the new year and will make it tough for Sevilla at home. However, the Rojiblancos appear to have tuned themselves into a winning side and should eventually eke out a narrow victory.

Real Sociedad 1-2 Sevilla

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08-01-2011 18:00 Malaga - Athletic Bilbao

Let The Revolution Begin

Malaga may be in severe danger of suffering relegation from the Spanish Primera Division this campaign but the Andalucians have been the main talking point so far this January transfer market session.

Los Boquerones have made some sensational signings, with the likes of Martin Demichelis, Sergio Asenjo, Enzo Maresca, Ignacio Camacho and Julio Baptista all been recruited in an effort to improve the team both in the short term and in the long run.

The Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani-owned club are just three points above the relegation zone, having mustered just 16 points from 17 matches. The immediate plan is to see that Malaga's results and league position improve and with former Villarreal and Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini in charge, there is every likelihood that this will be so. As a matter of fact, Malaga have already won in the new year, as they got the better of Sporting in Gijon last weekend.

On Wednesday, though, Malaga went down 3-0 to Sevilla to confirm their exit from the Copa del Rey and on Saturday against Basque giants Athletic Bilbao they will be keen to bounce back. Malaga have a wretched home form as they have won two and lost six league encounters at La Rosaleda and also have the division's worst defensive record, having shipped in 36 goals.

Pushing For Europe

Traditionalists Athletic Bilbao's start to the new year has been disappointing as they have failed to win either of their matches in the first week of 2011. At the weekend the Basque side went down 2-1 to Deportivo La Coruna at San Mames in the Spanish Primera Division and then went out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Barcelona in the second-leg of their Round of 16 tie.

However, the Lions are just two points off a European spot with 25 points from 17 matches. Currently perched on eighth spot, Athletic are very much in the running for a Europa League and that will be their main objective for the rest of the season.

Joaquin Caparros' side have a poor form away from home, though, as they have collected just seven points from a possible 24. Interestingly, along with fellow Basque side Real Sociedad, Athletic have the worst defensive record on the road in the championship as they have shipped in no fewer than 20 goals.



TEAM NEWS

Malaga

Eliseu is suspended for the visit of Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilabo

Ibai Gomez and Jon Aurtenetxe are long-term injury concerns while Markel Susaeta is doubtful. Aldekoaotalora Ustaritz is suspended.

Prediction

Malaga will look to spur their revolution with a win and they will go for all three points against Athletic Bilbao. It will not be easy for the struggling Andalucians, though, but they should scrap a draw in the end.

Malaga 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

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08-01-2011 FA Cup Preview Round-Up

Bolton vs. York City

York City will want their form in the Blue Square Premier to translate into an upset against their more illustrious opponents Bolton.

Playing at the Reebok should not have too much of an effect on the third division side, who have nothing to lose from this encounter.

As for Owen Coyle’s charges, they had been doing superbly in the top-flight to push for a European spot. But a little sloppiness in the form of one victory in their last five league games has made the task a little more difficult than it would have been if their positive run had continued.

Now they lock horns in a welcome break from the rigours of league football to take on an in-form team looking to cause an upset.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Bolton: Bogdan; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Marcos Alonso; Rodrigo, M Davies, Cohen, Taylor; Klasnic, Blake.

York: Ingham; Meredith, Smith, McGurk, Parslow, Carruthers; Weir, Barrett, Smith; Rankine; Chambers.

Hull City vs. Wigan Athletic

Barring a recent blip against Leicester City, the Tigers have been doing relatively well for themselves in the Championship. Sitting in 15th position in the second-tier reflects their fall from grace after an all too short-lived surge in the Premier League.

But now they can relive old memories through a game against the Latics, who will travel to play Nigel Pearson’s charges at the KC Stadium.

The visitors, for their part, will look towards this game with confidence, as they have managed to haul themselves into a better position – in the league - that they were in weeks past. Recent draws means that survival could still be on the cards, though their one-pointers would need to turn into a few three-point outings.

