Mexico out to prove Gold Cup final was not fluke
August 11, 2009
It was a topic they wanted to avoid.
Mexico national team players quickly tried to change the subject when asked about it. Some made sure to say they didn’t want to speak about the infamous date: August 12.
“We’re not thinking about that right now.”
“That’s not in our plans this minute.”
“We have another objective before that.”
Those are some of the phrases Mexican players used during the Gold Cup to describe their thoughts on El Tri’s highly anticipated showdown against the United States at Estadio Azteca Wednesday.
It’s a World Cup qualifier against its nemesis. It is a match in the hexagonal round of the region’s qualifiers. It is perhaps Mexico’s most important match this decade outside of the World Cup finals.
Mexico enters its match against the Americans sitting in fourth place in the hexagonal standings with six points behind Honduras (seven), the United States (10) and group leader Costa Rica (12).
The top three teams qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next summer. The fourth place team enters a two-leg playoff against a team from South America.
El Tri is coming off its first Gold Cup title since 2003 after overwhelming a young United States team in the final July 26. That gave coach Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre’s team a boost of confidence.
But that story was left behind. At least that’s what Aguirre says.
“I was clear from the start,” Aguirre told Mexican reporters this week. “The Gold Cup stayed there and I’m not going to let my players relax.”
Mexico has good reason not to take this match lightly.
The Gold Cup team different American side from the one the Mexicans will face Wednesday.
United States coach Bob Bradley used young players mostly from Major League Soccer rosters to fill his Gold Cup squad.
Mexico didn’t have all its European-based players but carried enough regulars to win the title.
Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela, Miguel Sabah, Guillermo Ochoa, Gerardo Torrado and Jonny Magallon are some from the list.
Aguirre has called for the qualifier against the United States what could be deemed as the base for his roster: Carlos Salcido, Ricardo Osorio, Gerardo Guardado and Cuauhtémoc Blanco to mix with 15 players from the Gold Cup roster.
That could be an advantage for Mexico in addition to a partisan crowd of 100,000, altitude, humidity, heat and heavy smog in a stadium where the United States has never won.
The Americans called in their starters who mostly play in Europe but have not played together as a team since the Confederations Cup in South Africa in June.
Most players from the Gold Cup final will not see the field at Azteca. Forward Brian Ching, midfielder Stuart Holden and defender Chad Marshall are the only three players who played in the Gold Cup title match that were selected for the roster for Wednesday’s game in Mexico City.
What will be on the field is a team that wants redemption for what happened in the Gold Cup despite being a different team.
The result left the U.S. embarrassed.
“I’m not in that locker room, and I don’t know what they’re thinking,” Ching said about Mexico after the Gold Cup final. “But if they think the next game is going to be anything like this, they’ve got another thing coming.”
Mexico knows that.
They’ve probably known it since prior to the Gold Cup.
There is no way to know if Wednesday’s match really wasn’t on Mexico’s mind during the Gold Cup. Chances are August 12 was imprinted in their minds since their last qualifier a 2-1 win against Trinidad and Tobago at Estadio Azteca.
That was a result that left fans wanting more, especially after losing in El Salvador 2-1 four days earlier. It didn’t impress Mexican pundits and left doubters doubting more.
Aguirre insists this is a rejuvenated El Tri no matter who is on the pitch.
“We’re better,” Aguirre said. “After the El Salvador game, I was always optimistic. There were six games left and we’re a point out (of an automatic berth). Now there’s (five games) left. It’s not a dark scenario. Why the heck were we going to be out of the World Cup? They have to give us a chance. If there was one game left and we had to win and have two rivals lose, then I would say it was tough. But things are different. Things have improved.”
A win against the Americans would probably silence doubts until the next qualifier. A loss or draw probably would raise criticism and maybe even some panic.
It would give the Mexicans something new to talk about or simply try to avoid.
Rafa Marquez out with new injury
FC Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez will not play against the United States at Estadio Azteca.
The Mexican center back suffered a left torn calf during a training session prior to Barca’s exhibition match against MLS side Sounders FC earlier this week.
Marquez returned to the line up and saw his first action last week when he played 31 minutes in a friendly against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
He was coming off a knee injury kept him out for almost four months.
Marquez had reconstructive knee surgery after tearing ligaments during a match against English side Chelsea in April.
Marquez knew his chances of playing against the United States were slim prior to his calf injury.
“I am not at 100 percent and I won’t be for that day,” Marquez said after the Galaxy match. “I’ll try to do my best to be ready but it’s practically impossible to be at 100 percent by then.”
