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La Liga 2011 - Week 31 - Barca doing one better than Real Madrid
By Joe, BettingExpert.com | Edited
Google+: Joe Bexpert
Cristiano Ronaldo is back with some form. He was on target against Tottenham in the midweek with a goal and he will certainly be among the scoring sheet when they travel to Bilbao. Elsewhere Barcelona is home to bottom club Almeria and local rivals will meet on Sunday between Valencia and Villarreal.
Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid
A fantastic away result last weekend saw Athletic Bilbao go to fifth in the La Liga after finishing off Almeria 3-1. The scare came already when Almeria went up front in the earlier minutes of the game but that didn’t deter Athletic Bilbao to saw their character and drew 3 goals from Munian, Toquero and Orbaiz. What is missing is Fernando Llorente getting his name to the scoresheet, he has been their key player of the season as the top scorer with 15 goals. Apart from Llorente, another key player that Athletic Bilbao will be looking towards on Saturday is Andoni Iraloa, he is definitely the play marker in the making and what more is that he can also score goals, deadly all rounder.
Is it over for Madrid to win the La Liga? They are eight points from the league leaders and arch rivals, Barcelona, and it would be a mammoth tasks for Jose Mourinho to bridge that gap. The capital club will have to hope that their rivals will slip up elsewhere as the season nears its end. All Real can do is win their games and hope from now on. They can certainly win, not by the example of the 1-0 home defeat to Sporting Gijon but with the midweek 4-0 drubbing over Tottenham Hotspurs in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. That game saw Cristano Ronaldo return to the starting line up so expect him to be that line up against Bilbao with Adebayor are the prefer striking partner, unless Benzema is ready. That might not even matter as both Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain got a stint against spurs so their return in imminent too. Mourinho will have a strong Madrid team that will be travelling to Bilbao but maybe a little bit too late for the La Liga.
If we see the Real Madrid side that took to the field against Sporting Gijon then all could be lost this weekend, but if it is the team that faced Spurs then the three points are likely to be taken back to the Spanish capital. However Bilbao are no pushovers and they will have a bit to say then letting Real running them over this weekend.
Barcelona vs. Almeria
Whatever Real Madrid can do, Barcelona can do too but better and that is clearly what happening both in the domestic and European competitions. Madrid does a 4-0 first leg over Spurs in the midweek but Nou Camp saw a 5-1 win over Shaktar Donetsk and virtually puts the a Spanish semi-final tie in the Champions League, that is of course providing both teams avoid defeats in the 2nd leg. Back to the La Liga, Barca are leading the league with 81 points and 8 points from Real, and a total of 55 points away from their oppositions on Saturday. Coach Guardiola wouldn’t need to spare anyone this Saturday as their return leg in the Champions League is more than settled and by all means having Lionel Messi rested isn’t a bad thing either.
Bottom club Almeria are desperate from the three points if they want to get back to competing mode to avoid relegation. However their bright start to last weekend’s game against Bilbao did see the Almeria go infront but like all bottom team they aren’t able to hold off the onslaught and their character showed after the opposition equalized. You can’t falter Almeria fighting spirits but at Nou Camp, they will be expected to defend most of the time and see to keep the scoring as low as possible.
There is only one outcome between the two at the Nou Camp and surely, maybe hopefully all punters will back the home team. The last time these two teams met, Barca were in a scoring mood with 8 goals away to Almeria, a repeat of this? Well, let’s hope not for Almeria’s sakes.
Valencia vs. Villarreal
Rivals clash between Valencia and Villarreal on Sunday and this will be a fight for the third spot in the La Liga. Valencia are currently third with 57 points above the Villarreal by just 3 points but with worse goal scoring difference. Valencia bounced back last weekend with a 4-2 away win over Getafe and that really sets things up for the Sunday as they there were worries after losing two consecutive games to Real Zaragoza with 4-0 and a home 1-0 defeat to Sevilla FC. The team rallied against Getafe and a four goal Roberto Soldado to his name could be ringing at the Mestalla on Sunday if he can repeat the good scoring form. The understanding between Mata and Soldado could help Valencia to keep that third place which will provide a spot to next season’s Champions League group stages.
The northern neighbours are looking to get one over their arch rivalry as they are about to contest for the third place in the La Liga. Villarreal might feel that they are in a heavy schedule than their opposition, they had to play in the midweek against FC Twente in the Europa League quarterfinals first leg. That would certainly taken some energy out of their legs as both Nilmar and Rossi started against Twente. However their 5-1 home win over Twente, sets up nicely for a tie against Valencia. Rossi, Valero, Nilmar, and Marchena all hit the net. Never the less, Villarreal will have to be ready as no one wants to lose these local matches.
Interesting the last time these two teams met, a 1-1 draw split the points, which is a norm between the two, but Valencia beat Getafe beforehand coming into the local derby. That win ended Valencia’s four game winless streaks and so to think about the scenario, it is like déjà vu all over so maybe a draw should be exercise when these two meet on Sunday.
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