18-12-2010 22:00 Real Sociedad - Valencia

Still Learning

Real Sociedad’s aim when they entered the Primera Division from the Segunda last summer was simply to re-establish themselves as a top flight club. As the halfway point in the campaign approaches, Martin Lasarte’s side can be pleased they’ve started along the right lines to do just that. With a weekend fixture against Valencia approaching, the Basques can even consider cementing themselves in the top half of the standings.

Though la Real have struggled a little when forced to play on their travels, they’ve been excellent at home. Of their seven fixtures at Anoeta, they’ve won an impressive five, amassing 15 of their 22 points at the venue.

Given their poor record on the road, and given the relative naivety of the side to top flight football after a rare hiatus in the second tier, it was little surprise to see the Txuri-urdin go down 5-0 against all-conquering Barcelona.

“At the moment, we are learning a lot,” Lasarte told the media after that reverse. “Real Sociedad still lack some competitiveness, but that will come.”

Such has been the comparative excellence of la Real’s start to the campaign, they have given themselves plenty of opportunity to learn lessons against the best. Boasting a massive nine point cushion to the relegation zone, there appears to be little danger of the San Sebastian side slipping back into the dogfight.


Not About To Fall Apart

It’s been a very frustrating season for Valencia so far. Los Che appeared ready to at least appear somewhere in the region of Barcelona and Real Madrid when they earned five wins from their opening six matches, but a loss at home to Barca has trigged an extremely fallow period by their lofty standards.

Over the course of their last nine domestic matches, Unai Emery has watched his side win only twice, allowing pressure to build on his shoulders by the demanding Mestalla crowd. Last weekend los Che were involved in an entertaining encounter against Osasuna, but the result was not the one desired as a 3-3 draw only served to stunt their dreams of the Champions League.

Twice Valencia enjoyed a two goal lead in that encounter only to be pegged back by their dogged rivals, leading to media suggestions that Emery has lost the dressing room. Aritz Aduriz denied such rumours, while David Albelda has indicated that the current slump is simply a natural blip.

“It is not a very good result, but the situation is reversible, and the team will not fall apart due to this,” he told the press. “All teams go through good and bad times.”

With the pressure building, this is a fixture Valencia could really do with impressing in, even if they cannot win it.

TEAM NEWS

Real Sociedad

Claudio Bravo is looking very likely to play the weekend’s fixture against los Che after previously being a doubt due to an ankle complaint. Martin Lasarte has no other issues.

Valencia

Ever Banega is out with an ankle problem. The Argentine sustained the problem during Thursday’s training session. Alejandro Dominguez, Mehmet Topal, Tino Costa, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Moya have all been battling injury issues this week.

Manuel Fernandes continues to train with Valencia until January 3, despite his immediate future being with Besiktas.

Prediction

After making a lightning quick start to the season, Valencia’s form has faded into the mediocre. Still capable of pulling off a big result, los Che look almost equally capable of losing to anyone. Even though Real Sociedad are going well at home, this could be their first split decision of the season.

Real Sociedad 1-1 Valencia

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18-12-2010 20:45 Milan - Roma

Ending On A High

Milan have had a brilliant second half of 2010 as they have been sensational in the first-half of the 2010-11 season. The Rossoneri are flying high in Serie A and are also through to the second round of the Champions League where they will confront Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Currently perched on pole position with 36 points from 16 matches, Massimiliano Allegri's side are six points ahead of their nearest rivals in the Scudetto race and are bookmakers' favourites to win the championship.

With reigning Italian champions Inter struggling and already 13 points off the pace (albeit with a game of hand), only Juventus are credible title-challengers, meaning that the Rossoneri do have a very good chance of conquering Italy for the first time since 2004.

However, the Diavolo will aspire to wrap up the year with a victory over Roma. The Lupi have almost relinquished championship hopes but they do have the ability to hurt Milan. Conceding a defeat just before the Christmas break could be detrimental to Allegri's team's psyche and would also break their seven-game unbeaten run in the league as well.

Scudetto Chimera

With 26 points from 16 matches, Roma have virtually given up their slim hopes of a Scudetto challenge. On Saturday evening the Lupi will almost certainly lose sight of Milan if they lose at San Siro.

However, Roma will head to Milan with confidence after defeating Bari 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and having drawn Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the second round of the Champions League, Claudio Ranieri's men will be confident of further progress in Europe.

To win in Milan, though, the Giallorossi will have to put in extra effort as they have won just once away from Rome all season in the league. Roma's defence too has looked susceptible as they have conceded 15 goals in eight away matches.

TEAM NEWS

Milan

Pato, Inzaghi, Oduamadi, Flamini, Thiago Silva and Zambrotta are injured and will miss the visit of Roma.

Roma

Vucinic and Lobont are injured and will miss the trip to Milan.

Prediction

Milan have proved themselves to be hugely strong at home and will be confident of crafting a win against Roma at San Siro. It could eventually prove to be a crucial match in the Scudetto race in the long run and one suspects that Allegri will tactically outwit Ranieri and gain maximum points.

