26-02-2011 22:00 Deportivo La Coruna - Real

Hopes Of Winning

Only three points clear of the relegation zone, the future of Deportivo La Coruna is distinctly unclear at present. Miguel Angel Lotina’s side have attained some noteworthy scalps over the course of the season, but all too often they’ve been held to draws or have slipped to narrow losses. Anything they can take from Saturday night’s match against Real Madrid would have to be considered a bonus.

Though their standing in the league suggests mediocrity, at the Riazor they’ve fared pretty well this term. Only two of their 11 league fixtures have been lost at the venue, though a 4-0 thumping by Barcelona was particularly humbling. It’s generally been Deportivo doing the slaying in the north east of Spain, with their 1-0 victory over Villarreal a fortnight ago a particularly noteworthy result.

Last weekend goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia hit the headlines when he salvaged a point for his side against Almeria, coming up for a stoppage time corner to head into the net, an act that appears to have prompted fresh confidence in the Galician side.

“I have hopes of winning, I know it's difficult but it’s possible,” Lotina is quoted as saying in Marca this week, regarding Saturday’s fixture. “We can’t make mistakes and we must try to do harm when we can develop our play.

“Winning against Madrid would retention [in the Primera Division].”

Lotina is clearly setting a lot of store in the weekend’s fixture for his team, though he clearly anticipates a ferocious battle against opponents driving for the league title. Hammered 6-1 away from home the last time the sides met, Super Depor will have to show a very different face in front of their home fans.

Step Forward

Frustrated in midweek by Olympique Lyonnais, Real Madrid go back to their business in the Primera Division knowing that even the slightest slip is likely to give Barcelona a decisive advantage in the race for the crown. Jose Mourinho’s men have been allowed back into the race by Barca’s slip against Sporting de Gijon, and it looks unlikely they’ll be given any more reprieves.

Los Blancos have plenty to consider ahead of Saturday night’s clash. They produced a rather tame performance at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday evening, though a 1-1 draw against the French side certainly allows them to take an optimistic approach into the second leg of their Champions League encounter in two-and-a-half weeks.

Mourinho would have expected his unit to hold out after Karim Benzema strutted off the bench to burst past several players and score mere seconds after arriving on the pitch, but poor defending from a set-play cost the Spaniards almost right at the death.

“We have taken a step forward,” Mourinho mused after the encounter. “It's the first time we have scored a goal in Lyon. Everything is left open against a quality opponent but I hope the Bernabeu helps the team create a magical European night.”

The Portuguese’s focus will be fully directed towards Depor on Saturday evening as the Spanish crown remains a huge priority for the Madrid giants. Historically, the Riazor has been a venue unkind to los Merengues, but after breaking their jinx last season, they will expect to continue serenely this term against opponents struggling for form.

TEAM NEWS

Deportivo

Andres Guardado is set to return to the starting XI after injury, while Saul is back with the squad too. On the other hand, Xisco will miss six weeks due to injury and Manuel Pablo is doubtful too.

Real Madrid

Sami Khedira picked up a hamstring injury against Lyon and is set to miss a couple of weeks because of the problem. Jerzy Dudek and Gonzalo Higuain continue to recover from long-term worries.

Prediction

Midweek fatigue will be a factor on Real Madrid’s part, but they should still be strong enough to see off a Deportivo La Coruna unit known for their defensive resilience. Such outfits have caused los Blancos problems in the recent past, so nothing should be taken for granted.

Deportivo 0-1 Real Madrid

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26-02-2011 20:45 Juventus - Bologna

Getting Back On Track

Juventus appeared to have recovered lost rhythm in early February as January recruit Alessandro Matri scored goals and inspired the former Italian and European champions to victories over Cagliari and Inter. Hopes of Champions League qualification resuscitated and the colour returned for the Bianconeri.

However, last weekend’s 2-0 humiliation to relegation-threatened Lecce away from home forced Luigi Del Neri’s side to crash down to earth. It was only their fourth away defeat of the league campaign but saw them slip to seventh in the league standings on 41 points from 26 matches, a solitary point off a Europa League slot.

