Barcelona, Real in easy fixtures as Huelva seek first win: Liga F Week 11 Preview
Log leaders Barcelona have a relatively easy task as they host relegation-threatened SD Eibar at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Saturday night.
The defending champions will be hoping to collect maximum points and maintain their 100% record and the gap.
The hosts will be banking on their marauding forwardline led by the rejuvenated Norwegian forward Caroline Graham Hansen and Spanish starlet Salma Paralluelo with support from the evergreen Aitana Bonmatí in midfield and Mapi León in defence.
The visitors, on the other hand, will be aiming to be the first team to end the hosts’ 100% record and register their third win of the season in the process although they are aware of the danger posed by their much-fancied opponents.
A win for Barcelona will take them to 33 points whilst a win for the visitors will take them to 10 points.
The teams have met four times with Barcelona winning all the four matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding one in the process.
Meanwhile, second-placed Real Madrid face a rejuvenated visiting Sevilla side at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Saturday night.
Real will be hoping to utilise home advantage and make it two wins in a row whilst the visitors will be aiming for a fourth win in a row as they look to continue with their rejuvenation.
The hosts will be looking up to player of the moment forward Athenea del Castillo who has fitted well into the team with support from fellow forward Signe Bruun.
The visitors, on the other hand, will be hoping that forwards Inma Gabarro and Cristina Martín-Prieto continue from where they left before the international break and lead them to victory.
A win for the hosts will take them to 27 points whilst a win for the visitors will move them to 18 points.
The teams have met seven times with Real winning five, losing one and drawing one, giving the hosts an upper hand in this fixture.
Third-placed Levante have a tricky tie against hosts Athletic Club at the Lezama Facilities on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors will be aiming to continue with their unbeaten run and make it six wins in a row whilst the hosts will be hoping to bounce back from their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona.
The visitors will be banking on speed winger Mayra Ramírez and forward Alba Redondo for goals whilst the hosts will be hoping forward Clara Pinedo and defensive pair of Maddi Torre and Nerea Nevado are at their best to provide goals and defensive cover respectively.
The visitors will be hoping to overcome the setback communicated by the team management recently that they will be cutting the financing of the women’s team going forward.
A win for Levante will take them to 27 points whilst a win for the hosts will move them to 15 points.
The teams have met 24 times with each team winning 10 and drawing four.
Atlético Madrid will be aiming to make it four wins in a row when they face hosts Real Betis at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol on Sunday evening.
The hosts will be banking on midfielder Leles to provide defence splitting passes to forwards Julia Aguado and Tiffany Cameron whilst the visitors will be putting their hopes on signing of the season Sheila Guijarro who has scored seven goals in 10 matches and is joint-top goalscorer with Barcelona’s Carolin Graham Hansen.
Real Betis will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating 6-0 defeat to Sevilla in the El Gran Derbi before the international break.
A win for the hosts will move them to 16 points whilst a win for the visitors will move them to 25 points.
The teams have met 14 times with Atlético winning 10 and drawing four, giving the visitors an upper hand as they have not lost to their opponents in a competitive match.
Struggling Valencia will be looking to bounce back from their three-match losing streak when they host inconsistent Madrid CFF at the Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna on Sunday evening.
The visitors will be hoping that forward Racheal Kundananji returns from international duty recharged and lead them to victory as well as fighting for the golden boot whilst the hosts will place their hopes in the midfield driving force of Pauleta and will also hope that forward Ana Marcos returns to her best shape to lead their team’s attack.
A win for the hosts will take them to 14 points whilst a win for the visitors will move them to 24 points and stay closer to the top group as they aim for a top three finish.
The teams have met 11 times with Madrid CFF winning six, losing three and drawing two.
Levante Las Planas will be looking to end their two-match losing streak when they square off with hosts Villarreal at the Ciudad Deportiva on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors will be missing the services of defender Morgane Nicoli who was shown two yellow cards in their 4-3 defeat against Madrid CFF before the international break.
The hosts, on the other hand, have been struggling for goals which may prove to be their Achilles heel with their opponents having been scoring for fun this season. With forward Irina Uribe back on the scoring charts, it is a morale booster to the visitors who will also be banking on forward Elena Julve and midfielder Yasmin Mrabet for inspiration to collect the all-important three points.
A win for the hosts will take them to 11 points whilst a win for the visitors will move them to 18 points.
The teams have met twice with both matches ending in a stalemate, making this match open for grabs.
UDCA Tenerife will be looking to bounce back from their winless streak when they clash with struggling visiting Granada CF at the Campo Municipal de Fútbol de Adeje on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts will be hoping that forwards Jassina Blom, Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide are at their best to cause problems for the visitors and claim the valuable three points to move to 16 points whilst the visitors will be hoping forwards Carlota Suarez and Naima Garcia will be able to lead their team to victory.
A win for the visitors will take them to six points but will remain in the relegation zone.
The teams have not met before and either team will be looking to create history by winning their first meeting.
An inconsistent Real Sociedad will be looking for nothing short of victory when they clash with bottom-placed Sporting Huelva at the Campo del CD Lamiya on Saturday afternoon.
Real Sociedad will be looking to build onto their 2-0 victory over Valencia before the international break but will have to be wary of the hosts who will be aiming to record their first victory of the season to launch their fight for survival.
The visitors will be hoping that inspirational forward and skipper Nerea Eizaguirre and fellow forward Synne Jensen lead them to victory whilst the hosts will place their hopes on exciting midfielder Cienfu and forward Isina.
The visitors will have to do without Colombian defender Manuela Vanegas who received two yellow cards in their last match and will serve her one match suspension.
A win for Sociedad will take them to 16 points whilst a win for the hosts will take them to four points.
The teams have met 24 times with Real Sociedad winning 13, losing four and drawing seven.
Fixtures (Saturday): UDCA Tenerife vs Granada CF (12:00)*; Sporting Huelva vs Real Sociedad (14:00); Barcelona vs SD Eibar (16:30); Real Madrid vs Sevilla (18:30)
Fixtures (Sunday): Athletic Club vs Levante (12:00); Villarreal vs Levante Las Planas (14:00); Real Betis vs Atlético Madrid (16:30); Valencia vs Madrid CFF (18:30)
All times are in Central European Time (CET)
*Peninsular Hour