Previews
DOM 31.05.2015
At Osasuna – RC Recreativo (18:00 CET, El Sadar)
Both teams find themselves in desperate situations as they clash on matchday 41 in the Liga Adelante. The Navarrans and the Andalusians both have to win if they want to keep playing in the league for another season. Osasuna are in 19th position with 41 points, the same as R. Racing Club, while Recreativo are one place behind, separated by just one victory.
Full focused and full of hope, both coaches will take to the field believing in their players and the job they will do. José Domínguez, the coach of Recreativo, is happy with how his team have been playing in recent weeks and believes this is the path they need to follow. "If we play as we have done in the last few games we’ll have a chance of winning."
FC Barcelona B – CD Leganés (18:00 CET, Estadio Miniestadi)
El filialThe Catalan reserve team are bottom of the league and they have only one option: win. With 36 points they are five points from safety, and therefore a victory is paramount. "When you achieve things by making a great effort, you appreciate them more. They players that are here are very focused and hopeful," said Barça B coach Jordi Vinyals, still hopeful his side can stay in the Liga Adelante for another season.
His side will be up against a Leganés side who have already achieved their objective of survival and now just want to finish the season as high as possible in the league table. Coach Asier Garitano insisted he would make sure his players were motivated: "We are focused in every game and it would be a real shame if in these last two games we did not give a good display."
A win for Girona and a defeat for Sporting would see the Catalans move up to the Liga BBVA
R. Zaragoza – UD Las Palmas (18:00 CET, Estadio de La Romareda)
Two candidates for the play-offs for promotion to the Liga BBVA will meet on matchday 41. The Canary Islanders have already secured their place in the play-offs but have not yet ruled out sneaking into second place. However, the Zaragoza outfit need a victory to secure sixth place.
Their coach Ranko Popović has a clear objective: "We want to take control of the game and try and win, because if we win we will get into the play-offs.·" His opposite number Paco Herrera meanwhile still believes his side could pull off a miracle. "We can't renounce it because then we'd be renouncing the game at La Romareda", he said. The coach also hopes to "perfect our game and gain in confidence" ahead of the play-offs..
D. Alavés – R Valladolid CF (18:00 CET, Mendizorroza)
Now that they have confirmed their place in the top six, Valladolid will be looking to grab fourth place, currently occupied by Las Palmas, who are three points clear. This match will be an opportunity for them to iron out a few weaknesses before their play-off games. Meanwhile the main objective for Alavés in their final home game of the season will be to give their supporters something to enjoy and to try to finish as high as possible in the league table.
The coach Alberto Lopéz said that he wanted to offer his team's supporters one final victory. "We want the team to end the season in the best way possible by beating a big team such as Valladolid.” The Valladolid coach Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi' admitted he would give an opportunity to the players who have played less often this term. "I'm sure they will do a good job and help the team raise its level before playing the first game of the play-offs. In this games there is little to lose and a lot to gain."
UE Llagostera – CD Mirandés (18:00 CET, Nou Municipal de Palamós)
The Catalan and Burgos outfits are separated by just one point and share the same objective of finishing out the Liga Adelante season as strong as possible.
Carlos Terrazas, the Mirandés boss, stated that he wants his side to climb further up the table. He also evaluated the season as a whole: "There have been stages in which we weren’t able to pick up enough points. Overall, I think the team could have finished higher".
Tenerife and Racing could secure safety with a win
RCD Mallorca – Girona FC (18:00 CET, Iberostar Estadio)
With six points still up for grabs, Girona currently sit second in the league table, a position that would grant the Catalans automatic promotion to the Liga BBVA. However, R. Sporting are hot on their heels and trail them by just two points. As such, Pablo Machín's charges will need to get a good result against the Balearic Islanders, who have already shored up safety in the division and will be looking to close out the season in front of their fans with a win.
Pablo Machín is convinced that if his players continue "playing like they have been over the last forty matchdays" they will clinch their first ever promotion to the Spanish topflight, "the team are going to show that and they deserve every success". His counterpart in the opposition dugout, Miquel Soler, underlined what he will be demanding from his players: "I'll be looking for intensity because we’re at home, this will be our last game in front of our supporters and we’re up against a side in search of promotion, so we’ll need to be at our best".
CD Lugo – Albacete B. (18:00 CET, Estadio Ángel Carro)
Both teams come into this encounter with their respective missions already accomplished. Lugo and Albacete have booked their places in next season's Liga Adelante, so Sunday's battle will be all about improving on their current positions in the table.
The Albacete coach, Luis César Sampedro, emphasised his team's objective: "We want a win in order to break into the top ten spots in the league. The pressure is off, which is very liberating and could result in a great game of football". One of the Galician outfit's midfielders, David López, spoke about the upcoming rival who he cited as being a "very tough" team that plays very good football.
R. Racing C. – SD Ponferradina (18:00 CET, El Sardinero)
Two sides with widely varying objectives clash forces in El Sardinero. Racing are out of the relegation zone but are level on points with 19th-placed Osasuna. A win for the Cantabrians and a defeat for the Pamplona team would guarantee another season of Liga Adelante football for Racing. Meanwhile, the Bierzo outfit are in search of sixth spot currently held by R. Zaragoza, who they trail by four points.
The Ponferradina manager, Manolo Díaz, spoke about his team's end-of-season situation, which will depend on how Zaragoza get on: "All we can do now is focus on winning our game. After that it's just a case of hoping things go our way elsewhere". Racing welcome the return of a key ingredient to their team, Iñaki Saénz, who had to serve a suspension during the last match because of an accumulation of five yellow cards.
AD Alcorcón – CD Numancia (18:00 CET, Santo Domingo)
Santo Domingo hosts a mid-table clash between two teams looking to close out the season in style by picking up all six points still available to them. Going on their previous encounter, which ended 2-2, this has all the makings of being a thrilling encounter.
This will be José Bordalás's final game at the helm in Alcorcón's home ground, as the Alicante-born manager announced his decision to part ways with the South Madrid club at the end of the season. According to Juan Antonio Anquela, the Numancia coach, this match will be a chance to "do things well".
CD Tenerife – Real Betis (18:00 CET, Heliodoro Rodríguez López)
"We have everything to play for " is Raúl Agné's mantra heading into this encounter, as a win for the Canary Islanders would see them secure their place in next season’s Liga Adelante. Tenerife, who will be at home and in front of their supporters, will be looking for all three points against the league champions and the soon-to-be Liga BBVA outfit, Real Betis.
On the subject of the opposition, the home team's manager stated: "They won't be giving anything away and have top class front men for us to worry about. We know Betis will demand a lot of us and our aim is to give it our all for ninety minutes. I'm not relying on anyone else and I have 100% faith that the professionals will do their job".
R. Sporting – CE Sabadell (18:00 CET, El Molinón)
This is a must-win match for both sides as a hiccup by the Asturians coupled with a victory for Girona FC would see the Catalans clinch the last automatic promotion spot. A defeat for Juan Carlos Mandiá's men would see Sabadell relegated.
The away team's manager stated that the upcoming opponents will require a lot from his players: "We need to be on top of everything if we're to have a chance". Abelardo Fernández also expects a tough battle: "Sabadell will be a tricky side for us, I don't expect them to give us much space to work with, especially at the beginning of the game".
© LALIGA - 2015