Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks ahead to another weekend of live La Liga action on Sky Sports.
If you've got a question for Guillem, send it in here.
Getafe v Barcelona
Recreativo Huelva v Real Madrid
Valencia v Sevilla
Real Betis v Sporting Gijon
Recreativo: facing Real
Getafe v Barcelona
7.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 2
Getafe got a much-needed win at Sevilla and isn't it amazing that some of the best sides in the second half of the season are the likes of Mallorca and Osasuna. The sides at the bottom are picking up points at a healthy rate and Getafe surprised many by getting the three points there.
"One to watch in this game will be Adrián Colunga who, for me, could be the new David Villa."
Guillem Balague
Quotes of the week
At the moment, even rotating the squad does not affect Barcelona and they should have what it takes to beat the likes of Getafe but Guardiola knows these games can also be very difficult.
The really pleasing victories are the ones against Getafe or Valladolid, who are very clever in the way that they play. They start very strongly and defend by keeping the ball.
Recreativo Huelva v Real Madrid
9.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 2
One to watch in this game will be Adrián Colunga who, for me, could be the new David Villa. He might not reach his level but he is that kind of player and is being followed in England by several clubs.
For Real, the criticism of Juande Ramos continues. The team is divided in two with five or six defending and four attacking but I don't think Juande is going to change much because it has been a successful cocktail.
He has not got any midfielders to dominate and there is a big difference between the defence and attack. There are usually 30 metres separating them which means, by keeping their lines so far apart, they can't control the game.
However, they don't concede goals and despite the criticism, if they get to the Bernabeu against Barcelona just six points behind them, nobody will complain, especially if they win that game. Then they will be just three points behind with four weeks to go.
Valencia v Sevilla
6.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1
Valencia have made a come back when I wasn't expecting it. They had been conceding goals for more than 20 games, their midfield was poor with David Albelda and Ruben Baraja but they have been saved by David Villa, Juan Mata and David Silva. Silva has been extraordinary, Mata is having the season of his life and so is Villa.
Sevilla can relax because they're going to be in the top three, I don't think they'll be caught, though they will need another eight points or so to guarantee a Champions League place. There is certainly no more talk about replacing Manolo Jiménez, their manager, because of their extraordinary season.
Real Betis v Sporting Gijon
8.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1
Betis have got a new coach and he started with a win last week. He was helped out by the sending off of Racing's goalkeeper Antonio Tono but the side did seem a little bit more compact. New managers tend to strengthen the defence when they first arrive.
Sporting, defeated at the weekend, haven't drawn this season which is a new record. They love playing fancy football and Betis against Sporting is one for neutrals. It is the kind of game I would sit down and watch because there will be plenty of goals, I'm sure.
Guillem answers your questions...
Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in to here or use the feedback form below.
ETXEBERRIA EXIT?
Hello Guillem, how are you? Very interesting discussion concerning Athletic Bilbao, a team which I've come to like in recent times (there's a wonderful video on Youtube with Congolese children singing Athletic's anthem). Concerning the issue of who should support Llorente, wouldn't Susaeta be a good choice to play in sort of a free role behind Llorente? And why doesn't Etxeberria play more minutes? He's only 31 and I'd expect him to still be an important player.Ricardo Vaz (Athletic Bilbao fan)
GUILLEM REPLIES: Markel Susaeta is used as a second half man to change the pace of the game and the direction of the game with his pace. He is one of those cheeky players who will try loads of things. Gaizka Toquero is preferred because he has got much more work in him and you need somebody to work round Fernando Llorente, when they lose ball and when they have it.
When I went to see Joseba Etxeberria he said he has got one more year left in his legs. Now he is played as a central midfielder rather than as a winger. He has no longer got the pace to play out wide and is having to be more economical with his energy.
RUBEN UPDATE
Hi Guillem, Has there been any news on the situation of Real Madrid midfielder Ruben De La Red? He was confirmed as being out for the rest of the season quite early on after collapsing with a heart problem but I just wondered if you had any news on his current status and if he is able to carry on playing next season? He looked a great talent last season and at Euro 2008 and would be a great shame if he had to retire.Steven Cook (Peterborough United fan)
GUILLEM REPLIES: It is one of those difficult situations. They reckon his heart stopped due to a virus but there is no doctor that will sign the paper to say he can play. He has been to four different doctors and they are all telling him the same thing.
There are a lot of players, like Aitor Karanka, who had the same problem and continued playing. His hope is he will be part of a pre-season with Real but in the end it will be him taking the risk - especially as they don't have a clear idea where it came from. They say it is from a virus but haven't identified which one it is in his case.
