It's February and the race for the La Liga title is over. That is, unless you think that Real Madrid is going to drop 10 points during their final 14 games while Barcelona fail to drop points. Los Merengues have dropped eight points in 22 games so far. They're going to play the rest of the games anyway. Fun times!
La Liga 2012, Week 23 Preview And Fixtures: Real Madrid Should Roll, Barcelona Face Valencia
Real Madrid are expected to cruise on Saturday, while Barcelona could be tested at home on Sunday.
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. local
Hey, it's one of those games that's worth playing! Espanyol are one of the teams that are in the race for the final Champions League place in Spain, and a road match against Getafe is a tough test. Espanyol are coming off of a surprising home loss to Real Zaragoza, and will be without Didac Vila and Joan Verdu. Alvaro Vasquez is back from injury, but is unlikely to start. Youngsters Philippe Coutinho and Vladimir Weiss will both start, while Thievy Bifouma could get a rare start.
Espanyol should recover from their poor performance last week, but without Verdu and Vila, it’s tough to see them winning away to Getafe.
Pick: Getafe 1-1 Espanyol
Real Madrid vs. Racing Santander
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. local
No. Of course not.
Pick: Real Madrid 5-0 Racing Santander
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET, 10:00 p.m. local
Thanks to their big win over Barcelona last week, Osasuna are very much in the race for fourth place in La Liga. Sevilla should theoretically be in that same race, but they’re having a miserable year. Marcelino Garcia Toral was fired two weeks ago and his replacement, Michel, didn’t fare well in his first game in charge. 18-year-old midfielder Campaña made a rare start in the middle. Javi Varas, Frederic Kanoute and Ivan Rakitic all started on the bench, and Michel might use them to make some changes against a stingy Osasuna defense.
The Rojiblancos are desperate for a win to get back into the race for Europe, and at home, they could get it.
Pick: Sevilla 2-1 Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao vs. Malaga
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. local
After a home draw and a road loss in their last two matches in La Liga, Athletic Bilbao are down to ninth place in the table. With a talented squad and Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout, combined with the poor form of some of their direct rivals, Athletic are still favorites for fourth. They host a very good Malaga side on Sunday, but a side that is also poor on the road. The hosts should be able to get back to their winning ways at La Catedral.
Pick: Athletic Bilbao 3-2 Malaga
Barcelona vs. Valencia
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, 9:30 p.m. local
Valencia have consistently given Barcelona trouble at the Madrigal, even through their fire sales and financial troubles, but games at the Camp Nou are a slightly different story. Barcelona haven’t dropped points against Valencia at home since 2006, and have only dropped points in one home match all season.
Los Che rested all of Ever Banega, Victor Ruiz, Miguel and Roberto Soldado on Thursday in the Europa League match against Stoke. All four players should return to the starting lineup against Barcelona. Xavi and Gerard Pique are still injury doubts for the Blaugranas, and Pep Guardiola will hope to get them back after Thiago Alcantara and Javier Mascherano put in average performances in the loss to Osasuna.
Valencia can pull off upsets at home, but there’s no reason to believe they can do the same at the Camp Nou, especially if Xavi returns to the lineup.
Pick: Barcelona 2-0 Valencia
Other matches
Granada vs. Real Sociedad - Sunday, 6:00 a.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. local
Mallorca vs. Villarreal - Sunday, 12:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. local
Sporting Gijon vs. Atletico Madrid - Sunday, 12:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. local
Levante vs. Rayo Vallecano - Sunday, 1:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
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