Every so often, a giant team will suddenly falter--their results will dip, their play will appear listless, lazy, and uninspired, and their fanbase will begin to panic. This is not what’s happening with Real Madrid. Yes, they’ve looked terrible in a couple of games in a row. Yes, their play was listless, lazy and uninspired. Yes, their fanbase is panicing.
Spanish La Liga 2011, Week 5 Preview And Fixtures: Is Real Madrid Really This Bad? (No)
In Week Five of the quest for la Liga supremacy, look for Real Betis to slip up (sorry), Real Madrid and Barcelona to finally win (shocking proposition), and for Éver Banega to charge nude into the stands. (Hey, I just said to look out for it, not to expect it to happen).
But, no, they're not this bad. They're not some old team with an overrated, oh-wait-maybe-he's-just-been-lucky coach; they're one of the youngest, most electrifying sides in the Liga, and a couple of bad results doesn't suddenly mean that Barcelona will win the title, or that los merengues are a bad side. So, "long live the duopoly!" screams no one.
Saturday, September 24
Athletic Club Bilbao Vs. Villarreal CF
18:00 CET (12:00 PM EST)
Will Villarreal’s poor run of form continue in the Lion’s Den?! Will San Mamés give their approval to coach Marcelo Bielsa?! Will Bielsa’s soul fuse with Jonathan de Guzmán’s body, forcing the Canadian ex-pat to strip off his clothes and sprint, howling, from the stadium?
Yes?
Prediction: Athletic 2-1 Villarreal. The yellow submarine has been really, really bad this year. I don’t see them turning it around yet.
18:00 CET (12:00 PM EST)
In what will probably be the most interesting matchup of the weekend, a surging Valencia side take on a strikingly talented Sevilla side that's suffering from some seriously wounded pride, as their cross-town rivals Real Betis are currently sitting atop the Liga. This matchup also sees two ex-Real Madrid strikers, Álvaro Negredo of Sevilla and Roberto Soldado of Valencia, both of whom have blossomed into legitimate stars for their respective clubs.
My prediction? A bloodbath, capped off by a scintillating Éver Banega goal, which he celebrates by stripping off his clothes and running, howling, from the stadium. (With Banega, this is a real possibility).
Prediction: Sevilla 3-2 Valencia.
Real Madrid Vs. Rayo Vallecano
20:00 CET (2:00 PM EST)
No, Madrid isn't this bad. But they're definitely suffering. Mesut Özil hasn't looked right all month, Cristiano Ronaldo is still battling an injury, and Karim Benzema has had some of the worst luck I've ever seen (seriously, how many times can you hit the post?).
Don’t expect it to change all at once. But you should expect it to change.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano. (No more infinity-to-nothing jokes for a while).
FC Barcelona Vs. Atlético Madrid
22:00 CET (4:00 PM EST)
Gone are the days when Barça fans feared a visit from Madrid’s second team. That curse ended a few years ago--you know, back before Leo Messi. Yes, Radamel Falcao is a god. But so is Leo. And La Pulga has a much, much better team behind him.
Prediction: Barcelona 5-2 Atleti. (Atleti can’t defend, and are very prone to making mental errors when pressed. Not the best combination against a Barcelona team playing a 3-4-3.)
Sunday, September 25
12:00 CET (6:00 AM EST)
Welcome to another edition of Spain’s favorite game, we-changed-the-schedule-to-broadast-WHAT?! A big hand to our first contestants, Mallorca, a defensive team looking to scrounge points however possible, and Real Sociedad, a relegation-level team looking to recapture a semblance of their past glory!
Interest level: 0.2/100
Prediction: Mallorca 0-0 Real Sociedad
16:00 CET (10:00 AM EST)
Let’s meet our second round contestants! Giant killer, and all-around rough, dirty, defensive relegation-level Levante, and a still-trying-to-find-our-groove-since-transfer-season Espanyol, Barcelona’s second favorite team!
Interest level: 0.3/100
Prediction: Levante 0-1 Espanyol
18:00 CET (12:00 PM EST)
Rounding out the early matches--as well as our oh-come-on-are-you-kidding broadcast sweepstakes--recently promoted, and soon to be recently descended Granada will take on defensive powerhouse Osasuna. Expect about half a goal in this one.
Interest level: 0.25/100
Prediction: Granada 0-0 Osasuna
Sporting Vs. Racing Santander
20:00 CET (2:00 PM EST)
Psssst. Are you going to watch this game? (Me neither).
Prediction: Sporting 1-2 Racing
Real Zaragoza Vs. Málaga
22:00 CET (4:00 PM EST)
Finally, am I right? If there’s one thing that I know about soccer, it’s that Manuel Pellegrini’s sides will score. And be scored on. Lots. Here’s another thing: Zaragoza is a really, really bad team.
Prediction: Zaragoza 2-5 Málaga
Monday, September 26
Getafe Vs. Real Betis
Psssst. Don’t look now. I said don’t look! Betis is in first place! Why? Who cares! They’re a perfect 4-0 this season, collecting a ridiculous 12 points out of 12. Raise your hands if you saw this one coming.
Liar.
Prediction: Getafe 1-1 Real Betis
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