Marquez was expected to miss 10 to 15 days.
By Ivan Orozco
Tags: bob bradley, Carlos Vela, coach bob, el tri, estadio azteca, gerardo torrado, gold cup, group leader, guillermo ochoa, javier el vasco aguirre, jonny magallon, Major League Soccer, mexicans, regulars, Sabah, six points, united states team, Vasco, world cup finals, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Mexico subdues Nicaragua 2-0
July 6, 2009
OAKLAND – A penalty by Luis Noriega late in the first half and a second-half strike by Pablo Barrera helped Mexico to a 2-0 win against Nicaragua in both teams’ Gold Cup opening match Sunday.
Noriega and Barrera’s goals saved three points for Mexico against a Nicaraguan team making its Gold Cup debut and its first appearance in a major international competition.
Mexico, which played most of the match without striker Carlos Vela, came in as a heavy favorite.
Coach Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre’s squad is seeking its fifth Gold Cup title and is trying to restore some credibility in the region after several losses to Central American opponents in World Cup qualifying.
El Tri will take the win to move atop the Group C standings with Guadeloupe, which beat Panama 2-1 in the early match of a doubleheader.
Vela left the game in the 10th minute, limping off the field with a lower right leg injury.
He was carried off the field by two trainers at halftime. He wrapped his arms around their shoulders off both trainers trying to keep pressure of his right leg. The injured was in some sort of wrap.
Chivas de Guadalajara striker Alberto Medina replaced Vela and was key in setting up Barrera’s goal.
Sunday’s match was Vela’s return after sitting out Mexico’s last match, a scoreless draw in a friendly against Guatemala in San Diego.
Noriega converted the penalty kick a minute into injury time.
He sent his shot from the penalty spot to the left of Nicaragua goalkeeper Carlos Mendieta.
Noriega’s score was set up when Nicaragua’s Armando Reyes was whistled for a foul by referee Paul Ward in the 44th minute.
Reyes attempted a tackle from behind on Mexico’s Israel Martinez inside the penalty area but didn’t appear to make heavy contact with Martinez.
Noriega’s score helped send an Oakland-Alameda Coliseum crowd of mostly Mexico fans erupt into cheers as they watched their team head into halftime with the lead.
Nicaragua held to its game plan for most of the first half: defend and look to counter. It worked for more than 45 minutes, until Noriega’s penalty.
Barrera, who replaced Martinez to start the second half, added his goal by tapping in a volleyed pass from right to left by Medina in the 86th minute to seal the match.
Mexico controlled possession in the first half and out-shot Nicaragua 9-1. Nicaragua’s only shot came in the second minute and it almost caught Mexico off guard.
Armando Collado blasted a free kick from 40 yards to the right of Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who had to make a saving dive.
El Tri continued to spread the ball in the second half, creating a few more chances at goal. Nicaragua continued to defend.
Giovani dos Santos sent a header just wide right off a Medina floating centered pass from the right flank into the penalty area in the 54th minute.
Medina and dos Santos created another shot on goal in similar fashion in the 66th minute, but this time a Nicaraguan defender deflected dos Santos’ shot.
Barrera sent a shot from the top of the penalty area with a clean look at goal. But Mendieta held his position to make the save.OAKLAND – A penalty by Luis Noriega late in the first half and a second-half strike by Pablo Barrera helped Mexico to a 2-0 win against Nicaragua in both teams’ Gold Cup opening match Sunday.
Noriega and Barrera’s goals saved three points for Mexico against a Nicaraguan team making its Gold Cup debut and its first appearance in a major international competition.
Mexico, which played most of the match without striker Carlos Vela, came in as a heavy favorite.
Coach Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre’s squad is seeking its fifth Gold Cup title and is trying to restore some credibility in the region after several losses to Central American opponents in World Cup qualifying.
El Tri will take the win to move atop the Group C standings with Guadeloupe, which beat Panama 2-1 in the early match of a doubleheader.
Vela left the game in the 10th minute, limping off the field with a lower right leg injury.
He was carried off the field by two trainers at halftime. He wrapped his arms around their shoulders off both trainers trying to keep pressure of his right leg. The injured was in some sort of wrap.
Chivas de Guadalajara striker Alberto Medina replaced Vela and was key in setting up Barrera’s goal.
Sunday’s match was Vela’s return after sitting out Mexico’s last match, a scoreless draw in a friendly against Guatemala in San Diego.
