Primera Division 2010 2011 Athletic Bilbao Villarreal

week 29 20th march: 

Villarreal defender Jose Manuel Catala believes today’s clash with Athletic Bilbao will have an impact on the race for Champions League football. The Yellow Submarine are currently three points behind third-placed Valencia despite a poor run of form that has seen them win just one of their last seven outings, but they do hold an eight-point lead over fifth-placed Espanyol.

Athletic are a further point behind, and Catala believes a win for Villarreal today would eliminate their hosts from the race for third. He said: “We have a good cushion of points, but we are going to San Mames with all the desire in the world. “It's not a decisive game, but if we beat them you could say we would discard a direct rival.” While Villarreal head into this game on the back of a Europa League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, their last domestic outing ended in a disappointing draw with Sporting Gijon. Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, were held to a 2-2 draw by Getafe last time out.

Primera Division 2010 2011 Valencia Sevilla on MiamiGunners Match Of The Week

20th march 2011: 

valencia v. sevilla

 

Valencia sit in third place. Second place looks out of reach for them, as they trail Real Madrid by 16 points. Depending on this result and others, they could be leapfrogged by Villarreal which would leave them in fourth place. Los Che have won two of their last five games, losing two and drawing one. They also found themselves dumped out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, courtesy of German side Schalke. Valencia have won 10 of their last 12 league meetings with Sevilla.

 Sevilla are currently in eighth place in La Liga after enduring a disappointing campaign so far. This weekend could see them move up to sixth, but they cannot drop any further. Los Nervionenses have also won only two of their last five games, picking up two draws, including last weekends 1-1 draw with league leaders Barcelona, and one loss. Before Jesus Navas' goal against Barcelona, the last time a Spanish player that wasn't Alvaro Negredo found the net for Sevilla was against Valencia. Goalkeeper Andres Palop has returned to full training for Sevilla after a long injury lay-off, though it is widely expected that Javi Varas will start between the sticks in this game. January signing Gary Medel is a doubt for the match, as he was allowed to return to his native Chile during the week.

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