Milan 2-1 Roma

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18-12-2010 20:00 Espanyol - Barcelona

Not Afraid

A cracking match is in store at the Cornella-El Prat on Saturday evening, where Espanyol host near neighbours Barcelona in what is sure to be a highly competitive fixture. While la Blaugrana boast a perfect seven wins from seven matches on their travels, los Periquitos can point to a perfect home record.

The very mention of Barca’s name can send fear running through sides, with Real Madrid proving earlier this season that they are not immune to such problems. But Espanyol are aiming to go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in front of their home fans.

“We are not afraid of Barcelona, but we know we have to go to war,” Pablo Osvaldo has explained this week. “We are going to play football, but we know that we are facing the best team in the world, and we need to use our own weapons.

“We must be a united group, and if we are not it will be become difficult for us to win. We will try to give joy to the people. We must be calm, and feeling the support of the fans will give us strength.”

Raul Baena echoed these comments, stating: “When we play them we must do so without fear, put pressure on them and play in our own style, as we did last year. We all know what they can do, but we also know that we have seven wins from seven at the Cornella-El Prat, and we want to make it eight.”

Espanyol have a history of thwarting their great neighbours, particularly at home, perhaps typified best by last season’s 0-0 draw just as Pep Guardiola’s men were trying to accelerate towards the title. Another such result will be considered possible by the hosts.

At The Pinnacle

Barcelona are a side that need no introduction, and they will be dead set on picking up three points on Saturday to ensure they finish 2010 as La Liga’s top club. Not only would that be one in the eye for Real Madrid, it would also be a bloody nose to local rivals Espanyol, who have taken much pleasure from frustrating Barca in recent times.

There has been no stopping Pep Guardiola’s men domestically in recent months. Eyebrows were raised in the early part of the season when questionable results were attained at home against Hercules and Mallorca, but since then they’ve completely found their stride, with the 5-0 Clasico victory over Real Madrid a match to be remembered throughout the generations.

But since defeating los Blancos in such style, Barca haven’t taken their eye from the ball and have maintained their intensity. Osasuna were dispatched 3-0 in Pamplona immediately after their Monday night success, while an awkward home fixture against Real Sociedad was brilliantly negotiated 5-0, with Lionel Messi typically starring.

Much has been made this week of Barca’s record breaking new advertising deal, but once again Guardiola will want his side to do their talking on the pitch. As fluent and as effective as ever – perhaps more so – Barcelona could round off 2010 in La Primera in fine style if they can pick up a 10th successive win.

TEAM NEWS

Espanyol

Manu Molina and Javi Lopez aren’t expected to feature after training at a lower level than their team-mates in the lead up to the derby. Javi Lopez is also touch and go.

Raul Rodriguez and David Lopez have hamstring issues, while coach Mauricio Pochettino has been suffering with flu.

Barcelona

Pep Guardiola almost has a full squad to select from. Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suarez are the only two players injured.

Prediction

Winning may be beyond Espanyol, but upsetting Barcelona to earn a low scoring draw is a possibility that shouldn’t be discounted given the recent record between the two sides at the homes of los Periquitos. Pep Guardiola’s side appear in irrepressible for at present, however. Barca should be favourites for the win once again.

Espanyol 1-3 Barcelona

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18-12-2010 18:00 Villarreal - Mallorca

Must Keep Going

After the distraction of the Europa League in midweek, Villarreal return to domestic action against Mallorca on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are exceeding expectations towards their performance in La Liga at present, though it will be the Yellow Submarine who start this match as firm favourites to claim three points.

In midweek they made the trip to Club Brugge and picked up a useful 2-1 victory, fielding a relatively strong side given that qualification was already assured. Giuseppe Rossi levelled the score for the visiting side after Dorge Kouemaha had given the Belgians the advantage, and the Italian international soon put his side ahead from the penalty spot.

“We may have already qualified, but it was a confidence boost to win. We were the first Spanish team to qualify for the knockout stage, and this is an accomplishment,” Juan Carlos Garrido explained to the media after the match.

Rossi echoed his coach’s comments about a boost to the self-belief of the side, but he was keen to stress that they wish to stay on their present path. “I'm happy for the goals, but we have to continue like this because we haven't achieved anything for now,” he explained.

Winning every game is clearly an important objective for Villarreal at present, and with that in mind they’ll certain go after their guests at the weekend with some gusto.

Two Slips

Mallorca coach Michael Laudrup has been trying to temper enthusiasm over the club’s strong start to the campaign with reality, but there has been little better medicine to do that than the two defeats els Barralets have suffered over the last fortnight.

There was genuine optimism over the side’s chances when they went to Getafe a fortnight ago, but they were forced to retreat from the capital in an embarrassed state, having been convincingly defeated 3-0. Last weekend the Islanders suffered another poor reverse, this time going down 1-0 at home against Racing Santander.

The Iberostar Estadi has been something of a stronghold for Mallorca over the course of the last 18 months, but now that their aura of invincibility at that venue is fading, they are at least going relatively well on their travels. Wins over Sevilla and Valencia have caught the eye, but it is arguably a draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou that represents their greatest triumph this season.