Noriega converted the penalty kick a minute into injury time.
He sent his shot from the penalty spot to the left of Nicaragua goalkeeper Carlos Mendieta.
Noriega’s score was set up when Nicaragua’s Armando Reyes was whistled for a foul by referee Paul Ward in the 44th minute.
Reyes attempted a tackle from behind on Mexico’s Israel Martinez inside the penalty area but didn’t appear to make heavy contact with Martinez.
Noriega’s score helped send an Oakland-Alameda Coliseum crowd of mostly Mexico fans erupt into cheers as they watched their team head into halftime with the lead.
Nicaragua held to its game plan for most of the first half: defend and look to counter. It worked for more than 45 minutes, until Noriega’s penalty.
Barrera, who replaced Martinez to start the second half, added his goal by tapping in a volleyed pass from right to left by Medina in the 86th minute to seal the match.
Mexico controlled possession in the first half and out-shot Nicaragua 9-1. Nicaragua’s only shot came in the second minute and it almost caught Mexico off guard.
Armando Collado blasted a free kick from 40 yards to the right of Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who had to make a saving dive.
El Tri continued to spread the ball in the second half, creating a few more chances at goal. Nicaragua continued to defend.
Giovani dos Santos sent a header just wide right off a Medina floating centered pass from the right flank into the penalty area in the 54th minute.
Medina and dos Santos created another shot on goal in similar fashion in the 66th minute, but this time a Nicaraguan defender deflected dos Santos’ shot.
Barrera sent a shot from the top of the penalty area with a clean look at goal. But Mendieta held his position to make the save.
By Ivan Orozco
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Tags: alberto medina, Armando Collado, Armando Reyes, Barrera, Carlos Mendieta, Carlos Vela, Central American, chivas de guadalajara, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, cup debut, doubleheader, el tri, fifth gold, first appearance, game plan, Goalkeeper, gold cup, Guadalajara, guadeloupe, Guatemala, guillermo ochoa, injury time, international competition, last match, leg injury, luis noriega, mendieta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Oakland, oakland alameda coliseum, Pablo Barrera, Panama, Paul Ward, penalty kick, San Diego, Santos, striker, Tri, VascoRelated posts
Mexico, Aguirre try once again for redemption, this time before home crowd
June 9, 2009
It was supposed to be a day for redemption. It was an opportunity for change under a new but familiar coach. Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre was said to be part of the solution to Mexico’s struggles. He was supposed to inject “El Tri” with life and lift a struggling team.
It was supposed to happen against El Salvador in front of a thunderous and hectic packed Cuscatlán stadium in San Salvador in Aguirre’s return as Mexico’s coach.
Instead, the challenge to swim out of murky water continues Wednesday when Mexico hosts Trinidad and Tobago within the confines of El Tri’s sanctuary, Estadio Azteca.
This time Mexico, which is winless on the road in qualifiers, will have the crowd in its favor. No taunting and mimicking fans wearing surgical masks implying players were infected with the swine flu.
And perhaps it’s perfect timing for a Mexico homecoming after a 2-1 loss El Salvador Saturday that sent Aguirre’s squad near the abyss of the “hexagonal” standings.
“The situation is complicated but where not severely ill,” Aguirre told reporters at the airport upon the team’s return to Mexico. “There’s six games left in qualifying. The difference (in the standings) appears distant but (rival teams) must play us at home. We have chances at recuperating. It doesn’t matter where we’re at today, but where we’ll be October 14. With 18 points, we’re in the World Cup.”
Mexico (three points) is one point ahead of the last-placed Trinidad & Tobago with six games left in qualifying for next year’s World Cup. Mexico has won only one of four games, a 2-0 victory against Costa Rica March 28.
If Aguirre deemed the match against El Salvador “crucial” to Mexico’s qualifying chances, one can only speculate how can his team’s contest against Trinidad and Tobago can be categorized.
El Tri has the chance to bounce back from a disappointing outing in El Salvador against the Soca Warriors, a team with not much recent success. Trinidad and Tobago is coming off a 3-2 loss to Costa Rica, which leads the group with 12 points.
But Mexico might have to show a different face Wednesday if it wants to silence the critics and restore faith in those doubting.
El Salvador exploited Mexico’s back line. A perfect example came when El Salvador’s Rodolfo Zelaya danced around defenders and set up Julio Martinez’ goal that gave El Salvador an early lead.
El Salvador penetrated enough to create a handball that resulted in the game-winning penalty kick by Eliseo Quintanilla in the 83rd minute.
