La Liga Jornada 26

Well they eventually got going,. Three points off Sevilla and Barca. Another interesting weekend next week....looking forward to it already.

Oleguerisntthatgreat wrote:

Target Man wrote: Hijo de puta

TM try using other Spanish swear words from time to time.. like coño or que putada..

Or Puyol's favourite (uttered after most goals that we concede): "puta madre"


What a great weekend though! To Sevilla and Valencia: Thanks for making my day

Just saw all the highlights on Marca's website...some interesting results this weekend.

- Check out Xabi Prieto's "sombrero" in scoring Real Sociedad's 3rd goal
I doubt the win will do much for them though, because Mallorca are very poor away from home anyway

- Also watch the highlights of Garay's equaliser for Santander against Espanyol - the players are arguing over whether it was a penalty or not, and they look like angry tennis players at the French open (you'll know what I mean when you see it!)

- And great dive by Raul Garcia to get that penalty for Osasuna

Messi: Higuain's better than me..

So a week after Arango flicked the ball over the head of a Levante defender for Mallorca - they have a taste of their own medicine, great goal that. They're making a habit of scoring good goals though, Victor and Arango last week, Ibagaza this week, great patience to get the strike in.

Funny from the Racing game.....got me plenty of points in the fantasy football though. Vamos Garay!!!

Best goal of the weekend is Mista's for me, the speed of the attack was breathtaking. Lovely overlap in the build up.

Here is Xabi Prieto's goal:

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/goles/es/desarrollo/748648.html

I couldn't find Otto's thread about nobody wanting to win this one, but another weekend where one cannot help but feeling wondering about the results of the top 4. None of them won, and there were only 3 points managed between them. The bottom 4 raked in more than double that. Go figure.

The leaders are once again Barcelona but now with less than 2 points per game. Recreativo are 9 points (only) off the pace. Theoretically at least they should still be considered title candidates and they are only 4 points away from a CL spot.

A strange season this one, with only one Spanish team left in the CL as well. Will this be a handicap for Valencia? Who are the main contenders now?

1 Barcelona 50
2 Sevilla 50
3 Valencia 47
4 Real Madrid 45
5 Zaragoza 43
6 Atlético 43
7 Recreativo 41
8 Getafe 38
9 Espanyol 37
10 Racing 37
11 Villarreal 36
12 Deportivo 33
13 Osasuna 31
14 Betis 31
15 Mallorca 29
16 Celta 27
17 Levante 27
18 Athletic 26
19 Nástic 20
20 R. Sociedad 17

I think Barcelona are probably the favorites. They have three complicated away fixtures (Zaragoza, Villarreal, and Atletico) plus they have to face Getafe and Espanyol at home.

Real Madrid have to play away to Zaragoza and Athletic (always tricky in San Mames and they will be desperate the longer they are in the relegation zone) and then play host to Sevilla and Valencia.

I think the CL distraction will hurt Valencia and to a lesser extent the UEFA Cup for Sevilla. Sevilla, in addition to playing in the Bernabeu, have to go to Valencia and A Coruna.

Zaragoza and Atletico I don't see making a run for the title but they could easily pick up the 3rd or 4th CL spot.

Very hard to say how it will all work out. All of the top teams have been getting inconsistent results.

my prediction for now:

1. Barcelona
2. Valencia
3. Real Madrid
4. Sevilla

5. Atlético
6. Zaragoza

Real could easily be top of la liga now if Capello had handled the team better. only now have Real started playing quick attacking football.

one swallow doesn't make a summer.

there have been false dawns for all top teams in Spain this year, as well as false sunsets.

toon h wrote:my prediction for now:

1. Barcelona
2. Valencia
3. Real Madrid
4. Sevilla

5. Atlético
6. Zaragoza

1. Barcelona
2. Real Madrid
3. Sevilla
4. Atlético
5. Valencia

But in truth, I have no idea...

none of us do.

I must say Barcelona should be favourites because:

- they have regained their star front players, who are also fresh
- they have played the other 3 twice already, whereas the others still have to play eachother
- they are out of Europe so can concentrate better on the league
- related to their CL exit, they will now aim to impress in the league to salvage their pride

no point in talking about favourites because all top teams are dropping to small teams. right now people point at barca but lets say they lose the next match and everybody is talking crisis and they get one. the top teams are simply to bad to count on.

So tough to call. I am going to go with....

1.Barcelona
2.Valencia
3.Sevilla
4.Real
5.Atleti
6.Zaragoza

I would now like to see Valencia win this one though. Triumph over injuries you could say.

Barca favorites for sure.

IMO Sevilla will suffer more than Valencia. LRD was right, Thursday games are a big burden, even if you then play on a Sunday. I still feel it's ours to lose, but below that I think any of the other 3 can finish 2nd/3rd/4th. Of course, we might screw up too...it would be a nightmare to choke on the last day.

Has anyone actually seen how Sevilla played against Nastic?