Villarreal are one of the few sides in Spain who can argue that their home is even more intimidating than Barca’s. Since Juan Carlos Garrido took charge of the Yellow Submarine, they’ve only failed to win at El Madrigal on two occasions in league play, going down against la Blaugrana last term and drawing against Valencia this.

Els Barralets will have to be at their absolute peak to take anything from this encounter.

TEAM NEWS

Villarreal

Carlos Marchena is suspended, though a hamstring injury will see him out for a month. Mateo Musacchio has had a yellow card quashed and will be able to play after putting off a suspension.

Mallorca

Azoye and Sergio Tejera are both missing from Brian Laudrup’s squad due to injury complaints. The Dane has no other worries, aside from Gonzalo Castro, who didn’t finish Thursday’s training session.

Prediction

Form dictates that Villarreal have to be considered favourites for this match. Even though Mallorca have undoubtedly improved on their travels, they don’t have the ability to live with a Villarreal side who are simply a winning machine when playing in front of their own fans.

Villarreal 2-1 Mallorca

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18-12-2010 15:30 Eintracht Frankfurt - Borussia D.

Skibbe's Men Looking To End 2010 On The Ultimate High

As half-term looms it's report card time in the Bundesliga. Launische Diva have been their usual inconsistent selves, beating the likes of Wolfsburg one week before slipping to defeat versus Koeln the next. Seven wins and seven losses have left Michael Skibbe's men in eighth position at the half-way mark; a respectable start with room still there for improvement. Surely deserving of a B+.

Frankfurt's final game of 2010 could very well prove to be their toughest test. The visit of Bundesliga runaway leaders Dortmund is highly anticipated in Hesse. However, die Adler will be without several key players including captain Chris who is likely to be replaced by the versatile American Ricardo Clark, who is rated highly by his boss.

"Ricardo has good technique and fierceness. He is also a little more agile compared to Kraus who is much larger. That could be an advantage against the swift and versatile Dortmund players," Skibbe told the club's website during the week.

The ex-Dortmund coach certainly has confidence in Clark and the rest of his squad and is looking forward to the crunch tie with Jurgen Klopp's men.

"With Borussia we will host the top Bundesliga team who are miles ahead, it is the last league game of the year in front of a sell out home crowd – we want to show a good performance."

Records On The Line For Wounded Dortmund

There is no doubt about it, Dortmund have had a phenomenal first half to this Bundesliga campaign. Die Schwarzegelben are 11 points clear at the top, winning an incredible 14 games from 16. Victory over Frankfurt would give Borussia 46 points, a record tally at the winter break.

So what's all this talk about Jurgen Klopp's men having to pick themselves up? Wednesday night saw the club exit European competition for this season when a 2-2 away draw to Sevilla condoned BVB to third place in the group.

To make matters worse, the manner in which Sevilla conducted themselves during the game infuriated Klopp and his men.

"There is a bitter aftertaste to this defeat. If experience in Europe means wasting time, then I don't want my team to learn something like that," Klopp told the media post-match.

"It was an embarrassing display from Sevilla. For such a great team to resort to such tactics is an embarrassment."

BVB will be hoping to turn their frustration from Wednesday's events into a record breaking victory over Frankfurt. A win will be the club's eighth in a row in the league, another club record.

If Dortmund are to earn yet another away win they could really do with star striker Lucas Barrios firing on all cylinders. The Argentinian-born hitman has only recently returned from injury and is still looking to find the form shown earlier on in the season. Against Frankfurt he has the perfect opportunity to deliver early Christmas presents to all Dortmund supporters.

TEAM NEWS

Eintracht Frankfurt

The home side will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Koelen but will have to do so without several key names. Marco Russ misses the game through suspension with Oka Nikolov also missing out with a foot injury. Chris continues his spell on the sidelines with a back problem so Ricardo Clark is likely to deputise. Other absentees include Maik Franz (Adominal surgery), Zlatan Bajramovic (hamstring), Sebastian Rode and Marcel Titsch-Rivero (both in light training).

Probable Starting XI: Faehrmann - Jung, Vasoski, Clark, Tzavellas - Ochs, Schwegler, Meier, Koehler, Altintop - Gekas

Borussia Dortmund

The Bundesliga leaders only have two players out for their visit to Frankfurt. Captain Sebastian Kehl will return to action in early 2011 after missing the last three months with a tendon tear. Patrick Owomoyela will also miss Dortmund's final game of 2010 with an injury to his achilles. Die Borussen are likely to make only one change from the side who drew 2-2 with Sevilla on Wednesday night. Kevin Grosskreutz is expected to replace Jakub Blaszczykowski on the wing.

Probable Starting XI: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer - Sahin, Bender - Goetze, Kagawa, Blaszczykowski - Barrios

Prediction

Expect Dortmund to bounce back from their midweek Europa League disappointment to win this and break yet another record. BVB's dynamic attack will surely be too much for Frankfurt's makeshift centre-back partnership. However, the home side have looked good in front of goal this season so expect them to get on the scoresheet, perhaps a 14th Bundesliga goal for Gekas.

Eintracht 1-2 Borussia

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