Barca, Real clash on cards as Villarreal travel to Las Planas: Liga F Week 21 Preview
Real Madrid have a chance to narrow the gap to six points at the top with a win when they host sworn rivals Barcelona at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Sunday evening.
The match comes at a time when the hosts have a full squad except for long term absentee midfielder Caroline Weir.
Barcelona forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo will be looking to add to their goal tallies of 16 and 13 respectively in the race for the golden boot. The hosts, on the other hand, will be hoping that forwards Athenea del Castillo, Signe Bruun and rejuvenated Caroline Møller are at their best to inspire the team to their first ever win against Barcelona in all competitions.
A win for the hosts will move them to 52 points, six points behind their opponents who are at the top, whilst a win for the visitors will take their points to 61 and open a 12 point gap.
The teams have met 15 times, with Barcelona winning 14 and drawing one (a Super Cup match which Barcelona won after extra-time), giving Barcelona an upperhand.
Meanwhile, third-placed Levante will be aiming to bounce back from their four match winless run when they host relegation-threatened Real Betis at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol - Campo 1 on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts’ poor run in their last four matches put their top three finish hopes on the ropes as Madrid CFF and Atlético Madrid covered the gap.
The hosts will be hoping that forwards Gabi Nunes and Alba Redondo inspire them to victory whilst defender María Méndez will be marshalling the defence to thwart any attacks from the visitors who will be looking dangerous to save their season. The visitors, on the other hand, will be banking on the heroics of goalkeeper Paula Vizoso, who has been exceptional in goal despite her team struggling, with 63 saves and 11 blocks in 15 matches she has played averaging 4.2 saves per match.
A win for Levante will take their points to 43 whilst a win for Betis will move them to 18 points.
The teams have met 15 times, with Levante winning nine, losing three and drawing the other three.
Atlético Madrid will be motivated to break into the top three with a win over hosts SD Eibar on Sunday afternoon at the Municipal de Ipurua.
The faltering by third-placed Levante gave Atlético hope to make a strong challenge for a top three finish in the last 10 matches as it is now mathematically possible as they trail the former by only two points.
The hosts, on the other hand, will be looking to avoid defeat in their fight against relegation as they are just three points away from the chop and will be hoping that forwards Esperanza Pizarro and Ane Campos carry the day as they seek a victory whilst visitors will be hoping that forward Sheila Guijarro is back to her best with support from midfielder and skipper Leicy Santos as well as the reliable goal minder Lola Gallardo.
A win for the hosts will take them to 21 points whilst a win for the visitors will take their points to 41.
The teams have met five times, with Atlético winning all the matches.
With top three finish in sight, Madrid CFF will go all guns out against visiting bottom-placed Sporting Huelva at the Estadio Fernando Torres on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts will be aiming to utilise home advantage as well as hope that on-loan forward Giovana Quieroz continues with her scoring form since joining from Arsenal in January whilst Huelva will be looking to come out of their shell and replicate last weekend’s performance where they held third-placed Levante to a one-all draw.
Huelva will look to match the hosts pound for pound hoping that winger Isina provides the much needed width to provide pinpoint crosses to the likes of forward Lovisa Gustafsson. They will also hope that goalkeeper Zala Meršnik is at her best to summon all her reflexes to thwart the Madrid CFF forwards having made 71 saves in 15 matches (including two penalties) this season.
A win for the hosts will see them move to 42 points and keep them within touching distance of top three whilst a win for the visitors will move them to eight points and give them slim hopes of fighting for survival.
The teams have met 13 times, with Madrid CFF winning seven, losing five and drawing one (Copa De La Reina match won by Huelva after extra-time).
High-riding Athletic Club will be looking to make it five wins in a row when they travel to their close rivals Real Sociedad for their 32nd Basque Derby at the Reale Arena on Saturday evening.
The hosts are still bubbling in glory after they booked a place in the Copa De La Reina final and will see this as an opportunity to build on that success.
The hosts will hope that their dependable gunslingers Sanni Franssi and Synne Jensen carry the day whilst the visitors boast of experienced forward Nahikari García and dependable super substitute Jone Amezaga to carry the day for them.
A win for the hosts will move them to 31 points, a point behind their opponents, whilst a win for the visitors will move them to 35 points.
The teams have met 31 times, with Athletic Club winning 20, losing six and drawing five.
Sevilla will be looking for consistency with a top four finish in sight when they make a long trip to UDCA Tenerife at the Campo Municipal de Fútbol de Adeje on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors will be missing the services of forward Ana Franco due to injury but will be having speedy winger Toni payne and the evergreen midfielder Pamela González whilst the the hosts, who will be hoping to put behind their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of log leaders Barcelona and mount a fight for the valuable three points, will have their hopes pinned on forward Jassina Blom, wingers Rinsola Babajide and Koko Ange.
Tenerife will welcome goalkeeper Noelia Ramos back after missing their last match due to suspension having received a straight red card against Villarreal.
A win for Tenerife will take their points to 24 whilst a win for Sevilla will move them to 36 points.
The teams have met 14 times with Tenerife winning nine, losing four and drawing one. Tenerife have won all the seven matches at home against their opponents, giving them an upper hand going into this fixture.
Having moved out of the relegation zone on goal difference, Granada CF will be looking to collect maximum points when they clash with hosts Valencia at the Estadi Antonio Puchades on Saturday night.
The hosts will be hoping that forwards Ana Marcos and Marina Marti are at their best to steer the team to victory with able support from midfielders Claudia Florentina and Fiamma Iannuzzi and goalkeeper Antonia Canales.
The visitors, on the other hand, will be hoping that forward Laura Requena Sánchez maintains her current form to provide the goals that will sink their opponents.
A win for Valencia will move them to 22 points whilst a win for Granada will take their points to 18 points, boosting their fight against relegation.
The teams have met three times, with Valencia winning all the matches, giving them a favourites tag going into the match.
10th placed Villarreal will be looking to move up the standings with a win over their eleventh-placed hosts Levante Las Planas at the Camp Municipal Les Planes on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts will be looking to bounce back from their 13-match winless streak in all competitions (nine defeats and four draws) and are in danger of relegation as they are only four points from the chop whilst Villarreal are not far off being just five points from relegation.
The hosts will be banking on January acquisition Ghizlane Chebbak and Jessica Martínez and Urina Uribe to propel the team out of the danger zone whilst Villarreal will be hoping that slick Claudia Iglesias inspires the team to a win.
A win for Villarreal will take them to 23 points whilst a win for the hosts will take them to 22 points.
The teams have met three times, with all matches ending in stalemate.
Fixtures (Saturday): UDG Tenerife vs Sevilla (12:00)*; Levante vs Real Betis (16:00); Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (18:00); Valencia vs Granada CF (20:00)
Fixtures (Sunday): SD Eibar vs Atlético Madrid (12:00); Levante Las Planas vs Villarreal (14:00); Madrid CFF vs Sporting Huelva (16:00); Real Madrid vs Barcelona (18:00)
All times are in Central European Time (CET)
*Peninsular Time