Today at 21:30, the match between La Coruña's "Deportivo" and Madrid's "Atletico" will begin the tenth round of Spain's "La Liga". Eurofootball.com reviews the three most intriguing matches in Spain this weekend.
"Deportivo" - "Atletico"
In the first round of matches on Friday, "Deportivo" (13 points, 6th place) will host guests from Madrid - the "Atletico" team (19 points, 3rd place). Although there is a small difference in positions in the tournament table, the teams arrive at this match with different moods. "Deportivo" has not won in three consecutive "La Liga" matches, and last week lost 0 - 2 to the "Malaga" club. Meanwhile, "Atletico" has not lost in three consecutive matches, and five days ago won against the "Valencia" club.
"Deportivo". The biggest problems in the La Coruña team at the moment are in the goalkeeper position. Fabricio is injured and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup, German Lux played in the last matches despite his injury, and the third team's goalkeeper Manu Fernandez got injured during warm-up before the last match.
"Atletico". Diego Simeone has happier news in the club camp. The team's coach can field the same eleven players who played against "Valencia". The team is gaining better form and after a great performance last round, the team hopes to fight for victory in the match against "Deportivo".
Match. Although "Deportivo" this season is not an easy opponent for anyone, the style of play demonstrated by Madrid's "Atletico" gives the visitors the status of favorites. Yannick Carrasco and Jackson Martinez, who have been playing very well lately, should lead their team to a third consecutive victory.
"Real Sociedad" - "Celta Vigo"
Two teams will meet late Saturday evening, which occupy very different positions in the tournament table. Playing at home, the "Real Sociedad" team (9 points, 15th place) will try to move up from the bottom of "La Liga", while Vigo's "Celta" team (18 points, 4th place) will seek to maintain its position in the top four. However, last weekend "Real Sociedad" celebrated a 4 - 0 victory against "Levante", while "Celta" lost 1 - 3 to Madrid's "Real" club and has only won one game in the last four matches.
"Real Sociedad". After a very unsuccessful start to the season, David Moyes's career at the current team is hanging by a thread. Each defeat could cost the coach his job, so "Real Sociedad" cannot afford to make mistakes. The good news for the coach is that, excluding the injured defender Esteban Granero, all the other main players are ready for the match.
"Celta Vigo". The visitors' coach Eduardo Berizzo will have to decide who to allow into the central defense. Andreu Fontas is still injured, and another defender Gustavo Cabral will miss the match due to suspension. However, in other positions, the club will not have any losses and "Celta" can field all its strongest players.
Match. Despite the different positions in the tournament table, this match should be very intense and it is very difficult to predict the winner. Led by Nolito, the "Celta" team has an advantage in the attacking line and perhaps this will be the factor that will determine the fate of the match. If "Real Sociedad" loses by a large margin, no one would be surprised if these were David Moyes's last matches in Spain.
"Real Betis" - "Athletic Bilbao"
The tenth round will end on Sunday with a duel between mid-table teams. "Real Betis" (12 points, 10th place) last weekend failed to beat one of the bottom-ranked teams in the league, "Granada", and played a 1 - 1 draw. Meanwhile, "Athletic Bilbao" (11 points, 12th place) is gaining better form and has not lost in the last four matches. In a match held on Monday at home, they crushed "Gijon" club 3-0.
"Real Betis". All the players in the host's camp are ready for Sunday's match. "Real Betis" hopes for more assistance in these matches from their attacking leader Ruben Castro, who has already scored five goals this season. Unfortunately, all the other team players together have only scored four times. To climb up the tournament table, other attacking footballers must join Castro and help the veteran score goals.
"Athletic Bilbao". Without a doubt, the team's most notable loss is the absence of Iker Muniain. The Spanish player, who suffered a serious injury, has not helped the team for more than half a year and should return to the lineup soon. Other players who have been in good form recently are ready for the match and will seek to win another game. Aritz Aduriz, who has scored four goals in the last three rounds, is determined to continue leading the team forward.
Match. Although "Athletic Bilbao" occupies a lower position in "La Liga" and plays away, they are the favorites for the match. The most realistic result of the match is a minimal away victory or a goalless draw.
All the "La Liga" matches this weekend:
Friday
21:30 "Deportivo" - "Atletico"
Saturday
17:00 "Real" - "Las Palmas"
19:15 "Valencia" - "Levante"
19:15 "Villarreal" - "Sevilla"
21:30 "Getafe" - "Barcelona"
23:05 "Real Sociedad" - "Celta Vigo"
Sunday
13:00 "Eibar" - "Rayo Vallecano"
17:00 "Espanyol" - "Granada"
19:15 "Gijon" - "Malaga"
21:30 "Betis" - "Athletic Bilbao"
