La Liga Sunday Round-Up: 08.11.09

Sevilla 3 - 2 Villarreal (SEV: Fabiano: 9, 61, Kanoute 66) (VIL: Pires 29, Fuster 59)

Sevilla had to work for the three points that keeps them in touch with the 'Big-Two', but in the end their greater potency infront of goal proved vital. Sevilla lacked their usual fluency in possession, with man of the moment Jesus Navas enduring an off-night. Villarreal with a whole host of key players keeping the club doctor company, showed great heart in fighting back from a goal down to lead with 30 minutes remaining. But Sevilla's deadly duo of Luis Fabiano and Kanoute, the Mali hitman back from a long injury lay-off, snatched the lead back for the Andalucian side in the space of five second-half minutes. Sevilla continue to prove they are the best of the rest, and a viable contender for the league.

Valencia 3 - 1 Zaragoza (VAL: Mata 17, Villa 39, Hernandez 41) (ZAR: Aguilar 65)

Valencia maintained their Champions League aspirations (But do they have a good enough defence to stay there? Will they keep their stars beyond Xmas?), whilst Zaragoza added another defeat to their dismal record away from La Romereda. Zaragoza's defending at times was laughable (holding the line on the halfway line anyone?) with Villa, Pablo Hernandez et al given the freedom of the Mestalla to put the game to bed before half-time. Those two along with Mata and Silva are unstoppable when on-song.

Valladolid 0 - 0 Xerez

• Draw no good for either team in their fight against the drop. Xerez have to be the happier team.
• Xerez held on for dear life as Valladolid battered Renans goal towards the end. The Brazilian performed heroics.
• Xerez centre-back Prieto sent off for a foul he didnt commit. Sort it out ref.

Sporting 1 - 0 Espanyol (SPO: Bilic 3)

• Early goal proved vital in shaping the match. Sporting sat back and soaked up everything Espanyol threw at them.
• Tamudo is vital to Espanyol. Will the club directors swallow their pride and take him back?
• Sporting march on. Fantastic start to the season for the unfancied team from Gijón.

Racing 0 - 2 Athletic Bilbao (BIL: Gurpegui 31, Iraola (p) 75)

• Santander lacked fight and spirit, and looked beaten from the first minute. The crowd didnt hide their discontent at the end.
• Bilbao took their chances when they came. As simple as that.
• 1 point from 15 at home for Racing. Mandiá will be lucky to survive the week.

Almería 2 - 0 Osasuna (ALM: Josetxo (o.g) 2, Uche 89)

• Goals at either end of the match saw Almería take pressure off coach Hugo Sanchez.
• Osasuna never looked like scoring. If veteran Pandiani isnt netting the goals, Camacho's team will struggle.
• Nigerian striker Kala Uche showed his worth to Almería forcing the own goal and scoring the second with a clinical finish.

 Sevilla v Villarreal Highlights (Courtesy of Sevilla TV):

La Liga Sunday Preview: 08.11.09

After the saturdays demolition derby, sunday sees six league fixtures with the match between high-flying Sevilla and a rejuvenated Villarreal, the pick of the bunch.

Valladolid v Xerez (5pm)

• Orellana and Maldonado have to start for Xerez if three points is what they're after. 4-4-2 please.
• Valladolid have the speed and firepower to trouble a weak Xerez defence.
• Only ten games in, a relegation play-off?
• 'Hombre Clave': Fabian Orellana (Xer)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 1-2

Sporting v Espanyol (5pm)

• Both goalkeepers Carlos Kameni and Juan Pablo unbreachable recently.
• No Tamudo for Espanyol, Callejón an able replacement?
• Unexpected Battle for the UEFA.
• 'Hombre Clave' - Carlos Kameni (Esp)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 1-0

Racing Santander v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)

• Bilbao sweating on fitness of Fernando Llorente, they lack bite without him.
• Racing manager Mandiá in danger of the axe, his team need to respond.
• Racing = Awful at home, Bilbao = Awful away: Who's going to rip up the formbook?
• 'Hombre Clave' - Fernando Llorente (Bil)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 0-2

Almería v Osasuna (5pm)

