Real provide title test for dark horses Sevilla

October 3, 2009

League leaders Real Madrid roll into Sevilla on Sunday, giving the hosts the perfect chance to prove that this year’s Spanish title race won’t just be all about Real and Barcelona.

Real have won all seven of their matches this season and sit top of both the domestic league and their Champions League group, but face a Sevilla side that have won their last four league matches and demolished Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League.

“We are playing the all-powerful Real Madrid but they should bear in mind that Sevilla are going well at the moment,” warned Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez.

Jimenez and several of his players have talked up Sevilla?s title chances in recent weeks and their fine starts sees them lying in third, three points behind Real and Barca.

“It will be a tough game against Sevilla as they are on a roll but then so are we,” said Real midfielder Guti. “I think it will be a physical match with lots of goals.”

Real have a doubt over Cristiano Ronaldo, who hobbled out of Wednesday?s 3-0 Champions League win over Marseille with an ankle injury and coach Manuel Pellegrini will hope his free-scoring winger, who has nine goals in seven games so far, can make it for the crunch clash.

“We are still not ruling him out of the Sevilla game,” said Pellegrini.

“We just have to see how it goes over the next few days.”

One man who will be extra fired up for the game is Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo who Real sold for 15 million euros after deciding he was not good enough for the latest Galactico era.

Barcelona are only behind Real on goal difference and can knock their rivals off the summit on Saturday when they host Almeria at Camp Nou.

Barca overcame Dinamo Kiev 2-0 in their mid-week Champions League outing, with the big boost being the form of Andres Iniesta who made his first start since the Champions League final win over Manchester United back in May.

“We agreed to give Andres the first 45 minutes and he played at a very high level,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “It was one of the biggest positives to come from the Kiev game.”

The form of new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been another plus with the Swede breaking the club record by scoring in each of his first five league games – something even Barca?s Brazilian greats Romario and Ronaldo didn?t manage.

Defensive troubles are at the root of Atletico Madrid?s problems as coach Abel Resino continues to cling to his position, with a 2-0 Champions League defeat against FC Porto the latest setback.

Atletico host Real Zaragoza on Saturday searching for their first win of the season after collecting three points from 15 in the league and one from six in Europe.

“I am able to continue doing the job here and football is often a state of mind,” said Resino. “A positive result would give us confidence although the effort from the team can?t be faulted.”

Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde is also having a bad time of things as he searches for his first win in charge against former club Espanyol on Sunday.

It has been Villarreal?s worst ever start to a season in the top flight with two points from 15 taken, as Valverde struggles to fill the shoes of iconic coach Pellegrini following his summer exit to Real.

Valverde guided Espanyol to the final of the 2007 UEFA Cup but cannot afford to show any sentiment towards his old club.

Down at Valencia criticism is ringing in the ears of manager Unai Emery with the fans unhappy with his conservative tactics.

Valencia have already fallen seven points behind the leaders and need to get back on track with a win at Racing Santander on Sunday.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Tenerife v Deportivo La Coruna (1600GMT), Barcelona v Almeria (1800GMT), Atletico Madrid v Real Zaragoza (2000GMT)

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated)

Xerez v Malaga, Villarreal v Espanyol, Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao, Sporting Gijon v Real Mallorca, Getafe v Osasuna, Racing Santander v Valencia (1700GMT), Sevilla v Real Madrid (1900GMT)

MADRID (AFP)

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