Off the wire
• China launches national data network on elder care institutions  • Nigeria's apex bank to meet upsurge of forex requests: official  • Feature: Enduring Panda love across the Pacific  • Hamas eases security restrictions imposed on Gaza: official  • High fat, sugar diet during pregnancy may "program" for health complications in mother, child: study  • China lodges representations to India over Dalai Lama's visit  • 2nd LD-Writethru-China Focus: Vice premier urges control on property development in Xiongan New Area  • Research center founded for study of South Manchuria Railway Co. during WWII  • 2nd LD: Syria FM confirms airstrike on rebel depot containing chemical weapons  • China Focus: Locals have high hopes for Xiongan New Area  
You are here: 　 Home

No time to stop as Madrid derby on the agenda in Spain's matchday 31

Xinhua, April 6, 2017 Adjust font size:

Without a break from football once again the Spanish Liga Santander moves seamlessly from its 30th round of matches into Matchday 31 of the season without pause for breath.

If the midweek games saw Real Madrid and Barcelona both win and Atletico Madrid continue their excellent recent form to open up a gap over Sevilla in fourth place, the weekend will see at least some change to that as Real Madrid entertain Atletico in the Madrid derby on Saturday.

Atletico travel across town smarting from the 3-0 Real Madrid inflicted on them in the Vicente Calderon earlier this season, but also knowing that they are in much better form than in November.

The game has been given extra spice by rumors that Real are also in the verge of breaking a 'non-aggression' pact with Atletico by going behind the club's back to sign full back Theo Hernandez, who is currently on loan at Alaves.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane rested virtually all of his first choice starting 11 for Wednesday's short trip to face Leganes and players such as Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Tony Kroos and Dani Carvajal should all be fresh for what promises to be a vital match.

Real have a two-point lead over Barcelona and a game in hand and looking at the remaining games of the season, this looks to be one of the few games where the leaders could drop points. Atletico meanwhile need to keep up the pace in order to avoid playing a potentially difficult Champions League qualifying round in August.

Barcelona will know the score from the Bernabeu by the time they kick off away to Malaga, who on Wednesday claimed their first win of the campaign with a vital 1-0 triumph away to Sporting Gijon to halt their slide towards the relegation zone.

Gerard Pique is suspended for the trip south, while Luis Enrique could rotate his midfield ahead of the Champions League clash with Juventus the following Wednesday.

The Europa League is on the menu in Matchday 31's first game on Friday night, as sixth place Villarreal, who also rested key players in midweek, entertain Athletic Club Bilbao. Athletic have a poor record in Villarreal, but have won their last two away games and look to be coming strong at the right time.

Saturday also sees fourth placed Sevilla in action and Jorge Sampaoli needs to see a reaction after a run of five games without a win, including draws at home to struggling Leganes and Sporting Gijon.

Meanwhile Espanyol take on Alaves in a game between two sides in mid-table.

Sunday switches attention to the relegation battle with Leganes travelling to Osasuna, who took only their second win of the season on Wednesday, meanwhile Granada have to beat Valencia in the Los Carmenes stadium and Sporting Gijon have to recover from their defeat against Malaga away to seventh placed Real Sociedad.

Celta and Eibar both have an outside chance of still qualifying for Europe, while Betis boss, Victor Sanchez knows that a heavy defeat away to Las Palmas could make him the next coach to lose his job this season. Endit