On a matchday that includes some intriguing clashes, the Spanish capital will come to a standstill as Atletico Madrid travel across town to face their city rivals Real Madrid. While it will be the first Madrid derby in 16 years that has not featured a certain Raúl Gonzalez, the match will also be marked in history as Jose Mourinho’s Madrid derby debut. On the back of a confident performance in Milan and with Pedro Leons late equaliser still fresh in the memory, ‘Los Merengues’ will host Atleti looking to preserve a proud derby run that has seen them unbeaten by their red and white neighbours since 1999, a record that the Atletico players will want to see end on Sunday night.
La Liga Matchday 10 Preview: Time For The Madrid Derby
Atletico winger Jose Antonio Reyes appears to have shaken off a calf strain that saw him miss out on Thursday nights Europa League clash against Rosenborg, but defender Diego Godin will definitely watch the match from the stands as he recovers from injury. Real Madrid reported a clean bill of health after their midweek Champions League exploits, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain keen to continue their freescoring form in La Liga. Iker Casillas, labelled by Atleti coach Quique Sanchez Flores as the best keeper in the world in the build-up, will want to put the Milan match behind him as two uncharacteristic errors lead to both Milan goals. Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is confident enough his team will snatch all three points, but in truth they will need every bit of class and experience from their front pairing of Forlan and Agüero if they are going to get anything out of this match.
One team that will no doubt be cheering on Atletico Madrid this weekend is Barcelona, who themselves travel to the capital to face Getafe. Lionel Messi, Xavi and Gerard Pique all missed training on Thursday after the match with Copenhagen, but all returned to Pep Guardiola’s orders on Friday and all are expected to take to the field at the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. Barcelona should prove too strong for Getafe, who were thumped 0-3 by Stuttgart last night, but with the reigning champions blowing hot and cold so far this season, the match may turn out a lot closer than many expect.
We also have two matches that will go a long way to sorting out who really is the best of the rest. Villarreal play host to Athletic Bilbao in a mouth-watering tie that promises to provide us with plenty of goals. Nilmar and Guiseppe Rossi will want to continue their blazing start to the season, as Fernando Llorente will look to add to the six goals he already has to his name. Jose Caparros has got his Bilbao side playing some attractive football this season and with exciting players such as Muniain, Iraola and Susaeta at his disposal they will present Villarreal with their toughest assignment so far.
Valencia will want to arrest their slide from the top of La Liga as they travel to the Sanchez Pizjuan to take on Sevilla. Both teams enter the fixture on a high with thumping wins over European opposition in midweek and both will want to put down an early marker as the chase for the two remaining Champions League positions warms up. Goalkeeper Andres Palop will be missing for Sevilla, as talented youngster Javi Vargas continues in his place, while Aritz Aduriz and ‘Chori’ Dominguez are both doubts for the visitors. Valencia have performed admirably away from the Mestalla up until now, but having not won at any of their major rivals since Unai Emery took charge, the odds seem stacked in Sevillas favour. Expect an open and exciting affair, and plenty of goals.
Elsewhere, the major talking points will be at La Romareda where Jose Aurelio Gay continues his fight to stay on the Real Zaragoza bench against a well-orgainsed Mallorca and at Cornellá where Manuel Pellegrini will take to the stands to watch his new team, Malaga, take on the surprise package of the season so far, Espanyol.
La Liga Matchday 10 Fixtures:
Real Zaragoza - Mallorca
Sevilla - Valencia
Getafe - Barcelona
Villarreal - Athletic Bilbao
Almería - Sporting Gijon
Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid
Osasuna - Hercules
Real Sociedad - Racing Santander
Espanyol - Malaga
Levante - Deportivo La Coruña
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