It is the mistakes Aguirre wants to eliminate and drew criticism from Mexican fans, newspapers and other coaches.
Aguirre “must make a solid defense the priority” according to UAG Estudiantes coach Miguel Herrera said, and players need to “be more focused.”
Herrera also said Mexico needs to lean on the leadership of veterans such as Gerardo Torrado, Guillermo Franco and Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
Aguirre won’t have midfielders Pavel Pardo and Torrado against Trinidad and Tobago, unavailable due to accumulated yellow cards.
But El Vasco is confident in his player selections. He told a Mexican newspaper he will consider others, but most likely fill in vacant slots from his current 22-man roster.
Aguirre recalled Blanco from international retirement to help boost the squad. The move appeared to have paid off when “El Temo” converted a penalty kick to equalize against El Salvador.
It appeared Blanco had saved El Tri once again with a late second-half goal that would have given Mexico a 2-1 lead, but it was annulled for offside.
Aguirre and El Tri would be in a different light had that goal counted.
“The lack of wins forces us to walk a tight rope but I am convinced that at the end we’ll be in the World Cup,” Aguirre said. “There’s still time.”
By Ivan Orozco
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Tags: abyss, aguirre, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, confines, Costa Rica, El Salvador, estadio azteca, four games, gerardo torrado, Guillermo Franco, homecoming, Ivan Orozco, Javier, julio martinez, Mexico, Miguel Herrera, mimicking, murky water, pavel pardo, perfect timing, return to mexico, rival teams, Rodolfo Zelaya, San Salvador, six games, soca warriors, surgical masks, swine flu, time mexico, Tobago, Trinidad, trinidad and tobago, VascoRelated posts
Late penalty lifts El Salvdor 2-1, extends Mexico’s woes
June 7, 2009
SAN SALVADOR – A dramatic penalty kick with four minutes remaining by Eliseo Quintanilla lifted El Salvador to an emotional 2-1 win against Mexico at Estadio Cuscatlan Saturday night.
Quintanilla struck from the spot after Mexican defender Oscar Rojas blocked Julio Martinez’s cross while sliding near the end line.
Costa Rican referee Walter Quesada didn’t hesitate to point to the penalty spot where Quintanilla beat Oscar Perez to the goalkeeper’s right, sending a packed Estadio Cuscatlan into a frenzy.
Quintanilla’s penalty came after one from Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who made his return to the Mexican national team by entering as a halftime substitute to score the equalizer in the 71st minute.
El Salvador, which entered the day tied with Trinidad & Tobago in last place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, moved into third place in the “hexagonal” ahead of both Honduras and Mexico. Despite Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre’s return as head coach, El Tri, meanwhile, continued to struggle. The result left the Mexicans with just one win in their last seven matches and sit in fifth place, one point in front of the Soca Warriors.
Not only did Martinez set up the winning goal, he also scored the first in the 11th minute. Rodolfo Zelaya started the play by dribbling past Ricardo Osorio and Gerardo Torrado near the corner flag and cut inside of the 18-yard box.
His first attempt was blocked, but as his teammates shouted for a handball, Martinez took a touch with his left foot and fired the ball with his right from 14 yards past Perez.
Mexico had the best of the early chances with Andres Guardardo getting on the end of Fernando Arce’s cross, but his header was saved by El Salvadorian goalkeeper Miguel Montes, who dived to his right to make the save in the fifth minute.
Three minutes later, Guardardo tried to chip Montes from the right edge of the box, but his attempt was well wide of the target.
After Martinez gave El Salvador the lead, Arce nearly equalized for El Tri in the 25th minute, catching Montes, who was expecting a cross, off guard. But Montes recovered in time to get a piece of the shot.
Two minutes later, Perez came off his line to challenge Alfredo Pacheco’s cross, spilling it inside the box. Martinez pounced on the ball, but he pushed the ball just wide of the far post.
Moments later Pacheco exchanged blows with Guillermo Franco as the two jockeyed for position on a corner kick. The incident went undetected by Quesada, and Pacheco got the worst of it, needing to have his forehead wrapped to treat a cut.
Blanco came on at the half and struck for the dramatic equalizer after Manuel Sanchez hauled down Franco in the box. El Temo had seemingly saved Mexico once again, but Quintanilla’s penalty in the 86th minute proved to be the difference for El Salvador, which survived a scare moments later when Blanco’s second apparent equalizer was ruled offside by the linesman.
Mexico returns home to face Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday night at Estadio Azteca, while El Salvador heads to San Pedro Sula to take on Honduras on Wednesday.
