Rayo and Las Palmas are stalking seventh place and Villarreal and Mallorca are seeking to avoid relegation
MADRID, 19 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia and Athletic Club meet this Saturday in Mestalla in a match to which both arrive in a great moment of form and in which the locals will try to finish the day close to the European zone, while Ernesto Valverde's men seek to maintain third place , while Celta tests its good streak against a Champions League rival, Real, Rayo and Las Palmas long to dream of Europe, and Villarreal and Mallorca, to avoid relegation.
Valencia receives Athletic at Mestalla (6:30 p.m.) in what is one of the classics of Spanish football. A duel to which both arrive with good dynamics of league results. The locals have had three victories in the League and have added 10 of the last 12 points at stake, while the red and whites are third after winning four consecutive games in LaLiga and not being defeated since October.
Regarding the confrontations at Mestalla, Athletic has not fallen in the league competition in the Valencian fiefdom since the 2018-19 season. Furthermore, the 'lions' have gone five games without losing against Valencia in all competitions, having achieved victory in three of the last four games. However, Baraja's team is experiencing its best streak of the season in the League at home, remaining undefeated in the last five games, in which it has added 11 of the 15 possible points.
In sports, Valverde's team, which will have to face the quarter-final tie against Barça in San Mamés during the week, will not be able to count on De Marcos or Iñaki Williams, although it recovers Yeray Álvarez. As for the eleven, everything indicates that Athletic will repeat the eleven they won in the Basque derby. For his part, Baraja has everyone available except for Almeida, injured, and Diakhaby and Amallah, in the Africa Cup. The main doubt in the lineup will be Hugo Duro's companion up front, which could be Diego López or Yaremchuk.
In Balaídos, Celta receives Real Sociedad (9:00 p.m.) in what will be the first of two games between the two in 72 hours, after the draw for the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey has paired both teams. A duel to which Rafa Benítez's men arrive immersed in their best moment of the season, having lost only one match in the last 10 played. For its part, Real arrives fifth in the table, but after the harsh league setback of losing the Basque derby against Athletic, its biggest rival, which has distanced itself by nine points.
The Galician team, which is two points above relegation, has won its last two league games at home, after failing to win in any of its first eight league games. In front will be the San Sebastian team, whose only defeat away from home took place in San Mamés, and which has won in its last four visits to Vigo.
In the casualties section, Imanol will not be able to count on Odriozola, injured in the derby against Athletic, or Barrenetxea, so their places in the eleven could be occupied by Aritz and Zakharyan, respectively, while Sadiq aims to start. For his part, Benítez continues without Bamba, in the Africa Cup, Aidoo and Cervi, so the Madrid coach could repeat the team that started against Mallorca last day.
For their part, Rayo Vallecano and Las Palmas open the day on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) in Vallecas. A match that pits two teams that are far from the relegation spots, and for which a win could bring them closer to the fight for the European spots. The Canaries could finish the day among the top seven in the standings if they get the three points, while the locals want to get back to winning ways in front of their home crowd, where they haven't won since September.
The Madrid team have also had less rest time than their rival, due to the Cup round of 16 tie they had to face last Wednesday and in which they were defeated at the expense of Girona. This will be the first League game at home for Francisco's team in 2024, and in which they will not be able to count on Kike Pérez, who is suspended, nor with Bebe and Pathé Ciss, in the Africa Cup. For his part, García Pimienta will not have Araujo, suspended, the injured Lemos, Curbelo and Sinkgraven, or Coco and Mfulo, available in the Africa Cup.
Finally, Villarreal and Mallorca meet at the Estadio de la Cerámica (4:15 p.m.) in a direct duel to avoid the relegation spots. Both are tied at 19 points in the standings, just four points above relegation. However, the dynamics of each of them are very different. Marcelino's men have only managed to get three points in one of their last six league games, while Mallorca has only lost in one of the last seven games.
A match in which the vermillions will try to add a victory that would help them equal or win the particular 'goal average' between both. Of course, they will not have it easy in a field where, despite winning last season, they have only achieved that victory in the last 20 years. For its part, the 'yellow submarine', which has won two of the last three home games in the League, needs to regain defensive solidity, since it has conceded 16 goals in the last seven games.
Regarding sports, Marcelino loses Parejo and Pedraza, both injured, although he recovers Gerard Moreno. Besides. Gonzalo Guedes could count on his first minutes as a 'groguet'. For his part, Aguirre will not be able to count on Gio González, suspended, or Maffeo, injured, although he recovers his franchise player, Vedat Muriqi, who returns after missing his team's last 11 games.
–PROGRAM FOR DAY 21 OF LALIGA EA SPORTS.
-Saturday 20.
Rayo Vallecano – UD Las Palmas. Melero Lopez (C.Andaluz)
Villarreal – Mallorca. Ortiz Arias (C. Madrid) 16.15.
Valencia – Athletic Club. Pulido Santana (C.Las Palmas) 18.30.
Celta – Real Sociedad. Figueroa Vázquez (C.Andaluz) 21.00.
-Domingo 21.
Osasuna – Getafe. Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano) 14.00.
Real Madrid – UD Almería. Hernández Maeso (C.Extremeño) 16.15.
Real Betis – FC Barcelona. Gil Manzano (C.Extremeño) 18.30.
Girona – Seville. González Fuertes (C. Asturiano) 21.00.
-Monday 22.
Granada – At. from Madrid. Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano) 21.00.