ESPN Network:
ESPN.com
ESPN Deportes
Fantasy Games
|
|
|
| Friday, November 1, 2002 17:41 EST |
League-leading Real Sociedad visits Villarreal
[Reuters]
MADRID -- Deportivo Coruna is taking a
sceptical view of reports of crisis at Real Madrid as the club
prepares to host the European champions in the Spanish first
division on Saturday.
Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to AS Roma in the Champions
League in midweek, despite coach Vicente del Bosque being able
to field his first choice side, including Ronaldo, Zinedine
Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul and Roberto Carlos.
Del Bosque's expensively assembled team has now won just
one of its last seven games at home and abroad and the
excitable Spanish media has not been slow to talk up the
problems at the Bernabeu.
Deportivo, by contrast, scored a memorable 2-1 win at home
to Bayern Munich on Tuesday to send the Germans packing from the
competition.
Real has not won away to Depor in the league since the
1991-92 season and with Raul doubtful because of a bout of
gastroenteritis and Zidane, Figo and Claude Makelele all
struggling with injuries the odds are stacked against the club.
Despite its recent league problems, Real is still in
fourth place, ahead of Depor, in sixth, because of its better
goal difference.
Real is also through to the second phase of the Champions
League, while Deportivo will need to win away to AC Milan in
its final game to be sure of advancing.
Del Bosque's side played well against Roma, with only some
poor finishing letting the club down, and Depor is concerned that
the crisis talk will only serve to provoke a backlash.
"Real are more dangerous now," Depor captain Fran warned.
"They have to get out of this little rut they're in and
they'll be desperate to put an end to their bad run here.
"They're still a great team with great players."
Other matches being played in the Spanish first division
this weekend (league positions in parentheses):
Saturday
ATLETICO MADRID (12) v RAYO VALLECANO (13)
Atletico's former Barcelona fullback Sergi is a doubt for
this Madrid derby with a thigh injury. Rayo will be without
midfielder Jorge Azkoitia, who injured his hand in training this
week.
VALLADOLID (11) v REAL MALLORCA (7)
After a dreadful start Mallorca has won its last four
league games to move up towards the top of the table. The club may
struggle to keep that run going against Valladolid, who has
beaten Barcelona and drawn with Real Madrid in recent home
games.
Sunday
VILLARREAL (14) v REAL SOCIEDAD (1)
Villarreal had the better of a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid
at the Bernabeu last weekend and that should provide a huge
confidence boost for this clash with the surprise league
leaders.
Real's French coach Raynald Denoueix could recall Javi de
Pedro to his starting lineup after the Spanish World Cup winger
enjoyed a lively substitute appearance in last week's 2-1 win
over Racing Santander.
ALAVES (18) v SEVILLA (15)
Sevilla will see this as a good opportunity to build on
its first win of the season last week at home to Valladolid.
Alaves has the worst defensive record in the league so far this
season and its players are likely to feel the effects of an
exhausting UEFA Cup match against Besiktas on Thursday.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (19) v CELTA VIGO (3)
Athletic badly needs a first home win of the season after
suffering a 5-1 humiliation at Valencia last weekend. That looks
a tough ask against Celta, who sharpened up for this game with a
3-0 victory over Viking Stavanger in midweek.
ESPANYOL (16) v VALENCIA (2)
Espanyol has won two out of two since Ramon Moya took over
from Juande Ramos as coach and the players are convinced they
can complete the hat trick, despite Valencia's brilliant recent
form.
Valencia moved up to second with its 5-1 demolition of
Athletic Bilbao last week and clinched a place in the second
phase of the Champions League with victory over Liverpool at
Anfield but Espanyol is unconcerned.
"They've got good players but so have we and we have the
advantage of being at home," goalkeeper Alfredo Argenso said.
OSASUNA (17) v RECREATIVO HUELVA (20)
Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre will be forced to make changes
in his regular starting lineup, with defenders Antonio Lopez
and Josetxo both injured this week.
This is a key game for bottom-placed Recreativo, who is
starting a run of matches against possible rivals to avoid
relegation, with Valladolid, Alaves and Racing next up after
Osasuna.
RACING SANTANDER (10) v BARCELONA (8)
Racing has already upset Real Madrid at home this season
and the club will fancy its chances of repeating the trick against
inconsistent Barca.
The Catalans moved up to eighth thanks to their 6-1 win over
Alaves at the Nou Camp but they have been beaten twice away from
home already this season and another defeat would pile the
pressure back on coach Louis van Gaal.
REAL BETIS (9) v MALAGA (5)
Betis will have three players suspended but should at least
feel fitter than its opponents going into this game after
playing a UEFA Cup game away to Viktoria Zizkov on Tuesday
and claiming a valuable 1-0 win.
Malaga was also successful in Europe but the club will have
less time to recover from a tougher than expected 2-1 victory at
home to Amica Wronki of Poland on Thursday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