On Saturday the Old Lady will attempt to get back on her feet as Bologna come to Turin. Juve failed to win against the Felsinei in the reverse fixture in October but striker Alessandro Del Piero claims that this time they are ready.

"I am training well and we are all working in the best way,” enthused Del Piero on Thursday. “There is no point saying how important our game against Bologna is after losing to Lecce.

"Our focus in on winning and I have been thinking about this game since last Sunday."

Bouncing Back From Midweek Defeat

Bologna are one of the better sides at home in Serie A and based solely on home record the Rossoblu would be eighth in the league standings. However, in midweek they suffered only their second loss at the Renato Dall'Ara as they went down 1-0 to Roma.

On Saturday Bologna will travel to Turin to take on another Champions League hopefuls in Juventus. In the reverse fixture at home this season Alberto Malesani’s side collected a point from the encounter and with the Bianconeri’s current state of fragile health, they will be confident of conjuring up an upset.

Currently placed 12th in the table with 32 points, Bologna will also be keen on increasing the gap between themselves and the relegation zone and reaching the 40-point mark.

However, Bologna’s away form is poor as of the 13 league encounters they have featured in away from home, they have won just two and lost seven. Their last match on the road ended in a 2-1 defeat to Sampdoria in Genoa.

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Rinaudo, De Ceglie, Quagliarella and Sissoko are injured for the Bianconeri. Buffon is suspended.

Bologna

Ekdal and Garics are injured, while Ramirez is suspended.

Prediction

Juventus lost to Lecce last weekend but the former Italian champions will be keen to bounce back at home against Bologna. The visitors do not have an exceptionally frightening away record and a draw is the maximum they can hope for. However, Juve should just carve out a win.

Juventus 2-1 Bologna

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26-02-2011 20:00 Mallorca - Barcelona

Not To Be Sniffed At

That Mallorca lie in the middle of the Primera Division table is quite an achievement. Plundered for their best players last season because of their inclement financial position, the Balearic Islanders were left to rebuild their side with a new coach. Michael Laudrup has done a fine job at the Iberostar Estadi, though his latest assignment, meeting Barcelona head on at home, will rank as one of his toughest.

Last weekend, els Barralets slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the Basque Lands when they met Real Sociedad, though a week previously they beat Champions League hopefuls Athletic Bilbao at home, where many of their best results are earned.

Even in losing at Anoeta, Laudrup gleamed positives from the performance, though he would also confessed that his side put together their best run in the match too late.

“In the last 20 minutes we tried to react, but it was too late,” the Dane considered of the affair, which was played in miserable conditions. “After the break, we have gone to pieces. We knew that the wind could create problems, and unfortunately it has.”

Laudrup’s achievements this season with Mallorca have seen him linked to several bigger clubs, and his notoriety will only grown should the Islanders again upset one of their coach’s former sides.


Crisis Talk Premature

Barcelona approach the business end of the season well placed to pick up another treble, but Pep Guardiola’s side have shown some signs of discomfort in recent weeks. A surprise draw at the hands of Sporting de Gijon was followed by Champions League defeat at Arsenal, and though they accomplished their task by beating Athletic Bilbao at home last weekend, a trip to Mallorca will be no easy task.

The Islanders are one of only three teams to have taken Primera Division points from the Catalans this season, working industriously to earn a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou back in October.

But while Barca have fumbled with their form for the first time in four months, there has been cause for celebration off the park as coach Pep Guardiola has finally penned a new contract, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2011-12 season, potentially making him la Blaugrana’s fourth longest-serving coach of all-time.

And he remains unflustered over newspaper talk suggesting the wheels are coming off the club’s bandwagon. “We are accustomed to hearing about crisis talks. We heard it last season when we were leading by 12 points over [Real] Madrid,” he pointed out to the press. “No matter what happens at the end of the season, nothing will change about the opinion I have about these players.”

Leading los Blancos by five points in the Primera Division, Barca will hope to be eight clear by full-time, allowing them to focus on a difficult midweek encounter against Valencia.

TEAM NEWS

Mallorca

Ivan Ramis and Victor Casedesus missed out last weekend and are not expected to be involved on Saturday evening.

