Barcelona in Atlético test as Madrid CFF look to bounce back: Liga F Week 10 Preview

Barcelona in Atlético test as Madrid CFF look to bounce back: Liga F Week 10 Preview
Atlético Madrid hot forward Ludmila (L) is challenged by Barcelona defender Jana Fernández in the Supercopa de España Femenina Final back in January this year / © Photo by Angel Martinez / Getty Images

Atlético Madrid hosts Barcelona at the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday evening in one of the biggest Liga F contests.

The hosts will be looking forward to closing the gap whereas Barcelona will be looking to make it 10 wins in 10 games.

Leading Liga F goal scorer forward Ludmila with eight goals so far will be looking to add to her goal tally against a Barcelona defence that has conceded two goals in nine matches whilst Barcelona will be hoping that forwards Geyse, Asisat Oshoala, Claudia Pina and Salma Paralluelo will be at their best to breach the Atlético’s defence that has conceded seven goals so far.

The result of this match might be key in the title race and Barcelona will be motivated by their second half 3-0 demolition of Bayern Munich on Thursday night during their UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage match.

The teams met 15 times at this venue with the hosts winning two, losing seven and drawing six which gives the visitors the highest probability of winning the match.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid have a relatively easy fixture at home against newcomers Alhama CF ElPozo on Saturday night at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.

The Madrid side will be hoping for a better result after their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday night in the UWCL whilst Alhama will be hoping to make it two wins in a row to boost their survival chances.

The hosts will be hoping that their key players upfront will be at their best led by forwards Esther González and Nahikari García who will be complimented by in-form midfielder Maite Oroz.

A win for Madrid will take them to second position before second-placed Atletico play Barcelona 24 hours later.

The teams have met once in a cup match in March this year with Real Madrid winning the match.

Madrid CFF will be looking to put aside last weekend’s set back when they host a tricky Sporting Huelva side on Saturday afternoon at the Estadio Fernando Torres.

The hosts are coming from a 2-1 loss to Villarreal and a win against Huelva will put their campaign back on track.

On the other hand, the visitors have not won in their last four matches and were knocked out of the Copa De Reina by CA Osasuna on Wednesday.

The teams have met five times at this venue with the hosts winning four and drawing one in a cup game.

Levante host Sevilla on Saturday afternoon at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol - Campo 1.

Levante can move to 20 points with a win against Sevilla.

They will be hoping forwards Alba Redondo and Nataša Andonova will be at their best to inspire the team to victory.

Sevilla, on the other hand, will be looking to put aside their 3-0 defeat to Real Betis in last weekend’s El Gran Derbi.

The teams have met 10 times at this venue with Levante winning seven, losing one and drawing two, giving them a high probability of winning the encounter.

Buoyed by last weekend’s win away at Madrid CFF, Villarreal look to make it two wins in a row when they host struggling Athletic Club on Saturday evening at the Ciudad Deportiva.

Villarreal will be looking to continue picking points and move out of relegation.

Athletic Club, on the other hand, have been inconsistent in their last performances and have collected only 10 points from a possible 27 after nine matches.

The teams have met twice with Athletic Club winning at home and drawing away last season.

Struggling UDG Tenerife hosts an improving Valencia side at the Estadio La Palmera on Sunday afternoon.

Tenerife have failed to replicate last season’s form and find themselves in trouble being just five points from relegation whilst Valencia have seen themselves improving managing eight points from a possible 15 in their last five matches.

The teams have met 15 times with Tenerife winning eight, losing three and drawing four, giving them a slight advantage going into this fixture.

Real Betis make a trip to Alavés on Sunday afternoon for a clash at the Ciudad Deportiva José Luis Compañón.

The visitors, who will be looking to collect maximum points against Alavés to make it three wins in a row, will be drawing inspiration from the El Gran Derbi triumph where they produced a masterclass to defeat Sevilla 3-0 last weekend.

Alavés, on the other hand, have been finding the going tough as they now occupy the bottom position without a win this season.

Betis will be hoping that last weekend’s double scorer, forward Rinsola Babajide will replicate her form and lead from the front.

The teams have met twice with Alavés winning at home and losing away last season, giving the hosts a grim hope that this could be their first win of the season.

Newcomers Levante Las Planas make a trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon for a clash at the Instalaciones de Zubieta.

The hosts find themselves sixth on the standings and are hoping to gain more traction with a win over Las Planas on Sunday.

On the other hand, Las Planas started the season brightly but fizzled along the way dropping points and have managed a point from a possible 15 in their last five matches.

The teams have met four times before with both teams winning one each and drawing the other two.

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Fixtures (Saturday): Madrid CFF vs Sporting Huelva (12:00); Levante UD vs Sevilla (12:00); Villarreal vs Athletic Club (16:00); Real Madrid vs Alhama CF ElPozo (18:15)

Fixtures (Sunday): UDG Tenerife vs Valencia (12:00*); Alavés vs Real Betis (12:00); Real Sociedad vs Levante Las Planas (14:00); Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona (16:30)

All times are Central European Time (CET)
*Peninsular Time