Real decimated for Sevilla clash
Thanks to their inability to walk a fine line between being competitive or going over the top, Real Madrid will be without Casemiro, Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos for Sevilla’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos have struggled defensively throughout this campaign, and though they won against Borussia Dortmund eventually, surrendering a two-goal advantage was symptomatic of their problems at the back.
With two of their main backline missing, plus their enforcer and protector, Zinedine Zidane has to come up with a solution to keep a rampaging Sevilla side at bay.
Though the Andalusians have blown hot and cold this season, as they showed against Liverpool, they have the fight when required, and given that a win in this one will take them above Real, there’s no finer incentive for Eduardo Berizzo’s side.
Zidane will also have one eye on the Club World Cup which takes place the following week. The last thing he needs now is more injuries to key players.
Barca to sink the Yellow Submarine?
With El Clasico and a home game against Depor to come before the Christmas break, this is as crucial a game as any for Barcelona.
If Sevilla were to take points off of Real, then a win at the Estadio de la Ceramica could make life very difficult for Los Blancos to get back into the title race. More so if Barca were to win again in Madrid in a fortnight.
The history books are firmly in Barca’s favour, having not lost to Villarreal, home or away, since March 2008. However, three of the last five fixtures at this venue have ended in draws.
Ernesto Valverde would likely take that now if it were offered to him, particularly as he will be missing his best defender this year in Samuel Umtiti, ruled out for two months.
Up against the unorthodox Cedric Bakambu, Gerard Pique et al could be in trouble, though in Lionel Messi, they always have a match winner when required.
Valencia to bounce back at Mestalla
The sign of a good team is how well they bounce back after a disappointment. After losing their unbeaten record at Getafe last time out, Marcelino’s Valencia side need to get straight back to winning ways.
At a full Mestalla, there’s every reason to believe that the swashbuckling style that Los Che are known for will return. Getafe received eight yellow cards and a red in their game and that was clearly a plan to frustrate their opponents, which worked.
Celta Vigo, boosted by a superb point at the Camp Nou, will allow the hosts to play their normal game and with each player firing on all cylinders, bar the injured Goncalo Guedes, it’s hard to look past a home win here.
Geoffrey Kondogbia will certainly have the measure of any raiding Celta forwards, given he possesses the power and pace that Barca didn’t have last weekend.
Though still carrying a knee problem, Simone Zaza is still dangerous and with the Galicians week at set plays, this is where Valencia can profit.
First six-pointer of the season
What a game in prospect at Alaves! The second-bottom side in La Liga take on third bottom Las Palmas and after the Basques’ incredible comeback win at Girona, this promises to be the first six-pointer of the season.
The hosts can leapfrog the visitors with a win, and if results elsewhere go their way, they can be within touching distance of a clutch of clubs above them.
Munir El Haddadi has expressed a preference to play for Morocco at next year’s World Cup, but in order to be in contention, he needs to start putting the ball in the onion bag.
Where better to begin than in this game.
Interim Las Palmas coach, Paquito Ortiz, will be hoping to at least steady the ship as the club go hunting for their third permanent coach of the season.
One of their longest trips of the campaign isn’t the ideal preparation however, and without Vitolo who has now left the club after his recent injury, they could struggle to get on the scoreboard.
Local pride at stake in Catalan derby
Though three places separate Girona (12th) and Espanyol (15th), a win for the Periquitos would take them two points clear of La Liga’s new boys.
Girona have performed well at various stages of the season – drawing with Atletico and beating Real Madrid – however, their form has sometimes let them down, as losing 3-2 at home to Alaves, after being two up, shows.
With local pride at stake, no quarter will be asked or given by either side, and though the physical aspect may take over the footballing spectacle at times, there’s no doubting the quality of each team, even if it hasn’t been on display for large periods of the campaign.