Barcelona

Pep Guardiola has some significant selection headaches ahead of this trip. Xavi, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol are all poised to sit out due to injury, while Dani Alves is suspended. Barca’s strength in depth is set to be significantly tested.

Prediction

This promises to be one of Barcelona’s great tests this season, even if the opposition are not especially illustrious. Mallorca are competitive at home and won’t give the Catalans this match easily. Under Guardiola’s guidance, Barca have thrived when the pressure’s been on, so expect a narrow away success.

Mallorca 0-2 Barcelona

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26-02-2011 18:30 Bayern Munchen - Borussia Dortmund

Wanting To Show Who Is Number One

Although some will claim a free week following a comfortable victory stroll on the domestic front is the ideal preparation for a crunch fixture against a team of the calibre of Borussia Dortmund, the Champions League fixture with Inter should have presented no such problems for Bayern Munich. Year after year, the ability to deal with fighting on multiple fronts and one big game after another have become ingrained in the club culture.

Bayern's form has unquestionably spiked upwards since the reunification of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery in Louis van Gaal's starting line-up. The Dutchman in particular is one of the world's finest players, even if his talents are not always appreciated by the wider footballing community due to his patchy fitness record.

Bolstered by their wonderful wingers, Bayern went some way to exacting revenge on Inter for last year's Champions League final defeat. Der Rekordmeister perhaps walked the tightrope on occasions, especially as Samuel Eto'o was in the mood. However, they found the perfect balance between defence and attack against an Inter side who have a reputation for not keeping clean sheets. Unsurprisingly, van Gaal believes that it will be a more difficult task this weekend:

"We can definitely still improve in possession. Inter have a very good team. We have made a good stride forward. It will be more difficult against Dortmund. We have this game in our legs and we have to play as early as Saturday."

This is probably a bigger game for Bayern than Dortmund although it promises to be a feisty encounter. In spite of Dortmund's mammoth advantage over Bayern, Christian Nerlinger believes that Bayern remain the premier club in the Bundesliga. The sporting director pointed out that the likes of Wolfsburg and Stuttgart had been surprise champions in recent years and neither had been able to maintain the consistency demanded of a top club. Given Dortmund's superior pedigree and incredible fanbase, as well as one of Europe's best stadia, the odds must be on der BVB providing a much greater threat to Bayern's status as king in the medium to long term.

Aus-sie Up To It?

Unlike their opponents, runaway league leaders Borussia Dortmund had no European adventure during the week however, that did not mean a lack of drama in the Ruhrpott. On Tuesday, Roman Weidenfeller, enjoying the best season of his career, suffered a knee injury after a collision with centre-half Mats Hummels. The 30-year-old, who recently signed a new contract to ward off interest from Aston Villa, now sees his ever-present status placed in great danger.

Of course, one man's misfortune is often another's opportunity and in this case, Dortmund's second choice goalie Mitchell Langerak stands to benefit. Langerak hails from Australia, who have produced a string of fine keepers over the years, including Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist. And that's just in cricket! The 22-year-old Langerak is seen as their heir apparent in the Socceroos team to Mark Schwarzer and he has some pedigree, finishing runner-up in the A-League with his former side Melbourne Victory in 2010. Juergen Klopp remains unruffled.

"It's getting better and the pain is going down. We will leave the decision to the last moment. If he shakes the injury off, he will play. [If not], then one of the best Australian goalkeepers will deputise between the sticks for one of the best German keepers," he told the club's website.

On the pitch, Dortmund are ticking over nicely and whilst not quite at the level of their scintillating form of the Hinrunde, they displayed the ruthlessness of champions last week in their 2-0 victory over an in-form St Pauli. Lucas Barrios was on the scoresheet with a fine finish and he will relish the duel with the Bundesliga's sharpest shooter Mario Gomez. Crucially for the visitors, Neven Subotic is reunited with Mats Hummels. The Serb had a game to forget in Kaiserslautern two weeks ago and will need to be back to his imperious best if die Borussen are to put the final nail in Bayern's coffin.

