There are a total of five matches to be played on Saturday evening in the La Liga. Lets take a look at team news and preview the teams involved.
Granada v Rayo Vallecano
Granada received a royal thrashing at the hands of a ruthless Real Madrid last weekend at the Santiago Bernabeu and they will look to put that behind them as they look for a good result against Rayo Vallecano, who have had problems of their own to deal with.
Real Zaragoza v Getafe
Ideally, Getafe should be able to overcome their opponents, but in football, you cannot take anything for granted really. However, the gulf in class between the two teams is quite apparent with the home team at the bottom of the league standings. Getafe will win this if they turn in a professional performance.
Sevilla v Espanyol
Both these teams hold the distinction of being the teams that were able to stop Barcelona this season. While Sevilla did it early in the season in a match where Lionel Messi failed to convert a penalty, Espanyol did it last week when they equalized in the 84th minute to claim a share of the spoils in the Catalan derby.
Both teams have 24 points from 17 matches in the La Liga so far this season and a win will be of major significance for both the teams. I will go with a Sevilla victory though. Their signing of Jose Antonio Reyes from Atletico Madrid earlier today swings it in their favor. There is huge talent and creativity in the middle of the park as well as the flanks, which will count against Espanyol.
Valencia v Real Sociedad
Roberto Soldado led Valencia have a great chance of putting pressure on defending champions Barcelona by moving within a point of the Catalans, who do not play until Sunday.
Valencia have been going through a good constructive phase so far this season and I do not see sixteenth placed Real Sociedad causing them any sort of trouble at the Mestalla. Keep eyes on the likes of Miguel, Pablo Hernandez, and Roberto Soldado to make the difference on Saturday.
Mallorca v Real Madrid
This match will be a great chance for Jose Mourinho’s men to pull ahead of Barcelona by 8 points at least until Sunday as the Galacticos look forward to win their first La Liga since 2007-08.
Mourinho has a full squad at his disposal with only Sami Khedira out with injury. I expect Real to go with Ronaldo, Ozil, di Maria and Benzema in attack with Xabi Alonso and Nuri Sahin in the middle of the park. Alvaro Arbeloa will be missing in action after the red card the other day as Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo filling in the full-back slots. Pepe and Sergio Ramos will play at the center of defence with Iker Casillas under the bar.
On paper, fourteenth placed Mallorca have no chance of getting a good result against Madrid as the gulf in class between the two teams is just too much and Real have lost only a couple of times this season, and to better opponents. Having said that, stranger things have happened in the world of football.