Real looking good for a ‘special’ season
The relentless winning machine that is Real Madrid (El Clasicos aside, of course) appears to be finally grinding down champions Barcelona in this season’s La Liga title race.
The previously imperious Catalans have been struggling on the road at times in recent months and came unstuck again last weekend as they were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal at El Madrigal.
With Real cruising to a 3-1 success over Real Zaragoza at the Bernabeu – albeit coming from a goal behind – Jose Mourinho’s men now hold a seven-point lead over their eternal rivals.
Still, the Special One will be reminding his players that there is no room for complacency, especially as a potential banana skin awaits this weekend in the shape of a hotly-contested Madrid derby at Getafe.
Barcelona kick off after Real on Saturday and look sure-fire winners against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou, so Los Blancos must avoid giving Pep Guardiola’s men a pre-match tonic by dropping points at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Elsewhere, third-placed Valencia’s iffy form continued as they conceded a late goal in a 2-2 draw at lowly Racing Santander, making it four La Liga matches without a win for Unai Emery’s men.
Things aren’t about to get any easier for Los Che, though, as they now travel to an Atletico Madrid side who have been galvanised by the arrival of new boss Diego Simeone and are now climbing the table rapidly.
A Diego Godin strike just before half-time was enough to give Atleti a vital 1-0 success at Osasuna last time out, meaning Simeone has now taken ten points from a possible 12 since replacing Gregorio Manzano.
Levante have been clinging to the final Champions League spot for weeks, largely by virtue of a seven-game winning run in September and October, but sadly their little miracle now appears to be over.
They are without a win in five after being beaten 2-1 by Getafe and although a home clash with Racing offers a chance to get back on track, Espanyol are now level on points with them after beating Mallorca 1-0 at the Cornella-El Prat.
The second Catalan club now head to San Mames to face Athletic Bilbao – who trail them by just two points in sixth place – in another highlight of what looks to be a corker of weekend in Spain.