TEAM NEWS

Bayern Munich

Danijel Pranjic is a major doubt after coming off during Bayern's Champions League win in Milan with an adductor problem. Holger Badstuber would be the most likely deputy with Breno slotting in alongside Anatoliy Tymoschuk at the heart of the defence. Given his fine display in midweek, it seems likely that Luiz Gustavo will retain his midfield spot alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Probable Starting XI: Kraft - Lahm, Tymoschuk, Breno, Badstuber - Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger - Robben, Mueller, Ribery - Gomez

Borussia Dortmund

As discussed above, it looks likely that Roman Weidenfeller's knee injury will rule him out although understandably, Dortmund will do everything possible to have him right for the Saturday teatime fixture. Should he not make it, Australian stopper Mitchell Langerak will deputise. Neven Subotic returns from suspension to partner Mats Hummels and Kuba should make his return on the right wing after injury. His compatriot Robert Lewandowski is on standby, and he would line up behind Barrios with Goetze moving out to the flank.

Probable Starting XI: Langerak - Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender, Sahin - Blaszczykowski, Goetze, Grosskreutz - Barrios

Prediction

It's eminently possible to make a case for all three results and in such circumstances, a draw is perhaps the most likely outcome. Forget the talk of a possibly jaded Bayern, they will be right up for this match. Equally, Dortmund will want to underline their championship mettle and no quarter will be given on either side.

Bayern Munich 2-2 Borussia

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26-02-2011 18:00 Atletico Madrid - Sevilla

Need To Find Form.... And Fast

Atletico Madrid haven’t been enjoying the best of weeks. After a period where the club confirmed huge debts, and Argentine legend Diego Maradona announced that he could see his son-in-law Sergio Aguero exiting the Vicente Calderon soon, it’s imperative that Quique Sanchez Flores and his men look to end the distraction off the field, and gain some momentum on it.

After four straight defeats was ended with a 1-0 win last weekend away to Real Zaragoza, Atletico will look to string two wins together for the first time since Christmas. The start of the year has seen them win only once, to Mallorca and suffer a run of defeats, not least being knocked out of the Copa Del Rey against Real Madrid. This same period has seen Atleti drop out of contention for the European places and starting to slide towards the bottom half, which was stemmed by last week’s much-needed victory – not a place where the outgoing Europa League holders would want to be.

With no distractions from Europe or Copa Del Rey duty, the remaining 14 games of the season should see them climb up the table and finally find some form towards the end of the season. All the remaining games with the exception of Real Madrid and perhaps high-flying Villarreal to come next month, look winnable on paper. Should they fail, Maradona’s words may prove to become true.

Continental qualification, the aim for Sevilla

Los Nervionenses bowed out of the Europa League on Wednesday night despite recording an impressive 1-0 win in Porto, yet the damage had been done in a poor first leg which led to their away goal defeat. Sevilla were on the back foot for most of the game, yet still found chances to break Porto’s dominance, something which must happen in La Liga if they are to taste continental football next season.

Their league form mirrors that of Atletico Madrid with only one win in their last five outings. They laboured to a 1-0 victory over Hercules last weekend courtesy of new boy Ivan Rakitic. It was their first win in six matches in all competitions and they don’t want to repeat that against Atletico.

Only three points behind the Europa League spots, Sevilla could put a bit of daylight between them and Quique Sanchez Flores’ side and continue to secure a place in Europe next season. They too have problems off the field with the hierarchy getting impatient with Gregorio Manzano, ironically they want Atletico’s Flores to replace him. A defeat may spell the end for Manzano.

TEAM NEWS

Atletico Madrid

Diego Forlan is rated doubtful for Saturday’s clash as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle. New signing Elias Mendes is available for Los Colchoneros whilst Diego Godin has recovered and Mario Suarez returns from suspension.

Sevilla

Ivorian midfielder Romaric has trained on Thursday after the Europa League exit and is marked as available for the game against Atletico. Martin Caceres is recovering as he overcomes an adductor problem. Andres Palop is also expected to pass a late fitness test.

Prediction

Both teams know the importance of this game, and with some of La Liga’s best strikers on show on both sides, goals shouldn’t be hard to come by. Difficult to pick out a winner, yet Atletico have had longer to prepare, and are more desperate for the win.

Atletico Madrid 2-1 Sevilla

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