Elche and Espanyol face their emergencies
MADRID, 18 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Sevilla hopes to take advantage of the European mood to confirm in Vallecas, where Rayo defends its sixth place, its improvement in LaLiga Santander, a Sunday in which Elche clings to its last options to save itself against RCD Espanyol that tries to avoid relegation positions.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men put a foot and a half in the round of 16 of their fetish competition, the Europa League, after beating PSV Eindhoven (3-0) on Thursday, a ‘rush’ that they want to extend in LaLiga, where they have won three of their last four games, giving up only at the Camp Nou.
Twelfth with 24 points, four more than the danger zone, the Nervionense team hopes to take revenge for the Vallecano victory in the first round of the championship (0-1), all without the suspended Nemanja Gudelj and Joan Jordán nor the injured ‘Tecatito ‘ Corona, Marcao, and ‘Papu’ Gómez, and with the doubt of the headdresses Karim Rekik, Ivan Rakitic and Loïc Badé.
Opposite, Rayo Vallecano seeks to extend its good run, which has lasted for three days -two wins and a draw-, to remain in sixth place in the table, the last to access European competitions.
Andoni Iraola’s team, which shows up at the event with the entire squad available, manages 33 points, five behind the ‘Champions’ and one more than the first of the contenders to replace him from his position, Athletic Club.
At the Martínez Valero, bottom club Elche speeds up their options to continue fighting for permanence against an Espanyol that wants to add so as not to end the day in the well. The people from Elche, who at the beginning of February surprised with their first victory of the season against Villarreal (3-1), could not repeat during the week at the Bernabéu (4-0).
With only nine points, Pablo Machín’s men have the zone of permanence at 12, precisely marked by his rival this Sunday. The Catalan team (21) drags three dates without winning -two defeats and a draw- and is only one point ahead of the first of the relegation teams, Valencia (20).
Diego González, due to accumulation of cards, and Pere Milla, Álex Collado, Jony Álamo, Diego González and John Chetauya, due to injury, will miss the duel for the green-and-green team, while the suspended Leandro Cabrera and the injured Adrià Pedrosa, Fernando Calero , Keidi Bare, Gori Gracia, Joselu and César Montes will not be available for Diego Martínez.
–SUNDAY PROGRAM IN LALIGA SANTANDER.
Elche – Spanish. Del Cerro Grande (C.Madrileño) 14.00.
Rayo Vallecano – Seville. Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño) 16.15.
Athletic – Athletic Club. Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano) 18.30.
FC Barcelona – Cádiz. González Fuertes (C.Asturiano) 21.00.