But in the meantime, this fixture should take some of the attention away from the relegation battle and focus on bettering a cup run. Wigan have not progressed beyond round four of the FA Cup since 1987, and will want that statistic to change. But that can only be done through a victory in the game that is now before them.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Hull: Guzan; Zayatte, Dawson, Gerrard, Cooper; Solano, Bullard, Ashbee, Stewart; Fryatt, Simpson.

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Gohouri, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Thomas, Watson; Stam, McArthur, De Ridder; Boselli.

Scunthorpe United vs. Everton

The hosts are currently battling for dear life in the Championship, having just about avoided relegation last season. They have never met the Toffees in the FA Cup, though their two League Cup encounters saw Everton put six past them.

Form has been an issue for both sides, as Scunthorpe have lost seven of their last eight games. But the cup can throw up many surprises, and the Merseysiders’ defender Seamus Coleman insists that his side will not take their opponents lightly.

He said: "It will probably be one of their biggest games of the season, so we'll not underestimate them."

Everton have been consistently inconsistent themselves, and have had some trouble on away days in cup competitions. But they certainly have the quality necessary to decimate the home side.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Scunthorpe: Murphy; Jones, Byne, Nolan, Togwell; Woolford, O’Connor, Thompson, Wight; Forte, Dagnall.

Everton: Mucha; Neville, Mustafi, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Osman, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Beckford, Gueye.

Sheffield United vs. Aston Villa

Both teams are sailing under adverse conditions in their respective leagues, and will likely look towards this game as a welcome break from the difficulties posed by the marathon that is the Championship and the Premier League.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier appears to have the backing of the upper echelon of the club despite his team falling into the relegation zone in the top-flight, but a defeat at Bramall Lane could give his bosses some serious food for contemplation.

United have done no better than their counterparts, as their poor form has sent them down close to the dreaded drop zone. But their record against top-flight opponents is impressive, as they have progressed on three of five occasions when clashing with a Premier League side in the third round of the competition.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Kozluk, Bartley, Ertl, Parrino; Ward, Montgomery, Williamson, Yeates; Evans, Cresswell.

Villa: Friedel; Walker, Beye, Dunne, Warnock; Clark, Hogg; Downing, Bannan, A Young; Agbonlahor.

Southampton vs. Blackpool

Seasiders boss Ian Holloway appears to have prioritised survival above the FA Cup, as he is expected to ring in the changes to his side as an out of sorts Liverpool prepare to visit Bloomfield Road a little later.

The hosts have taken down Shrewsbury Town and Cheltenham Town en route to setting up a clash against the visiting side, and are in good form as they look to gain promotion from League One to the Championship.

Blackpool’s second string side will provide them with an ample test to determine how they might fare in the second-tier, should they achieve promotion at the end of their current league campaign.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Southampton: Davis; Butterfield, Jaidi, Fonte, Dickson; Lallana, Chaplow, Guilherme, Hammond, Chamberlain; Lambert.

Blackpool: Rachubka; Phillips, Edwards, Keinan, Eastham; Southern, Sylvestre, Euell; Ormerod, Harewood, Barkhuizen.

Sunderland vs. Notts County

Sunderland have done well to rise up to sixth place in the Premier League, but the cup is a very different ballgame as opposed to playing 38 games to determine one’s position.

Notts County are no mugs with the ball, as they have striker Craig Westcarr and midfielder Ben Davies in very good form this campaign. And relatively smaller sides always love to play bigger opposition and get the better of them over a period of 90 minutes.

The Black Cats also have the Tyne and Wear derby against Newcastle United coming up, which could see manager Steve Bruce rest a few players to keep them fresh for that game.

Possible/Last line-ups:
Sunderland: Mignolet; Angeleri, Onuoha, Da Silva, Elmohamady; Cattermole, Riveros, Zenden, Malbranque; Bent, Cook.

Notts County: Burch; Darby, Harley, Pearce, Edwards; Bishop, Davies, Judge, Miller; Westcarr, Ince.

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