Barcelona, Real, Levante eye victories as Atlético aim for comeback: Liga F Week 16 Preview
Defending champions and log leaders Barcelona are aiming for another strong display as they welcome lowly Levante Las Planas in a local derby at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Wednesday evening.
The Blaugrenes are still enjoying their Supercopa victory over Real Sociedad at the weekend and a strong performance against a struggling Las Planas side will cement their chances of retaining the Liga F title.
The hosts will be banking on the scoring exploits of their forwards led by rising star Salma Paralluelo who is assured of support from Asisat Oshoala and the evergreen midfielder Aitana Bonmatí. They also boast of a defence marshalled by Mapi Leon and able wingbacks in Lucy Bronze and Fridolina Rolfö.
The visitors, on the other hand, will be banking on midfielder Laura Martínez González and experienced former Valencia forward Mari Paz.
The teams have met five times with Barcelona winning all of them, scoring 16 goals without conceding any in the process.
Meanwhile, Alavés have a tough match in their bid to survive the chop when they host a rejuvenated Real Madrid side at the Ciudad Deportiva José Luis Compañón on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid have conceded only nine goals in 13 matches with their defence being well marshalled by defenders Kathellen and Kenti Robles. They also boast of a strike force led by forward Esther González and midfielder Caroline Weir that is third in the league on goals with 39.
The hosts, on the other hand, are one place above relegation zone on goal difference and a loss may throw them further down.
The teams have met three times with Real Madrid winning two and drawing the other.
Second-placed Levante will be looking to continue with their fine run when they clash with hosts Athletic Club at the Instalaciones de Lezama Campo 1 on Tuesday evening.
The visitors will be looking to maintain their second place with a win and will bank their hopes on forward Alba Redondo who leads the Liga F golden boot race.
On the other hand, the hosts have been struggling in the league and will look to use home advantage to collect maximum points and dent the hopes of Levante in the quest to finish in the top three.
The teams have met 23 times with Levante winning nine, losing 10 and drawing four.
An inconsistent Atlético Madrid make a trip across town for a local derby with Madrid CFF at the Estadio Fernando Torres on Wednesday night.
Atlético have been inconsistent since losing their leading goal scorer Ludmila whilst Madrid CFF have been struggling of late losing their last three matches.
The hosts will be hoping that forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Marta Cardona will be at their best to provide the much-needed goals. Madrid CFF, on the other hand, will be hoping that forwards Racheal Kundananji and Flor Bonsegundo will be at their best for the much-needed victory to put their campaign back on track.
The sides have met 11 times with Atlético winning seven, losing one and drawing three.
Real Sociedad will be looking to bounce back from their Supercopa disappointment at the weekend when they clash with hosts UDG Tenerife at the Estadio La Palmera on Thursday night.
Both teams have failed to replicate last season’s form having struggled this season. Tenerife find themselves just two points above relegation whilst Sociedad are sixth on the log standings winning just two matches in their last five.
The visitors will look up to forward Amaiur Sarriegi and midfielder Nerea Eizagirre for goals whilst the hosts will be hoping forward Jassina Blom will be at her best to propel them to victory.
The teams have met 15 times with Real Sociedad winning six, losing three and drawing six.
Relegation-threatened Villarreal will be visiting the Estadio Antonio Puchades for a clash with Valencia on Tuesday night.
Valencia will be hoping to build on their victory against Real Sociedad to fight for their survival as they have managed to push up on the log whilst Villarreal find themselves occupying the last slot of relegation.
A win for Valencia will take them to 21 points whilst a win for Villarreal will boost their chances of survival.
The teams have met three times in competitive matches with Valencia winning two and drawing one.
Draw specialists Sporting Huelva have a long trip to Sevilla for a midweek clash at the Ramón Cisneros Palacios on Thursday night.
The two teams are separated by a single point with Huelva on 17 points in ninth position and Sevilla on 16 points in 10th.
Sevilla have motivation after beating Madrid CFF 4-2 in their last match whilst Huelva lost their last league match 3-0 to log leaders Barcelona.
The hosts will be banking on forwards Inma Gabarro and Cristina Martín-Prieto Gutiérrez whilst Huelva will be placing their hopes on forward Cristina Gey.
The teams have met 19 times with Huelva winning nine, losing five and drawing five.
Alhama CF ElPozo still have a chance to save their place in the league when they visit Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol for a clash with Real Betis on Tuesday night.
The visitors are buoyed by the victory in their last match against Athletic Club whilst Betis have been finding it difficult in the league so far.
Betis have a stronger side on paper with the likes of midfielder Grace Asantewaa and forward Rinsola Babajide but results have not been coming whilst Alhama will be banking on experienced forward Jade Boho.
Betis are only two points above relegation zone whilst Alhama are bottom of the log with nine points.
The teams have met once with Betis winning the match.
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Fixtures (Tuesday): Athletic Club vs. Levante (19:00); Real Betis vs. Alhama CF ElPozo (20:00); Valencia vs. Villarreal (21:00)
Fixtures (Wednesday): Barcelona vs. Levante Las Planas (18:00); Alavés vs. Real Madrid (19:00); Madrid CFF vs Atlético Madrid (20:00)
Fixtures (Thursday): Sevilla vs. Sporting Huelva (19:00); UDG Tenerife vs. Real Sociedad (21:00)*
All times are in Central European Time (CET)
* Peninsular Time