ZZ ZI-MAN
I think Real Madrid need to appoint Zinedine Zidane as sporting director. Before Javier Mascherano went to West Ham, Zidane told Madrid to sign him, they ignored him and now I bet they regret it, obviously. Do you think Zidane would be open to this kind of role?Gurmukh Singh (Real Madrid fan)
GUILLEM REPLIES: I don't think he is the kind of man that will accept that job. He's going to have an ambassador job advising Florentino Perez about players, the club and how to move on but Jorge Valdano will be in charge of everything, like Adriano Galliani at Milan, the director of football, the face of the club...I don't think Zidane would take that job - though he is advising on the signing of Franck Ribery.
Comments (10)
Fionan Direen (Aston Villa fan) says...
Hi Guillem, Im a big fan of Spanish football I think its great to watch. Particularly I enjoy watching Valencia, as they have some quality players. Im very curious how the situation will change if Valencia manage to qualify for the Champions League? Will they still need to cash in on their three or four big players? Also, I heard earlier in the week that they could be interested in signing Gourcuff from milan. Do you know anything of this? Do you think he would be a good signing for them? Would they be able to afford him? Thanks for your time. Your columns are great by the way always enjoy reading them.
Posted 21:13 22nd April 2009
Anesu Chingono (Chelsea fan) says...
Hi guillem, im a big fan of la liga, watch it religiously every weekend. i wanted to ask you about the real madrid presidential elections. its widely assumed that florentino perez will return to real madrid, and there has been lots of speculation about a new trainer possibly. do you think juande ramos deserves another season in charge considering how brilliantly he has done in the league. however the champions league was bad. and who would be your ideal man to restore the glory days to the bernabeu, cause lets be honets barca are on another footballing planet in spain. i mean they play attractive one touch football, whereas juande ramos has always had a reputation for rigid and discplined football, the same football that was disliked under fabio capello!!
Posted 22:09 19th April 2009
James Saxton (Liverpool fan) says...
Guillem, just wandering about the exodus that seems inevitable at Valencia, with Villa and/or Silva looking to be on their way there will be a chance for another striker next season. Nikola Zigic has been scoring goals back at Racing Santander, do you think he can do this for Valencia next season if he is the one they call on? Why has he not performed as prolifically for Valencia as he has on both spells with Santander? Also curious as to how Valencia have ended up in so much debt, most clubs seem to have some debt but how did Valencias become so extraordinarily high?
Posted 21:25 19th April 2009
Andy Thompson (Liverpool fan) says...
Hi Guilliem just wanted to know how good David silva could be for Torres cause i was thinking off the formation that liverpool play i was thinking how good will silva be for torres and putting Gerrard on the right side where Kuyt plays and maybe push kuyt more up front
Posted 15:46 19th April 2009
William Powell (Arsenal fan) says...
My question is about Cesc Fabregas. In my opinion this guy is a fantastic footballer and has the potential to reach a very high level. But, do you think he needs to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona to achieve that. Personally I don't, I think he is thriving with the added responsiblity of being captain and he clearly has the respect of all those around him. I would like to see him stay, become a legend and lead Arsenal to many successes.
Posted 22:39 17th April 2009
Gurmukh Singh (Real Madrid fan) says...
Hi guillem, i am a massive real madrid fan and i think they need to sign a handfull of players and sell a handfull of players and the main thing sign david villa and drop raul from the first team. But the problem is raul has too much control at real, when do you think the time will come when he gets dropped because i think from that point madrid can become successful in europe again with two world class strikers david villa and huntelaar/higuain
Posted 21:09 17th April 2009
Samuel Beath (Barcelona fan) says...
Hi G, am a big fan of your column and will like to ask you this HUGE question even though the time is not right. Do you think Barca has the nerve to beat madrid to register a historical home and away record. Thanks and hoping to hear from you.
Posted 16:30 17th April 2009
Mike Kirby (Manchester United fan) says...
Hi Guillem, I would like your opinion on the next generation of wonderkids emerging from Spanish Clubs this season... I have been an avid follower of La Liga for a few years and have been impressed with the frequency of young talent in spain year after year! Bojan is probably the stand-out one in the teens section and I imagine he would be first choice at just about any club even at his young age!
Posted 19:06 16th April 2009
Mohamed Abdulrahman (AC Milan fan) says...
Hi Guillem i'm a big fan of your editorlos and i was going to ask you this question? what do you think about Gussippe Rossi and how far he needs to devolp to become like Torres and Villa. and is he good enough to play for real madrid or Barcelona.
Posted 18:33 16th April 2009
Alex Coldicott (Manchester United fan) says...
Hi Guillem, with Sevilla having such a brilliant season I was hoping you could explain why their B team has been so bad in the Segunda division this season - I think they've gone 26 games without a win and were beaten 8-0 a couple of weeks ago! Also, I'd be interested to know who you think might win Segunda this season as the top teams all seem to be getting good results at the moment.
Posted 17:57 16th April 2009