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Tags: Alfredo Pacheco, Andres Guardardo, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, corner flag, El Salvador, el salvadorian, el tri, eliseo quintanilla, estadio cuscatlan, Fernando Arce, Franco, gerardo torrado, Goalkeeper, Guillermo Franco, head coach, Honduras, Javier, javier el vasco aguirre, julio martinez, left foot, Manuel Sanchez, Mexico, Miguel Montes, montes, Oscar Perez, oscar rojas, penalty kick, ricardo osorio, Rodolfo Zelaya, san pedro sula, San Salvador, soca warriors, target, Tobago, Tri, Trinidad, Vasco, Walter Quesada, zelayaRelated posts
Mexico looking to Aguirre to rally El Tri once again
June 4, 2009
He came to the rescue eight years ago. He came in and helped lift a deflated El Tri.
Mexico needed a coach like Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre, who came in and took over as Mexico’s coach. He led them to the 2002 World Cup when the team was flirting with elimination.
Two World Cup cycles and three coaching changes later, Mexico finds itself in a similar situation. Aguirre has returned for a second stint after leading the team from 2001 to 2002, and this time, the expectations are very similar it not more demanding.
“For me, it’s an honor to return home,” Aguirre said in April when he was introduced.
Aguirre’s immediate task is to keep Mexico from falling into the bottom of the standings in the region’s final round of qualifying round for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Mexico sits in fourth place with three points behind Honduras, Costa Rica and the United States as the “hexagonal” approaches its midpoint.
Aguirre’s first test comes Saturday as El Tri heads into its third road game against El Salvador.
“June 6 is our D-Day,” said Aguirre, who replaced Sven Goran Eriksson in what amounted to be an eight-month post-Hugo Sanchez experiment.
Eriksson coached Mexico to six victories and a draw in 13 matches after he took over in August. That included two convincing losses to the United States, El Tri’s arch rival.
Sanchez was better, winning 13 and losing only four of 26 matches while in charge, but also coached the under-23 team that failed to qualify to the Olympic Games in Beijing, resulting in his dismissal.
“It’s our important obligation.” Aguirre said of qualifying for the World Cup and the match against El Salvador, which enters the match tied with Trinidad and Tobago for last place with two points.
The El Salvador contest will be Aguirre’s first taste of a national team that, to some, hasn’t altered much since he left it five years ago.
Aguirre doesn’t see it that way.
“I see a lot of changes,” he said. “There is an evolution in our structure. The organization is better. There is a solid dedication to our youth system. I can tell you with pride that in the last seven years, Mexican soccer teams have fed through the youth systems. That makes any coach’s job easier.”
Perhaps it makes it easier that players, the Mexican media and fans mostly approve of Aguirre’s attitude.
He is regarded as a straight-forward, no-nonsense coach. He is also a seasoned coach.
“My experience then doesn’t compare to what I have now,” said Aguirre, who after departing Mexico spent the next 6-7 years coaching Osasuna and Atletico Madrid in Spain. “I had a short experience (as coach). I can say with pride that I have 11 years of experience and I come in to this second stint with more experience and greater understanding to make decisions.”
Aguirre had only managed Mexican club Pachuca in 2001 before turning a Mexico’s qualifying campaign around with four wins and a draw in its final five matches in 2001.
He plans to do the same this time around with the help of players “who come with pride, with identity, with love for the shirt.”
Perhaps the most notable inclusion to Aguirre’s first team is Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who retired from national team duty last year.
“I accepted to return to the national team because Javier spoke with me face-to-face and told me how things are going to be,” Blanco told a Mexican newspaper. “I’ll try and help in any way required by the coach.”
Other notable additions by Aguirre include veteran goalkeeper Oscar Perez, who was Mexico’s No. 1 during the 2002 World Cup under Aguirre.
America’s Guillermo Ochoa is the likely starting goalkeeper, but Perez brings 12 years of experience to the national team.
Aguirre also included naturalized forward Guillermo Franco, Morelia forward Miguel Sabah and Jose Cardenas of Pachuca. All three could be considered surprise picks.
“May the player who comes, come with pride, with identity,” Aguirre said. “Let this be a prize, not a punishment, because this is a prize for our careers.”
