Preview: Four questions wait for answers in Spain's matchday 19
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E-mail Xinhua, January 20, 2017
As the Spanish Liga reaches its midway point this weekend, there are four big questions which need to be answered.
First, can Real Madrid bounce back after tough week?
It has been a difficult week for Real Madrid, not only due to defeats away to Sevilla in La Liga and at home to Celta Vigo in the King's Cup, but also off the pitch where a report showed they are no longer the football club with the most income in the world with both Manchester United and bitter rivals FC Barcelona overtaking them.
No doubt, the club president Florentino Perez will have been angered by the latter news, but coach Zinedine Zidane will be more worried by the flat display against Celta. Madrid produced several similar performances in their 40-game unbeaten run only to be saved by their attacking power or a last minute goal, but with Ronaldo looking off the boil that didn't happen on Wednesday.
In theory Malaga should provide a chance to get back on track with the club still looking nervous after the departure of Juande Ramos, but the demands are high at Real Madrid and Zidane doesn't only need to win on Saturday to quell the doubts, he needs to win in style.
Second, is winning ugly coming back into style?
Atletico Madrid had three shots on target in their Cup game at home to Eibar on Wednesday and won 3-0, while Barcelona hardly troubled Real Sociedad goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli on Thursday night and won 1-0 thanks to a Neymar penalty.
Barca sacrificed their traditional passing game, even taking Andres Iniesta off at halftime, in San Sebastian, while Atletico have returned to their solid defensive after a briefly entertaining, but ultimately failed attempt to play attacking football at the start of the campaign.
Both Atletico and Barca are back in the Basque country on Sunday with Barca in Eibar and Atletico away to Athletic Club Bilbao. Against two tough rivals, don't expect to see any major changes to their respective game plans, because as Diego Simeone said recently, "a good performance is one where you win."
Third, can Valencia continue "recovery" in Villarreal?
Perhaps it is optimistic to describe one win as a recovery but things had got so bad at Valencia following the resignation of Cesare Prandelli that anything other than defeat has to be viewed in a positive manner.
Valencia worked hard to beat a flat Espanyol side last weekend and will look to build on it when they travel 50 kilometers up the coast to face fourth-placed Villarreal, who have started 2017 with a draw at home to Barcelona and a draw in La Coruna.
A win for Valencia would see them open up some clear air between them and the relegation zone and even a point could be seen as positive. The question is: how much has last weekend's win strengthened their fragile morale and will coach Voro Gonzalez be able to cure their very obvious defensive issues against a side which on their day plays some of the best football in Spain.
Fourth, can Sevilla build on Madrid win?
Sevilla's last minute win at home to Real Madrid opened up the title race in Spain, while at the same time confirming the candidacy of Jorge Sampaoli's side as possible title winners. The question now is whether or not they can build on that in their trip to El Sadar to face bottom of the table Osasuna.
Osasuna's 1-1 draw in Granada looks as if it has virtually condemned them to a quick return to the second division, although they do look to have found new fighting spirit since Peter Vasiljevic took over as coach. Sevilla will no doubt remember that earlier this season they lost in Granada when Granada were rock bottom and that could sow a seed of doubt in the visitors' minds as they prepare for what on paper should be a straightforward game.
Ten years ago both sides shared a bitter rivalry and matches between Osasuna and Sevilla were blood and thunder affairs as players such as Pablo Garcia and Javi Navarro crossed swords, if Osasuna can show the same spirit on Sunday things could get interesting. Enditem
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