Primera Liga leaders Barcelona will have a tough derby game on Saturday against city-rivals Espanyol. Barcelona are in top form as they won their last six games in all competitions with a staggering 26-0 overall scoreline. Espanyol seem to be doing quite well this season though as they sit fourth after 15 league games.
Second placed Real Madrid have no other option than winning the game since last week's 1-0 defeat at Osasuna put Barcelona seven points clear at the top. Promoted Real Sociedad are enjoying a good season and they are in 9th place after 21 league games.
Barcelona won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid but lost their star player, Lionel Messi, who had to be stretchered off the pitch after a late tackle from Tomas Ujfalusi. The club stated that Messi has sprained the external ligament in his right ankle and will be out for three weeks. Barcelona will have four games to play during that period, against Sporting Gijon, Real Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao in the league plus the UEFA Champions League trip to Rubin Kazan. Will they manage to do well without him?
Giants Real Madrid will meet newly-promoted Hercules on Saturday and Mourinho's men can not afford anything else than a win if they want to stay close to leaders Barcelona. Hercules have pulled off some stunning upsets this season, most notably an away win against Barcelona, but a poor recent run saw them slipping into the relegation zone. Real Madrid have no rivals for the second place but they are seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid will have to win if they want to keep pace with Barcelona while Sevilla will be looking to come out of a very poor run with a good result at Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid are two points behind Barcelona while Sevilla sunk into 11th place after being beaten at home last Saturday by lowly Almeria.
Yes, I agree with Xavi. Cesc would be great at Barca!
No, I disagree. Cesc would be sitting on the bench at Barca
Who cares what Xavi thinks cause Fabregas is staying with the Gunners
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi has had his say on the Cesc Fabregas transfer saga. Xavi reckons Fabregas would "triumph" at Barca. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with Xavi? Vote now!
Red-hot Barcelona will be looking to get a record-breaking 17th consecutive league win when they meet Sporting Gijon on Saturday. Gijon are in desperate need of some points though after being beaten 3-0 last week by Athletic Bilbao, they are just one point above the relegation zone. Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 last week and they hold a 7 point advantage over rivals Real Madrid.
Primera Liga leaders Barcelona will face a tough away fixture on Sunday as they travel to meet 7th placed Sevilla, a team that is pushing for an Europa League spot. Barcelona grabbed a 3-1 Champions League victory against Arsenal in midweek while Sevilla suffered an important league defeat last week as they were beaten 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao.
The Spanish league will resume on January third and the top of the table looks like this after 16 games:
1. Barcelona - 43 points
2. Real Madrid - 41 points
3. Villarreal - 33 points
Who will win the title this season?
Good move, he would have been on the bench all season long.
It's a mistake, he surely can still play at the highest level.
Barcelona have reached an agreement with the 32-year old French striker allowing him to leave the club. The most likely destination will be the Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls being the most likely candidates for his signature. A club official stated that "for Barca it is not a bad agreement because we avoid paying him next season." What do you think?
