Can Levante maintain momentum as Villarreal hosts Alaves in battle for survival?: Liga F Week 17 Preview
Top three contenders Levante aim to continue with their good form when they host a rejuvenated Alhama CF ElPozo side at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol - Campo 1 on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors will be hoping that the fighting spirit that saw them come from behind to win 2-1 against Real Betis on Tuesday is replicated. Replicating their performance against Betis would see Alhama boost their chances of survival but they have the mammoth task of upstaging a Levante side that is determined to play UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) football next season.
On the other hand, the hosts will be banking on Liga F’s top scorer Alba Redondo to complete an otherwise easy task.
The sides have met twice in competitive matches with Levante winning once and drawing once.
Meanwhile, third-placed Real Madrid welcome struggling Athletic Club at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Saturday evening.
The hosts will be aiming for maximum points to keep pressure on Levante and log leaders Barcelona in their bid to end the latter’s dominance of the Liga F.
On the other hand, the visitors have been struggling of late managing just a single win in their last five matches, collecting just four points from a possible 15.
The hosts boast of being the third best scoring side in the league and will be aiming to add to their goals with eyes on forward Esther Gonzalez who is also aiming to keep pressure on top goal scorer Alba Redondo of Levante.
A defeat for Athletic will increase chances of relegation as they are only five points above the drop zone.
The teams have met six times with Real Madrid winning four and losing two.
UDG Tenerife have to find a way to stop the marauding Barcelona forwards when the two sides meet at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Sunday evening.
The hosts have been struggling but will be buoyed by their 2-1 victory against Real Sociedad on Thursday night which moved them five points above relegation whilst Barcelona have been flying high with their 100% record still intact.
The visitors come into this match after being booted out of the Copa Del Reina quarterfinals for fielding forward Geyse who was serving a ban from her last season’s red card whilst at Madrid CFF.
The Blaugranes will be looking up to their forwards Asisat Oshoala and Geyse, and midfielder Clàudia Pina for goals whilst Tenerife’s forward Jassina Blom will be hoping to bounce back to scoring again for her side.
The two sides have met 14 times with Barcelona winning 12 and losing two.
An inconsistent Atlético Madrid side host Sevilla at the Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares on Sunday afternoon.
The Madrid side will be hoping to end their two game winning drought as they face an equally struggling Sevilla side who find themselves just four points above relegation.
A defeat will decrease Sevilla’s chances of staying in the league.
In their push for a top three finish, forward Marta Cardona has been the focal point for goals for the hosts in their hope that injured forward Ludmila will make a comeback before the season ends whilst Sevilla will be placing their hopes on forward Inma Gabarro.
The sides have met 19 times with Atlético Madrid winning 15, losing one and drawing three.
A rejuvenated Valencia make a long trip to face Levante Las Planas at the Camp Municipal Les Planes on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors will be hoping to build on their midweek win over Villarreal and make it three wins in a row whilst Las Planas will be aiming for another victory to keep pushing into safe positions on the log standings.
The visitors will be banking on midfielder Marta Carro and forward Asun Martínez for goals whilst the hosts will be putting their hopes on forwards Irina Uribe and Laura Martinez.
The teams have met five times with Valencia winning two, losing two and drawing one.
Villarreal welcome Alavés in a battle for survival match at the Ciudad Deportiva on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts found themselves bottom of the log after losing 2-0 to Valencia midweek whilst the visitors lost 3-1 to Real Madrid and find themselves in 15th position with 12 points.
The visitors will be hoping that Sheila Guijarro is in her best form whilst Alavés will be putting their hopes in forwards Sanadri and Sara Carrillo for goals to propel them to safety.
The teams have met three times with Villarreal winning two and losing one.
Madrid CFF clash with hosts Real Betis at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol on saturday afternoon.
The visitors had a last-minute heartbreak midweek after Atletico came from behind to snatch a point and will be hoping that the disappointment will be healed by collecting maximum points against a struggling Betis side.
A win for the visitors will resuscitate their hopes for a top three finish whilst Betis cannot afford to lose as that would decrease their chances of survival as they are only two points above relegation.
The teams met 11 times with Madrid CFF winning four, losing five and drawing two.
Real Sociedad will be hoping for a decent outing when they host draw specialists Sporting Huelva at the Instalaciones de Zubieta on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts will be looking to bounce back from their midweek disappointment after losing 2-1 to UDG Tenerife whilst Huelva had their midweek fixture against Sevilla postponed due to weather.
The hosts will be missing the services of defender Ana Tejada after she received a red card against Tenerife on Thursday night.
The teams have met 23 times with Sociedad winning 12, losing four and drawing seven.
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Fixtures (Saturday): Villarreal vs Alavés (12:00); Real Betis vs Madrid CFF (14:00); Levante vs Alhama CF ElPozo (16:00); Real Madrid vs Athletic Club (18:15)
Fixtures (Sunday): Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla (12:00); Real Sociedad vs Sporting Huelva (12:00); Levante Las Planas vs Valencia (16:00); UDG Tenerife vs Barcelona (18:00)*
All times are Central European Time (CET)
*Peninsular Time