La Liga Preview: Racing Santander Look For First Home Win, Xerez Search For First Away Triumph

Racing Santander vs Deportivo La Coruna

Kick-off: Sunday November 29, 17:00 CET – El Sardinero

Racing put a good fight at Real Madrid last weekend as they frustrated their illustrious rivals despite being comprehensively outplayed and outgunned. But returning to their home ground is hardly a source of comfort for the Cantabrians, who have yet to win at El Sardinero this term, a dismal record that new coach, Miguel Angel Portugal will be looking to swiftly put an end to.

Deportivo, meanwhile, have firmly established themselves as the best ‘best of the rest’ as they continue to make fifth spot in the standings their own. Not only that, they are just two points behind fourth-placed Valencia heading into this round of games and any slip-ups from Los Che, and indeed any of the top four frontrunners and Miguel Angel Lotina’s men will be ready to pounce.

The veteran Depor coach will be relieved to have Andres Guardado available after it was confirmed that the Mexican had not contracted the H1N1 virus and has been included in the squad. But Ze Castro and Rodolfo Bodipo are both out. 

Prediction: Racing Santander 1-3 Deportivo  

Real Valladolid vs Tenerife

Kick-off: Sunday November 29, 17:00 CET – Estadio Jose Zorrilla

Both Valladolid and Tenerife are on a downward spiral. Neither have won in any of their last three league outings and between them, they have picked up just three points in that period.

What’s even more disconcerting is that both sides have not had particularly difficult fixtures in recent weeks. The Pucelas were held to a draw at home by lowly Xerez and by inconsistent Espanyol, while the Canarians were held by Malaga and went down at Espnayol. Those dropped points could prove decisive in the final analysis, but for now, it looks as though the pair will have relegation woes in their minds heading into Christmas.

Valladolid coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar will likely have to make do without injured duo Pedro Lopez and Sisi while Daniel Kome is sidelined for Tenerife .

Prediction: Real Valladolid 2-1 Tenerife

Getafe vs Xerez

Kick-off: Sunday November 29, 17:00 CET – Coliseum Alfonso Perez

Getafe will have a real chance to rocket themselves well into the top half of the standings against a struggling Xerez side. Confidence is riding high at the Azulones camp after they pulled off a surprise 2-0 win at Espanyol last Sunday to move up to ninth on the table in what was only their second away victory of the campaign. They will be feeling optimistic of claiming their first back-to-back triumph this term.  

But Xerez have proven to be a tricky opponent for some. Although they have yet to even score a goal away from home, they have been known to grind out a result against opponents who were expected to steamroll past them. They held an in-form Sporting Gijon to a goalless draw at home last weekend as well as earning a vital point at Valladolid three weeks ago with a typical dogged display. If Getafe’s strikeforce fail to fire on all cylinders, they will have trouble breaking down Cuco Ziganda’s stubborn defence.

Manu del Moral will be available for El Geta after passing a late fitness test but Fabio Celestini will miss out. For Xerez, they will welcome David Prieto back but Momo is sidelined with an injury.

Prediction: Getafe 1-0 Xerez

Real Zaragoza vs Osasuna

Kick-off: Sunday November 29, 17:00 CET – La Romareda

After two consecutive away games, Zaragoza will be relieved to be back home. Not only have the Aragons been on the road in the last two matchdays, but they’ve also had some incredibly tough assignments at Valencia, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – all of which ended in defeat – before settling for a 1-1 draw at Malaga last Sunday.

Osasuna were hoping to build on their courageous 1-1 draw against Barcelona a month ago but instead, they plummeted to successive defeats, first to Almeria and then to Valencia last week. The double reverse has sent them tumbling to the bottom half of the table and now it is their turn to play away from home twice in a row, before facing tough opposition in the form of Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna.

Coach, Jose Antonio Camacho could not have asked for a worse time to contend with a spate of absentees as leading goalscorer Walter Pandiani is suspended, as are Miguel Flano and Patxi Punal. Nacho Monreal, Ludovic Delporte and Javier Portillo are doubtful.

Zaragoza, meanwhile, will have to make do without forwards, Braulio and Javier Arizmendi but Ewerthon has shaken off an illness.

Prediction: Real Zaragoza 2-2 Osasuna

KS Leong, Goal.com