• Will Osasuna's Walter Pandiani keep banging them away?
• Almería miss Negredo....where will the goals come from?
• Osasuna's widemen key. Almería will depend on Uche to create danger.
• 'Hombre Clave' - Javad Nekounam (Osa)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 1-2

Valencia v Zaragoza (7pm)

• Valencia unbeaten at home, Zaragoza not won away. Only one result on the cards?
• Villa back from mid-week suspension to sink former team. Fearsome foursome reunited.
• Much of Zaragozas options depend on the magic feet of Angel Lafita and Ander Herrera.
• 'Hombre Clave' - Pablo Hernandez (Val)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 2-1

Sevilla v Villarreal (9pm)

• Villarreal without Nilmar, Llorente, Ibergaza and Cazorla: Too much to ask for Yellow Submarine?
• Sevilla in unstoppable form: Negredo looking to continue goalscoring streak.
• Pires experiencing second coming, at 36 years of age.
• 'Hombre Clave' - Luis Fabiano (Sev)
• Livin La Liga Prediction: 3-1

La Liga Live link: Watch Sevilla v Villarreal HERE

Villarreal are Five-alive

The beast has been stirred. After a thoroughly abysmal start to the campaign, which almost cost new manager Ernesto Valverde his job, Villarreal are back. And it couldnt have come at a worse time for Tenerife, who saw the Yellow Submarine smash five past keeper Aragoneses, and were sent back to the Canary Islands with their tails fixed firmly between their legs. It wasnt all plain sailing for Villarreal, who took the lead through Llorentes' opportunistic strike after 14 minutes, but rode their luck a little until 46th minute for the second, when Robert Pires tapped in from close range. They then began to pick apart a poor Tenerife side, with Guiseppe Rossi sliding in a third, Llorente bagging his second with a header on the line after failing with an initial chip over the keeper and Cani volleying the fifth with two minutes remaining.

Zaragoza scored a 2-1 win over Almeria, but it came at a cost, with Pennant, Lafita, Ayala and Arizmendi all crocked during the encounter. The Romereda stadium was uncharacteristically subdued throughout, with little quality on offer from either side. Lafita showed glimpses of his undoubted ability and in the 29th minute began a nine-minute frenzy in which all three goals were scored. His strike came courtesy of a bit of pinball chaos in the Almeria area, with the ex-Coruna man slotting away whilst pretty much sat on the floor. Another set piece caused further panic amongst the Almeria defence, and this time it was Pulidos turn to tuck one away. Three minutes later Almeria had reduced the defecit, with a goal that had more than a hint of offside about it, Ortiz the beneficiary of the linesmans gift, but Zaragoza held on to score three vital points in their fight for a top-ten finish.

Valencia had to dig deep to find a way past Málaga, and after spurning several chances finally found a way through when full-back David Navarro took advantage of a lofted ball into the box, by squeezing inbetween defender and keeper to head in. Coach Unai Emery was seen dancing down the tunnel at full-time, and so he might with his side now only 5 points behind leaders Barca.

Mallorca continue to defy all those critics who predicted relegation during pre-season with another well-worked win against Racing Santander, with the goal a fantastic driven volley from inside the box on 19 minutes from Cameroon striker Webo. Thats 15 points from 15 for Mallorca at home, and the master tactician Gregorio Manzano cant be far away from a job further up the league table.

Espanyol were left to rue an appalling display from the referee and his linemen, as they were denied two one on ones and two penalties during their 1-1 draw with Valladolid. Luis Garcia scored his first on the season to put Espanyol ahead, but Valladolid equalised with practically the last kick of the match. The talented Medunjanin came off the bench with six minutes remaining and had already warned Espanyol with a superb free-kick which rattled the crossbar, when he drove an unstoppable shot in off the post from outside the area with seconds remaining.

In the final match of the weekend, Deportivo La Coruña dropped two points at home against Sporting Gijon, after taking the lead through Assads strike just before half-time. But with an incredible 8000 away fans cheering them on, Gijon ripped up the Riazor script and equalised after 70 minutes when Diego Castro took advantage of some odd goalkeeping from Aranzubia to slot in.

Tonights matches:

Villarreal 5 - 0 Tenerife
Zaragoza 2 - 1 Almería
Mallorca 1 - 0 Racing
Espanyol 1 - 1 Valladolid
Deportivo 1 - 1 Sporting