Athletic and Valencia rush their European options
MADRID, 2 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
Real Betis will try to defend this Sunday against Osasuna (4:15 p.m.) the fifth position of LaLiga Santander, in a thirtieth day in which Athletic Club hastens its European options against Elche (2:00 p.m.), in which Granada and Rayo Vallecano They want to move away from the danger zone (6:30 p.m.) and in which Valencia aspires to hook up with the continental train against a Cádiz that wants to confirm its reaction (6:30 p.m.).
At the Benito Villamarín, Manuel Pellegrini’s men (50) resume activity after the national team break with the aim of redirecting their path after several weeks in decline in which they have abandoned the ‘Champions’ positions, now four points behind.
The Verdiblancos have only achieved one victory -against Athletic (1-0)- in the last four days, in which they have lost in the derby against Sevilla (2-1) and against Atlético (1-3) and tied with Celta (0-0). However, the Copa del Rey final, which will be played on April 23 at La Cartuja, has charged them with morale for what remains.
Now, they will welcome the Navarrese with Nabil Fekir and Germán Pezzella out due to suspension and Martín Montoya, Sergio Canales, Víctor Camarasa and, above all, Borja Iglesias, their leading scorer in recent weeks, due to injury.
Those of Jagoba Arrasate, without Kike Barja or Jesús Areso, reached the break with a soothing victory against Levante (3-1) that helped them reach 38 points, vital to navigate in the middle of the table and to almost certify , in the absence of nine dates for the end, his permanence in First.
For its part, Athletic Club (41) receives Elche seven points behind some continental positions marked by Real Sociedad (48). His defeat against Betis and the draw against Getafe (1-1) last matchday have slowed his progress and have prevented him from taking advantage of the setbacks of his rivals in Europe.
Even so, the ‘lions’ will continue fighting and will try to get closer in a match in which Marcelino García Toral will not have Yeray Álvarez available, due to accumulation of cards, nor Iñigo Martínez, Dani García and Iñigo Lekue, due to injury.
Opposite, Elche wants to move away from danger, six points below their 32, with a win that will end their losing streak, in which they have only managed to add three points out of the last 12 possible.
Francisco’s men succumbed to Levante (3-0), Barça (1-2) and Valencia (0-1), the latter just before the break, and only won in Granada (0-1) in that period, and now they will try to react in a duel in which Javier Pastore, Antonio Barragán and John Nwankwo will not be present.
EMERGENCY DUEL IN THE NEW LOS CÁRMENES
With the same points as the people from Elche, Rayo Vallecano (32) visits Nuevo Los Cármenes, where Granada (28), only two units above danger, needs to win to rule out any possibility of finishing the day in relegation positions to LaLiga SmartBank.
After the dismissal of Robert Moreno and the appointment of Rubén Torrecilla as interim coach, the Nasrid managed to react with a victory against Alavés (2-3) that ended a series of ten league games without winning.
Up to eight casualties -Aarón Escandell, Neyder Lozano, Santiago Arias, Maxime Gonalons, Dani Raba, Carlos Neva, Ángel Montoro and Rubén Rochina- will drag the Andalusian team against the red-haired team, also concerned about their career in recent months.
After an excellent start, Andoni Iraola’s men have fallen into a hole from which they are finding it hard to get out. In fact, they still don’t know what it’s like to win in LaLiga this 2022, and since they said goodbye to December by beating Alavés (2-0) they have only achieved two points out of the 30 that have been put at stake. Neither the suspended Trejo nor the injured Merquelanz, Saveljich, Unai López and Falcao will be able to play the game.
In Mestalla, Valencia seeks to endorse its great form against Cádiz, which has led it to earn a place in the Cup final and which has allowed it to win three of its last four league games, in which it has only yielded one draw against Getafe (0-0).
Mallorca (0-1), Granada (3-1) and Elche (0-1) have been the latest victims of a ‘che’ team (40) that has eight points behind the European zone, a complicated objective but one that could be viable if it can keep up. Antonio Lato will be the only player who will miss the duel for José Bordalás.
Meanwhile, Cádiz (27) wants to stay out of the relegation places, one point below and which they abandoned just before the break thanks to a goal by Rubén Sobrino in the 90th minute against Villarreal (1-0). Sergio González will have to regret the absences of Varazdat Haroyan, Tomás Alarcón, Florín Andone and Iza Carcelén.
–SUNDAY PROGRAM IN LALIGA SANTANDER.
Athletic Club – Elche. Figueroa Vázquez (C.Andaluz) 14.00.
Betis – Osasuna. Pizarro Gómez (C. Madrid) 16.15.
Granada – R.Vallecano. Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas) 18.30.
Valencia – Cadiz. Díaz de Mera Escuderos (C.Cast-Manchego) 18.30.
FC Barcelona – Seville. Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano) 21.00.