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Tags: aguirre, America, arch rival, Beijing, Chicago, coaching changes, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, d day, El Salvador, el tri, first taste, first test, Franco, Guillermo, guillermo ochoa, Honduras, Hugo Sanchez, Javier, Jose, MADRID, Mexico, midpoint, Miguel, Morelia, olympic games, Oscar Perez, qualifying for the world cup, road game, rsquo, Sabah, second stint, South Africa, Spain, Sven Goran Eriksson, Tri, trinidad and tobago, United States, VascoRelated posts
Buoyant Barcelona ready for title climax
May 9, 2009
MADRID (AFP) – Barcelona, fresh from their controversial Champions League semi-final victory over Chelsea, will be crowned Spanish league champions for the 19th time on Sunday if results go their way.
Barcelona have a seven-point cushion at the top and can lift the title if they defeat Villarreal at Camp Nou and Real Madrid fail to win at Valencia on Saturday.
Barcelona are brimming with confidence after an unforgettable five days in which they thrashed rivals Real 6-2 in their own backyard before Andres Iniesta?s sensational stoppage-time goal put 10-man Barca into the Champions League final.
“Football won over strength and we never let our heads drop,” said Brazilian Dani Alves, who will miss the May 27 final against Manchester United through suspension.
“In life you can?t waste opportunities and we have to work hard now to win the treble.”
With the title looking wrapped up, Barcelona have to beat Athletic Bilbao in the Kings Cup final on May 14 and then Manchester United in Rome on May 27 to capture their triple dose of silverware.
Should they succeed, Barcelona would become the first Spanish team to win the treble and it would be an incredible achievement for coach Josep Guardiola in his debut season.
Villarreal will hope to bring Barcelona crashing back to earth on Sunday and need all three points as they scramble to get into the Champions League places. As it stands, Villarreal are just a point behind fourth-placed Valencia as are Atletico Madrid.
Champions Real travel to Valencia on Saturday, trying to forget last weekend?s 6-2 humiliation by Barcelona.
After that game coach Juande Ramos admitted that Real Madrid were no longer among Europe?s elite, citing the heavy defeats to Liverpool (5-0 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions League) and Barcelona (6-2) as evidence, and widespread changes are expected this summer.
“Madrid are the best team in the world and we have to recover the prestige of fighting with the best sides in the world,” said striker Gonzalo Higuain. “If we want to achieve that we have to improve things.
“For now we have to fight until the end of the season for our fans. It is going to be difficult to come back in the title race but we have to try as we are Real Madrid.”
Valencia are desperately clinging to fourth with four games left and will hope a wounded Real don?t take out their frustration at the Mestalla Stadium.
The spotlight will be on Valencia striker David Villa who has been linked with a move to Real this summer if Florentino Perez, one of the favourites to win this summer?s presidential elections, can bankroll the move.
Atletico are a point behind Valencia but host an Espanyol side that have won five and drawn once in their last six games to surge out of the relegation zone.
Espanyol sit four points clear of trouble and are one of eight teams fighting to stay in the division.
Two strugglers meet in a crucial fixture on Sunday when Getafe, fourth from bottom, entertain Osasuna who are one place above and two points better off.
“I have no doubt that we are going to win this Sunday against Osasuna,” said Getafe defender Cata Diez. “I think we will win the other games too to avoid the drop.”
Real Betis are just three points clear of the drop zone and on Saturday travel to face an Athletic Bilbao side that are gearing up for the Kings Cup final.
“We have the most eagerly anticipated game in Pais Vasco (the Basque country in the north of Spain) for 25 years but that is not to say we won?t go out to beat Betis,” said Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros.
“The best way to prepare for the game against Barca, who are without a doubt the best team in the world at the moment, is to boost morale by winning.”
Fixtures
Saturday
Sevilla v Real Mallorca 1800 GMT, Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis 1800 GMT, Valencia v Real Madrid 2000 GMT
Sunday (all 1500 GMT unless stated)
Getafe v Osasuna, Recreativo Huelva v Deportivo La Coruna, Valladolid v Numancia, Malaga v Racing Santander, Almeria v Sporting Gijon, Barcelona v Villarreal (1700 GMT), Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (1900 GMT)
Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Bilbao, camp nou, CHELSEA, dani alves, DAVID VILLA, debut season, Europe, final victory, gonzalo higuain, guardiola, Joaquin Caparros, juande ramos, kings cup, la coruna, LA Liga, league champions, Liverpool, MADRID, Malaga, Manchester, Mestalla Stadium, own backyard, point cushion, Real, real madrid, real travel, ROME, santander, seven point, SEVILLA, spanish league, spanish team, stoppage time, time goal, Valencia, valladolid, VascoRelated posts
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