seth from somewhere

LAST WEEK: 5/10*
SEASON: 33/60 (55%)

Vámonos . . .

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

Sevilla (6th) v. Almería (15th)

PICK: 1

Sevilla won a decisive victory during the week as Deportivo La Coruña was deposed in a 3-0 victory in the Copa del Rey.  They are on a losing streak in La Liga but luckily strikers Luis Fabiano (injury) and Freddie Kanoute (African Cup of Nations) return to action this weekend.  They will be going all-out for the three points.

Real Valladolid (17th) v. Barcelona (1st)

PICK: 2

Pep Guardiola signed a contract extension this week to remain Barça manager for at least one more year, giving a huge boost to team president Joan Laporta, who is facing re-election this summer.  The uncertainty that surrounded Pep’s status before the extension was a serious threat to Barcelona’s dominance.  While they cannot repeat their six-trophy 2009, Pep has the blaugranas poised for another La Liga title and an away win here will keep them top of the table.

Deportivo La Coruña (6th) v. Athletic Bilbao (8th)

PICK: 1

My Saturday is already full of good soccer matches I will catch on TV, waking up to support Fulham in the FA Cup, followed by the Leeds United revival in the FA Cup against Tottenham, and capped in the evening with the USA-Honduras friendly.  Unfortunately, this La Liga cracker is not on a television station I receive.  I’m sure I could find a pirate channel online to watch and may do as much.  Both sides are pushing for a Champions League place so this match is very important to both sides.  Bilbao is a physical side that plays the typically English direct style of play while Deportivo is very solid in defense and catches teams on the counter attack.  I’ve doubted Deportivo before but I believe they have more steel and will win this intriguing match up of Galicia versus the Basque Country.

Espanyol (14th) v. Mallorca (4th)

PICK: X

Mallorca finally lost at home, beaten at their Mediterranean island paradise by Getafe in the Copa del Rey.  It’s a big burden off their shoulders as they were bound to lose eventually at home.  Now they can take their solid league position on a short flight to the mainland and face an inept Espanyol side.  The other team from Barcelona have trouble scoring (12 goals in 18 matches) and an equally woeful defense.  Mallorca travel again next week to Xerez so I think they will be content with a draw here while looking for the three points next week.

Xerez (20th) v. Osasuna (12th)

PICK: 1

The new Xerez manager, Argentine Néstor Gorosito, told the Spanish media this week that his team will have to play higher up the pitch, putting more pressure on the opposing defense and creating more scoring chances.  What this alludes to is that the previous manager was “parking the bus” in front of goal.  It must have been a short bus as Xerez has given up 32 goals this season.  The lack of attacking intent is evident by a woeful total of seven Xerez goals all season.  Osasuna have scored seven goals on the road themselves.  The Pamplona-based club earned a valuable away goal midweek in their Copa del Rey quarterfinal against Racing Santander.  The goal came in the 89th minute in a match that Racing dominated so Osasuna is not coming to Xerez with their heads held high.  Also, teams usually enjoy a honeymoon period under newly appointed managers and I suspect Xerez will earn a surprising victory.

Tenerife (17th) v. Valencia (3rd)

PICK: 2

The last time Xerez hosted a top-four club Barcelona ran riot despite a proud showing by Tenerife.  Much will be the same this week as Valencia is one of Spain’s best traveling teams.  They still have an outside shot of contending for the title but they must win games like these against the bottom-half.

Villarreal (10th) v. Real Zaragoza (19th)

PICK: 1

The Yellow Submarine has had a rough patch of form in 2010 after finishing the previous year on a high note, playing attractive soccer and climbing back from a poor start to the season.  Luckily they host Zaragoza this week, a team that could not even beat last-placed Xerez at home last week.

Sporting Gijón (9th) v. Racing Santander (13th)

PICK: 1

La Marca is reporting that Racing have sold teen sensation Sergio Canales to Real Madrid for €6 million, quite a bargain in today’s European transfer market.  Canales will be loaned back to Racing for one or two years to further develop the starlet’s potential.  This helps the Cantabrian club both financially and on the pitch as they get to retain the services of their best player for at least the remainder of the season and possibly next as well.  The teenager has led his team to a sparkling run of form but I suspect a let down against the notoriously hostile Gijón faithful.

Getafe (8th) v. Atlético Madrid (11th)

PICK: X

The “other” Madrid derby.  Getafe is competitive in most every match they play while Atlético either storm their opponent or fail to even show up.  They could only muster a 1-1 draw midweek at home against Segunda División side Celta de Vigo in the Copa del Rey.  Both teams are pushing for a European place and when push comes to shove it will be a stalemate.

Real Madrid (2nd) v. Málaga (18th)

PICK: 1

Poor Málaga.  They play hard but cannot get that deciding goal, having drawn eight times in La Liga (tied for most with Valladolid).  It would be a shock if they are in a position to grab a winning goal in the Bernabéu.  Real Madrid should coast to a 3-0 or similar scoreline.