Previews
DOM 19.04.2015
Real Betis – Real Zaragoza (12:00pm, Estadio Benito Villamarín)
Matchday 34 of the Liga Adelante throws up a showdown between the Seville and Aragon outfits. Pepe Mel’s charges come into this fixture on the back of three straight victories, while Ranko Popović’s team will be looking to get back to winning ways after picking up three draws in a row.
The home side’s manager, who will be without the suspended Xavi Torres for this encounter, exuded an air of calm in his pre-match press conference: "we are treating this game as a must win fixture in order that we can close in on our objectives. We know that picking up three points is the easiest way of achieving that goal". Elsewhere, his counterpart in the Zaragoza dugout stated that beating Betis could give his team "a morale boost to improve in a lot of areas".
AD Alcorcón – RCD Mallorca (4pm, Estadio Santo Domingo)
The Madrid and Balearic outfits have a difficult task ahead in their fight for survival. Although neither side is currently in the relegation zone, that could change should they suffer a defeat. The Majorcans will be looking to turn their fortunes around having only managed to pick up one point from the last 15.
Mikel Iribas will miss this encounter for the home team following his suspension, while Joan Truyols has to serve a one-match ban for the visitors. Antonio Martínez, one of the Potter’s midfielders, spoke to the press on the eve of the game and stated that the clash against Mallorca "will affect where we finish at the end of the season". Miquel Soler, the Balearic outfit’s boss, stated that his team’s is only "focused on improving".
CD Numancia – FC Barcelona B (5pm, Nuevo Estadio de Los Pajaritos)
An opportunity to kick start things again is how Numancia and FC Barcelona B will be viewing this fixture. Neither side have managed a win in their last few outings and need a win in order to meet their objectives. The azulgrana reserve side are in more desperate need given their position at the very bottom of the league table.
Jordi Vinyals, the Barcelona coach, praised the playing style of the upcoming rivals and also emphasised their strength from set pieces thanks to Julio Álvarez’s precision with dead ball situations. Despite that, Vinyals showed that he has confidence in his players and expressed: "we are optimistic because the team are working very well, you can see it during training, the team are united and there is a great atmosphere among the players".
Two teams experiencing widely differing fortunes in the Liga Adelante face off for matchday 34 of the season. Valladolid are looking to seal promotion to the Liga BBVA, while Sabadell are aiming to secure safety in the division and continue their run of good results.
R. Valladolid CF – CE Sabadell (6:15pm, Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla)
Francesc Rubí will be without Jonathan Pereira due to a swelling in his left abductor muscle. The Valladolid coach revealed that he wants to see "a good showing" against Sabadell, a team he praised because "they have a clear playing style".
Martí Crespí will sit this one out for the Catalans because of a suspension, while Cristian García, Riau, Longás and Raúl Tamudo will miss this game due to injury. "Valladolid will be out to win points. It will be a tense game. They want to win as much as we do", concluded the Sabadell manager, Juan Carlos Mandiá.
CD Tenerife – UE Llagostera (7pm, Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López)
Two in form sides will meet as they each try to achieve their respective objectives. One of this season’s revelations, Llagostera, who have their eyes set on a playoff place, travel to take on a Tenerife team looking to get over last weekend’s defeat and wrap up safety as quickly as possible. Nine points separate the Canary Islanders from the Catalans and both teams will be aiming to win this fixture.
The Tenerife coach, Raúl Agné, called on the support of the fans for the arrival of Lluís Carrillo’s Llagostera. "We really need our fans to get behind us. We have to be united", he stated. Meanwhile, the Costa Brava outfit will make their way to the Canary Islands without Enric Pi, Jordi Masó or Pere Terradellas.
© LALIGA - 2015