seth from somewhere

LAST WEEK: 5/10*
SEASON: 28/50 (56%)

The weekend is almost here so let’s cut to the chase and look at the weekend’s fixtures after the jump.

1 = home win; 2 = away win; X = draw

Real Valladolid (13th) v. Atlético Madrid (11th)

PICK: 1

Atlético Madrid is the hardest La Liga team to gauge.  One week you think they’ve finally found their form after a win only to slump to another defeat.  It has been one step forward, two steps back the entire season for los colchoneros. They beat Sevilla 2-1 last weekend only to be taken to the woodshed against Segunda División side Recreativo Huelva in a 3-0 defeat in the Copa del Rey.  The speculation surrounding Kun Agüero will only intensity with the January transfer window now open and it appears Argentine international Maxi Rodríguez is set to leave for Liverpool.  Both teams have leaky defenses but Valladolid is given the benefit of the doubt with home-field advantage.

Sevilla (5th) v. Racing Santander (14th)

PICK:  X

Racing is another team that is improving and actually plays better away than at home in Cantabria.  Sevilla will have an extra bounce in their step after defeating champions-of-everything Barcelona mid-week in the Copa del Rey.  Sevilla has busted my quiniela several times this year.  The logical choice would be a home win but I’ll take the draw here.

Villarreal (9th) v. Almería (15th)

PICK: 1

Villarreal gave up an early goal to Barcelona last week but outplayed the Catalan club for the rest of the match.  They should have won but missed several scoring chances.  They’ve hit a rich vein of form and should continue it this week against Almería.

Deportivo La Coruña (6th) v. Osasuna (12th)

PICK: 1

Deportivo isn’t glamorous; they just get the job done.  The Galician club is in the driver’s seat in their Copa del Rey tie with a 2-1 away win over Valencia in the first leg.  They come back home to face an inconsistent Osasuna before thinking about Wednesday’s crunch second leg match against Valencia, where they will be tipped to advance to the quarterfinals.  Deportivo is not a club that overlooks opponents and will certainly know that a stumble on Sunday will embolden Valencia for Wednesday.

Espanyol (16th) v. Real Zaragoza (19th)

PICK: 1

These two teams will be in the lower half and fighting relegation all season.  The result here will mirror the result two weeks ago when Espanyol played another relegation prospect at home, beating Almería 2-0.  A similar scoreline should be expected.

Málaga (18th) v. Athletic Bilbao (8th)

PICK:  X

I’ve always wanted to support Bilbao.  Their cantera policy of only fielding Basque players is commendable in an age of over-priced and over-paid athletes.  Bilbao develops their own players but they do make forays into the transfer market to buy Basque players on other teams.  They are synonymous with Basque nationalism and their home ground, San Mamés, was one of the few places Basques could speak their native tongue Euskara during the Franco years.  San Mamés was the first and only Spanish soccer ground I visited on my 2009 trip to Spain, albeit just a walk around the stadium since the museum was closed.  Alas, I am not Basque and really cannot justify supporting them.  Nonetheless, I do look for their scores first and La Liga seems more genuine when they are competitive.

Málaga, meanwhile, are Spain’s answer to Manchester City.  They’ve drawn six of their last seven matches and find themselves in 18th place due to their inability to find the decisive goal.  My heart says away win, the history says draw.  This time reason wins out: a draw it is.

Sporting Gijón (10th) v. Getafe (7th)

PICK: X

Sporting have faltered after an impressive start, with their last win coming in late November.  The new year did not bring good tidings and joy for the Asturian club, either:  Team captain Michel is heading to English club Birmingham City in a €3 million deal and Sporting have not found a replacement.  Fellow central midfielder Las Cuevas and central defender Botía are doubtful due to injuries.  However, Getafe had to travel to the south for a Thursday match in Andalucía and will find the trip to the blustery northern Asturian coast harsh.  They have won three La Liga matches in a row while are winless in four.  All these signs point to an away win but I believe Sporting will pack in the defense and crowd the center of the pitch.  I’m guessing a 0-0 scoreline.

Xerez (20th) v. Valencia (3rd)

PICK: 2

Valencia have a good away record but average at home, evidenced in their mid-week home loss in the Copa del Rey to Deportivo La Coruña.  Xerez will be relegated this year because they simply cannot score goals (6 in 16 matches).  Easy “2″ pick here.

Real Madrid (2nd) v. Mallorca (4th)

PICK: 1

The weekend’s marquee match pits regular top-4 club Real Madrid and this year’s surprise, Mallorca.  The team from the Balearic Islands moved into the Champions League places with a home win over Athletic Bilbao, making them a perfect 8 for 8 at home this year.  There is only one other team in La Liga that is 8-0 at home this season.  Guess who?  Real Madrid will maintain their home form with a win.

Tenerife (17th) v. Barcelona (1st)

PICK: 2

Barcelona is undefeated in La Liga this year but finally lost their first match of the 2009-10 season during the week with a shock home loss to Sevilla.  Granted, Sevilla is a top-4 contender but a loss at Camp Nou was unexecpted even though the blaugrana have been going through a recent rough patch of form.  What better way to solve their ills by traveling to the Canary Islands and thumping a bottom-feeder.  An easy win from Pep’s side.