Barcelona, Real in easy fixtures as Levante face rejuvenated Sevilla: Liga F Week 20 Preview

Barcelona will look to consolidate their position when they face a visiting relegation-threatened Villarreal side at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday afternoon.

The log leaders will be hoping that their forwards have their shooting boots on as they return from the international break. Club’s leading goalscorer Asisat Oshoala will be expected to lead the attack which includes Salma Paralluelo, Geyse and Mariona Caldentey while being assured of maximum support from a solid midfield of Aitana Bonmatí and Keira Walsh.

Villarreal, on the other hand, will be hoping that skipper and forward Sheila Guijarro will be at her best to lead the team to victory and be the first to beat the Blaugranes in a period of almost two years in the league.

Barcelona have a 19-match winning streak with 57 points whilst Villarreal find themselves fighting relegation being just one point above the drop zone with 15 points.

The teams have met three times with Barcelona winning all matches, scoring 18 goals and conceding two only.

Meanwhile, second-placed Real Madrid play struggling hosts Alhama CF ElPozo at the Campo de Fútbol José María Soriano Muñoz on Saturday night.

Real will be aiming to collect maximum points to keep pressure on log leaders Barcelona in their bid to end the latter’s dominance as they trail by just five points.

Alhama, on the other hand, will be looking to avoid a defeat in order to boost their chances of survival as they are second from bottom with 14 points.

The visitors will be banking on forward Esther González who had a good run during the international break weighing in with some goals for the national team. The hosts, on the other hand, will be hoping that experienced forward Jade Boho will be at her best.

The teams have met twice in competitive matches with Real winning both matches.

Levante, who are aiming for a second dance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL), will be locking horns with rejuvenated hosts Sevilla at the Ramón Cisneros Palacios on Sunday evening.

The visitors still have a mathematical chance to win the coveted league title as they are only 10 points below log leaders with 11 matches remaining whilst the hosts are on a five match unbeaten run and find themselves seventh on the standings with 26 points.

Forward Alba Redondo will be aiming to add more goals for the visitors to keep alive her hopes of landing the Pichichi at the end of the season whilst the hosts will be banking on forward Inma Gabarro and midfielder Toni Payne for goals.

The teams have met 21 times with Sevilla winning five, losing 12 and drawing the other four matches.

Real Sociedad face an inconsistent Atlético Madrid at the Instalaciones de Zubieta on Saturday afternoon.

Sociedad will be aiming to use home advantage to collect maximum points whilst Atlético will be wary of dropping points which will weaken their top three chances as they find themselves 11 points behind third-placed Levante.

The hosts will be banking on forwards Mirari Uria and Sanni Franssi for goals whilst Atlético will be hoping forwards Ludmila and Marta Cardona will be at their best to propel them to victory.

The teams have met 28 times with Atlético winning 17, losing seven and drawing four.

Fifth-placed Madrid CFF host bottom-placed Alavés at the Estadio Fernando Torres on Saturday afternoon.

Madrid CFF will be hoping to extend their four matches unbeaten with a win to keep pushing for a top four finish whilst the visitors will be hoping they will collect maximum points to fight for survival.

The hosts will be banking on forwards Racheal Kundananji, Grace Chanda and Florencia Bonsegundo for goals whilst the visitors will be hoping forward Sanadri is at her best to propel them to victory in their fight for survival.

The teams have met three times with Alavés winning two and losing one.

Sporting Huelva host Athletic Club at the Campo del CD Lamiya on Saturday afternoon.

The teams are tied on 17 points with Athletic having a better goal difference and the team that will collect maximum points will be assured of opening a three point gap.

The hosts will be hoping that forwards Therese Simonsson and Cristina Gey are in their best form to contribute to goals whilst Athletic will be hoping that forward Jose Amezaga will chip in with goals.

Both teams are not yet safe from relegation threat as they are only three points from relegation zone.

The teams have met 22 times with Athletic winning 11, losing three and drawing the other eight.

A rejuvenated Valencia side host struggling UDG Tenerife at the Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna on Saturday evening.

Valencia have done well in the last matches collecting maximum points that moved them to sixth on 27 points and another set of maximum points will be welcome.

The visitors, on the other hand, have been struggling and seem to have picked up some points along the way and find themselves ninth with 21 points, only seven above the relegation zone.

Valencia will be placing their hopes on midfielder Marta Carro for goals whilst UDG Tenerife will be hoping midfielder Koko Ange who has committed to a new two year contract extension will light up the midfield and inspire her team to victory.

The teams have met 16 times with Tenerife winning nine, losing three and drawing four.

Relegation-threatened Real Betis lock horns with hosts Levante Las Planas at the Camp Municipal Les Planes on Sunday evening.

Betis are 14th on the standings with 14 points and are tied on the same number of points with Alhama who occupy the last relegation spot.

A loss for Betis may push them into relegation zone if Alhama avoid defeat at the weekend.

The visitors will be hoping that midfielder Grace Asantewaa and forward Rinsola Babajide come to the party and rescue their team from losing points at this crucial stage of the season.

Las Planas, on the other hand, will be banking on the experience of forward Mari Paz and her partner Laura Martínez to propel them to victory as they are only two points above relegation.

The teams have met once with Las Planas winning the fixture away from home.

Fixtures (Saturday): Sporting Huelva vs Athletic Club (12:00); Real Sociedad vs Atlético Madrid (12:00); Madrid CFF vs Alavés (14:00); Valencia vs UDG Tenerife (16:00); Alhama CF ElPozo vs Real Madrid (18:15)

Fixtures (Sunday): Barcelona vs Villarreal (12:00); Sevilla vs Levante (16:00); Levante Las Planas vs Real Betis (18:00)