Football Previews
Valuable points will be at stake for Champions League-chasing Valencia and relegation-threatened Granada when the teams square off on Monday at the Mestalla stadium. Los Che, who have won just one of their last four league games and saw a 10-match unbeaten run halted in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at league leaders Barcelona, are looking to strengthen their grip on fourth place. Valencia hold the last Champions League qualifying spot and are two points clear of Sevilla, who host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, with six games remaining. “The next week is going to be crucial,” Valencia midfielder Enzo Perez told the Spanish press. “We have three games – at home to Granada and Eibar and away to Rayo Vallecano – in the space of six days. “They are going to be six finals. “Our focus right now is on the game against Granada. We, like Granada, need three points and we expect a difficult game.” Valencia, coached by Portuguese tactician Nuno, have not lost at the Mestalla stadium since a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona on November 30. “The support of our fans will be crucial,” Perez said. Perez is set to return to Valencia’s starting XI after recovering from a muscle tear. Granada, who are battling to avoid the drop, have won just once on the road this season. The Andalusian outfit are without a win since March 7 and have collected three points since. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Sevilla left Granada second-bottom in the standings, three points adrift of safety. “The draw against Sevilla gives us faith that we can compete against the big teams,” Granada coach Abel Resino said. “We have to play with the same intensity in Valencia. “I am convinced that with effort and sacrifice, my team has an option to defend its Primera Division status.” Granada will be without midfielder Ruben Perez, who must serve a one-match ban. The good news for Resino is that defender Allan Nyom and midfielder Lass Bangoura have recovered from muscular problems and will be available for selection.
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Team
MP
W
D
L
F
A
G
P
1
Real Madrid
33
26
6
1
71
22
+49
84
2
Girona
33
22
5
6
69
40
+29
71
3
Barcelona
32
21
7
4
64
37
+27
70
4
Atlético de Madrid
33
20
4
9
62
39
+23
64
5
Athletic Bilbao
33
16
10
7
53
33
+20
58
6
Real Sociedad
33
13
12
8
46
35
+11
51
7
Real Betis
33
12
13
8
41
39
+2
49
8
Valencia
32
13
8
11
35
34
+1
47
9
Villarreal
33
12
9
12
54
55
-1
45
10
Getafe
33
10
13
10
41
45
-4
43
11
Osasuna
33
11
6
16
37
49
-12
39
12
Alaves
33
10
8
15
31
38
-7
38
13
Sevilla
33
9
11
13
42
46
-4
38
14
Las Palmas
33
10
7
16
30
41
-11
37
15
Rayo Vallecano
33
7
13
13
27
42
-15
34
16
Mallorca
33
6
14
13
27
39
-12
32
17
Celta Vigo
33
7
10
16
37
50
-13
31
18
Cadiz
33
4
14
15
23
46
-23
26
19
Granada
33
4
9
20
36
61
-25
21
20
Almeria
33
1
11
21
32
67
-35
14
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