Previews
SÁB 28.03.2015
CD Leganés-CD Numancia (Municipal de Butarque, 4pm CET)
Leganés and Numancia, two sides who are fighting to move closer to the play-off positions, face one another in Butarque after defeating two of the tough contenders in the category. Leganés, who played at the Benito Villamarín, won 1-3, while the side from Soria, led by Julio Álvarez, won 4-2 against UD Las Palmas. These two positive runs will come head to head in the city to the south of Madrid.
Neither of the coaches can take up their place in the dugouts as they are both banned. Asier Garitan has talked about the type of game that he expects: "it will be tough and complicated". He also prasied the Numancia player, Julio Velázquez, and the rest of the rival squad. The Numancia coach, Juan Antonio Anquela, praised the Madrid side: "They have kept the block they had in Segunda B, they know what way they play and that makes them a dangerous opponent".
R. Valladolid CF-Albacete B. (Estadio José Zorrilla, 6pm CET)
Valladolid face Albacete at the José Zorrilla with very different aims. Valladolid will be aiming to get back to winning ways in order to stay in with a chance of direct promotion, while the team from La Mancha have gone six games undefeated and will be aiming to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi', coach of the Castilian side, acknowledged that it will be a difficult game, as Albacete "are one of the best sides as getting the ball out from the back and they will require us to play very well in terms of putting on pressure". On the other hand, Jorge Pulido, central defender for the La Mancha side, had a clear message: "We have to go for the win in Valladolid".
D. Alavés-R. Racing C. (Mendizorroza, 6pm CET)
In Vitoria a clash will take place between two sides that are coming from losses. Alavés and Racing will be going for the three points in the Basque capital that would allow them to dream and get a little breathing space. The side from Vitoria are looking for a win in order to climb the table and move closer to the play-off positions. On the other hand, the side from Cantabria, who are in the last relegation place will be aiming to win in order to get a little confidence and improve their chances of survival.
Alberto López, the D. Alavés coach believes that this is an "important" game and he places special importance on maintaining a "good image, with good results and good play". On the other hand, the Racing captain states that this game is "a final" for his side.
UE Llagostera-CD Lugo (Nou Municipal de Palamós, 6pm CET)
A clash of in-form teams in Palamós. Llagostera and Lugo are the two Liga Adelante sides with the best runs and they are separated by only one point. The Catalans have gone seven games undefeated and they are enjoying a great debut in the league, where they are close to the play-off positions. Lugo, who have had a great second half to the season, are also in the fight, and are undefeated in five games.
Oriol Alsina, member of the coaching staff at Llagostera, stated that Lugo are a side who "always" like to have the ball which will force them "to be very united in defence". Quique Setién, coach of the Galician side highlighted that they "are calm enough to see the lower part of the table in the distance and have the option of moving closer to the higher end of the table".
RC Recreativo-Real Betis (Estadio Nuevo Colombino ,6.15pm CET)
It will be a very different situation in Huelva. Recreativo, who go into the game after getting a point at El Molinón, need the three points in order to try and increase their chances of survival as they are currently two points away from that aim. On the other hand, Betis will try and stay at the top following a difficult defeat to home against Leganés that broke their undefeated run of 18 games.
Pepe Mel, the Betis manager envisages an "interesting" game. I am expecting an intense and aggressive Recreativo side, also they are a side that Betis have not tended to perform well against in the past".
UD Las Palmas-SD Ponferradina (Estadio de Gran Canaria, 9pm CET)
The Canary Islands will play host to one of the most interesting games of the day. Las Palmas, former leaders of the Liga Adelante a few weeks ago, who lost the top spot following two defeats, host Ponferradina, who are clearly improving. Ponferradina are fighting for the last play-off place and and despite the fact that they go into the game following a 2-0 win against Valladolid, they have gone eight matches without an away win. Manolo Díaz's men will be aiming to end this poor away run and also the statistic, as Ponferradina have never won in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
Paco Herrera, manager of the island side, spoke about the mind-set of his players following two consecutive defeats: "We have all put a bit more in. When you lose the top spot there is a bit of a decline". Manolo Díaz, the Ponferradina coach, is approaching this game as "the possibility to get points away from home against a rival who are in the top part of the table". "I believe that we are capable of getting a win away from El Toralín", he added.
© LALIGA - 2015