Barcelona and Real Madrid play at home on Spains matchday 21
Barcelona and Real Madrid play at home on Spains matchday 21
11:50, February 06, 2010 
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Both Primera Liga leaders FC Barcelona and second placed Real Madrid are favorites to win their respective games in Spain's matchday 21.
Barcelona entertains Getafe and although Getafe has had an excellent season that sees them seventh in the Primera Liga table, the side coached by Michel Gonzalez will probably feel the effects of Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi final away to Sevilla.
Getafe lost that game 2-0 and Michel's side will also be without suspended star player Pedro Leon in the Camp Nou.
The big questions over the Barcelona team are whether or not Thierry Henry or Pedro Rodriguez will be in the starting 11 and if Zlatan Ibrahimovich will be able to score his first goal in 2010.
Real Madrid entertains Espanyol and will be favorite for a comfortable win in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still suspended, but Gonzalo Higuain is fit again after missing three weeks with a muscle injury.
Higuain is likely to return to the starting line up in place of Raul Gonzalez, who admitted this week that he has to now settle for a reduced role in team affairs.
Saturday also sees Onesimo Sanchez make his debut as Valladolid coach following last week's sacking on Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Valladolid visits third placed Valencia and the home team has to win following its defeat in Sevilla last Sunday.
Sunday sees Mallorca try and pick up the pieces following last weekend's surprise defeat away to Xerez. Gregorio Manzano's side welcomes Villarreal to the ONO Stadium.
The game will be the first match in charge for Jose Luis Garrido who replaced the sacked Ernesto Valverde in the Villarreal dugout this week.
Malaga aims to keep up the momentum gained from last week's win away to Atletico Madrid at home to Deportivo la Coruna, while Athletic Club Bilbao aims to recover from two away defeats at home to bottom of the table Xerez.
Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra could be the eighth Primera Liga coach to lose his job should his side lose away to Osasuna.
Almeria aims to make home advantage count against a Sporting Gijon team that has lost steam following a good start to the season.
Zaragoza ended a winless run that went back to November 1 with its success in Tenerife last weekend, however, Jose Aurelio Gay's side is still in the relegation zone.
A defeat at home to Sevilla could still see Gay's job in danger, although Sevilla may rest players for next week's Copa del Rey semi final return leg in Getafe.
Finally Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander have their second of three meetings within seven days.
Atletico won the Copa del Rey sem final first leg clash between them 4-0 on Thursday night, but that was Racing's first defeat in 10 matches and the home side will look for revenge in the El Sardinero Stadium in the last match of the weekend.
Source:Xinhua
Barcelona entertains Getafe and although Getafe has had an excellent season that sees them seventh in the Primera Liga table, the side coached by Michel Gonzalez will probably feel the effects of Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi final away to Sevilla.
Getafe lost that game 2-0 and Michel's side will also be without suspended star player Pedro Leon in the Camp Nou.
The big questions over the Barcelona team are whether or not Thierry Henry or Pedro Rodriguez will be in the starting 11 and if Zlatan Ibrahimovich will be able to score his first goal in 2010.
Real Madrid entertains Espanyol and will be favorite for a comfortable win in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still suspended, but Gonzalo Higuain is fit again after missing three weeks with a muscle injury.
Higuain is likely to return to the starting line up in place of Raul Gonzalez, who admitted this week that he has to now settle for a reduced role in team affairs.
Saturday also sees Onesimo Sanchez make his debut as Valladolid coach following last week's sacking on Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Valladolid visits third placed Valencia and the home team has to win following its defeat in Sevilla last Sunday.
Sunday sees Mallorca try and pick up the pieces following last weekend's surprise defeat away to Xerez. Gregorio Manzano's side welcomes Villarreal to the ONO Stadium.
The game will be the first match in charge for Jose Luis Garrido who replaced the sacked Ernesto Valverde in the Villarreal dugout this week.
Malaga aims to keep up the momentum gained from last week's win away to Atletico Madrid at home to Deportivo la Coruna, while Athletic Club Bilbao aims to recover from two away defeats at home to bottom of the table Xerez.
Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra could be the eighth Primera Liga coach to lose his job should his side lose away to Osasuna.
Almeria aims to make home advantage count against a Sporting Gijon team that has lost steam following a good start to the season.
Zaragoza ended a winless run that went back to November 1 with its success in Tenerife last weekend, however, Jose Aurelio Gay's side is still in the relegation zone.
A defeat at home to Sevilla could still see Gay's job in danger, although Sevilla may rest players for next week's Copa del Rey semi final return leg in Getafe.
Finally Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander have their second of three meetings within seven days.
Atletico won the Copa del Rey sem final first leg clash between them 4-0 on Thursday night, but that was Racing's first defeat in 10 matches and the home side will look for revenge in the El Sardinero Stadium in the last match of the weekend.
Source:Xinhua
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