Real, Levante aim to maintain momentum in bid to end Barcelona dominance as bottom clubs fight for survival: Liga F Week 19 Preview
Real Madrid look to continue with their fine form as they host Sporting Huelva at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Sunday evening.
The hosts will be buoyed by their spirited midweek performance which saw them collect maximum in a difficult match away at UDG Tenerife.
Real is keeping pressure on log leaders Barcelona and their players have warmed up to the challenge led by midfield dynamo Caroline Weir who is proving to be handy for opponents as she finds herself with double figures in both goals (12) and assists (10).
She recorded a goal and an assist against Tenerife on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Huelva are aware that any result other than a win will complicate their life in Liga F as they are only four points above relegation having lost four matches in a row in the league.
The teams have met seven times with Real winning five, losing one and drawing one.
Meanwhile, third-placed Levante have a great opportunity to achieve their top three ambitions with another set of maximum points when they host 12th placed Levante Las Planas at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol - Campo 1 on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are five points from second-placed Real Madrid and 10 points below log leaders Barcelona with 12 more games left to play. They are 11 points above fourth-placed Atlético Madrid, giving them hopes of a top three finish which comes with Champions League football.
They will be banking on joint-top goalscorer Alba Redondo for goals with able support from fellow forward Mayra Ramírez, Erika González and midfielder Tatiana Pinto whilst Las Planas will be looking up to experienced forwards Mari Paz, Laura Martínez González and Irina Uribe.
The visitors are only three points from relegation and any slip up will result in them dropping into the danger zone if Alhama manage to pick up maximum points.
The teams have met five times with Levante winning three, losing one and drawing one.
Defending champions and log leaders Barcelona are aiming to continue with their 100% record for the second season running when they clash with hosts Alavés at the Ciudad Deportiva José Luis Compañón on Saturday evening.
The visitors boast of a marauding attack that has scored 80 goals led by forward Asisat Oshoala with 17 goals and a mean defence that has conceded only four goals in 18 matches marshalled by the evergreen Mapi León.
The hosts, on the other hand, have scored only 19 goals and conceded 45 goals, which is the worst defensive record in the league.
A win for Barcelona will see them move to 57 points.
The teams have met three times with Barcelona winning all the three, scoring 23 goals and conceding only one goal.
UDG Tenerife are aiming to bounce back from their setbacks when they host Alhama CF ElPozo at the Estadio La Palmera on Sunday afternoon.
Tenerife have lost three matches in their last five - to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Levante - and won two - against Athletic Club and Real Sociedad - and will look to build on the record heading into the Alhama clash.
The hosts will be banking on forwards Jessica Martínez and Gift Monday after their first choice forward Jassina Blom was taken out in the 40th minute against Real Madrid on wednesday due to injury.
They will be hoping it is not a serious injury.
The visitors, on the other hand, will be banking on forwards Marina Martí Serna and Raquel Morcillo Aparicio.
A win for Tenerife will take them to 23 points whilst a defeat for Alhama will derail their hopes of survival.
The teams have met once with Alhama winning the match at their base in November last year.
Fifth-placed Madrid CFF are looking forward to keeping pressure on teams above with a win against hosts Villarreal on Saturday evening at the Ciudad Deportiva.
A win for the visitors will take their points to 33 whilst the hosts are well aware of their precarious position where they are only two points above relegation zone.
The visitors will be hoping that forwards Racheal Kundananji and Florencia Bonsegundo will be at their best whilst Villarreal will be banking on forward Sheila Guijarro.
The teams have met three times with Villarreal winning two away and losing one.
Valencia look to bounce back from their back to back defeats to Barcelona and Real Madrid when they play hosts Real Betis at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors were on a three match winning streak when their rejuvenation was hampered by two consecutive difficult fixtures against the two top teams on the standings.
A win for them will see them move to 27 points. They may move above Real Sociedad if the latter fail to win their match. As for Betis, a defeat may mean that they remain one point above relegation on condition Alhama and Alaves fail to win their matches.
The visitors will be placing their hopes on forwards Marta Carro and Fiamma Iannuzzi whilst Betis will be hoping that forward Rinsola Babajide and midfielder Angela Sosa will come to the party.
The teams have met 13 times with Betis winning five, losing four and drawing four. Betis have not lost at home against Valencia in six meetings.
Real Sociedad host Sevilla at the Instalaciones de Zubieta on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts have been struggling of late failing to win in four of their last five matches. On the other hand, the visitors have hit a rich vein of form collecting 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four league matches.
A win for Sevilla will see them tied with their opponents on 26 points but will be below on the log on goal difference.
The visitors will be hoping that forwards Ana Franco and Inma Gabarro will continue scoring crucial goals that helped them move up the standings with support from midfielder Rosa Otermín whilst Real Sociedad will be hoping that forwards Amaiur Sarriegi and Nerea Eizaguirre will be at their best to steer the ship up the standings and mount a late charge for a top three finish.
The teams have met 17 times with Real Sociedad winning nine, losing four and drawing four.
Struggling Athletic Club have a tough task when they meet hosts Atlético Madrid at the Centro Deportivo Alcalá de Henares on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors have gone on a four-match losing streak whilst the hosts have won one and drawn three in their last four matches.
Atlético, on the other hand, will be hoping that forward Ludmila with the able support from Marta Cardona can spur them to victory at their fortress as they aim to collect maximum points.
A win will take them to 36 points whilst Athletic Club are aware that only five points separate them from the team occupying last spot in the relegation zone.
The teams have met 25 times in competitive matches with Atletico winning 11, losing seven and drawing seven.
Fixtures (Saturday): Levante UD vs Levante Las Planas (12:00); Real Betis vs Valencia (14:00); Villareal vs Madrid CFF (16:00); Alavés vs Barcelona (18:15)
Fixtures (Sunday): UDG Tenerife vs Alhama ElPozo (12:00)*; Atlético Madrid vs Athletic Club (12:00); Real Sociedad vs Sevilla (15:30); Real Madrid vs Sporting Huelva (18:00)
All times are in Central European Time (CET)
*Peninsular Time