SPANISH PRIMERA
Saturday, 01 September 2007
Levante - Murcia
Zaragoza - Racing
Sunday, 02 September 2007
Barcelona - Athletic
Atlético - Mallorca
Villarreal - R Madrid
Almería - Valencia
Valladolid - Deportivo
Betis - Espanyol
Getafe - Recreativo
Osasuna - Sevilla - postponed
Villarreal will look to continue their remarkable Primera
Liga winning streak this weekend when Spanish champions Real Madrid
make the trip to El Madrigal. Villarreal won their final eight
games of last season and then began the current campaign with a
thumping 3-0 away win over local rivals and title hopefuls
Valencia.
It is a hugely impressive run by the 'Yellow Submarine', who this
week further strengthened their squad with the addition of Spain
right-back Angel Lopez, and they will be brimming with confidence
heading into the Real match. However, the team's Argentinian
defender Fabricio Fuentes insists they are taking nothing for
granted against Bernd Schuster's men, saying: "We need to forget
the good results we have obtained.
"What has happened has happened and now we begin a new game against
a new team and everything changes. "We will try to obtain the win,
although it will not be easy." Despite looking shaky in pre-season
and still re-shaping their squad just days before last weekend's
league opener, Real started the defence of their title with a
deserved 2-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid.
Real boast a fine record against Villarreal in the top flight,
winning nine of their 16 encounters down the years and losing just
once. However, that one defeat came at El Madrigal last year, and
Real will have to be on their guard if they are to avoid becoming
victim number 10 for in-form Villarreal.
The week leading up to the second round of Primera Liga matches has
been overshadowed by the tragedy involving Sevilla wing-back
Antonio Puerta. The 22-year-old Spain international passed away in
hospital on Tuesday after collapsing during last Saturday's home
league game against Getafe. Sevilla, who won that match 4-1 to
claim top spot after week one, had been due to play Osasuna this
weekend but that game has now been postponed.
Barcelona will be hoping to get their campaign up and away after
being held to a goalless draw at 10-man Racing Santander on the
opening weekend. They host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but coach
Frank Rijkaard will be without prolific striker Samuel Eto'o, with
the Cameroon marksman set to be sidelined for around two months
with a groin injury.
Valencia will be seeking to put their miserable result last weekend
to the back of their minds when they go to newly-promoted Almeria.
In contrast to Valencia, Almeria will be looking to build on their
impressive 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna.
La Liga's two other promoted clubs,Real Valladolid and Real Murcia,
will also be chasing a second successive win this weekend.
Valladolid, who downed UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol last weekend,
are at home to Deportivo, while Murcia go to Levante buoyed by
their superb home triumph over Real Zaragoza.
In this weekend's other matches, Zaragoza host Racing, Espanyol go
to Real Betis, Recreativo Huelva are at Getafe and Atletico Madrid
welcome Real Mallorca to the Vicente Calderon.
