Previews
DOM 24.05.2015
Girona FC - UE Llagostera (4:15 pm, Estadio Municipal de Montilivi)
Sunday’s Liga Adelante matchday 40 fixtures get underway with a Catalan derby that promises excitement and will be crucial to the aims of both sides. Girona will look to pick up all three points to stay in second place and take another step towards promotion, while Llagostera need a victory to keep themselves in the hunt for sixth place.
Home coach Pablo Machín explained that there is "more" at stake for his team than their opponents and that his charges "must show that out on the pitch". He also analysed Llagostera’s playing style: "They have a clear idea that the key is to keep a clean sheet, and then they have players with a lot of pace on the counter-attack. They know how to play a direct game and also how to make the most of the second balls".
R. Valladolid CF - R. Zaragoza (6 pm, Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla)
The Estadio José Zorrilla will stage the day's second kick-off. Fifth-placed Valladolid will attempt to keep their chances of automatic promotion alive against a Zaragoza outfit looking to strengthen their grip on sixth place.
Joan Francesc Ferrer 'Rubi', coach of los pucelanos, insisted that his team are remaining hopeful of a top-two finish: "I think we’ve still got a shot; I refuse to give up on automatic promotion because sometimes football can surprise you". His counterpart on the Zaragoza bench, Ranko Popović, moved to highlight los vallesolitanos’ quality: "They're a fantastic outfit and they are where they are on merit. They have the best and deepest squad in the division".
CD Numancia - R. Racing C. (6 pm, Nuevo Estadio de Los Pajaritos)
It's a match between two teams with very different aims in Soria. Numancia, now assured of survival, want to finish the season as high as possible and even remain in with a shout of sneaking into the play-offs. Racing, on the other hand, approach the encounter in need of the three points to stay in touch with safety.
Los numantinos will be without the injured Adrián Ripa and Antonio Tomás, while Francisco Regalón is suspended. Meanwhile, the visitors from Cantabria make the trip without injury victims Mario Fernández, Andreu Guerao, Francis, Mamadou Koné, Oriol Lozano and Borja Granero.
R. Sporting - CD Tenerife (6pm, Estadio El Molinón)
Sporting, who sit third on 73 points cannot think in anything else bar victory. Two points behind Girona, the Asturian side will want to put their draw with Alcorcón behind them to keep their chances of finishing second. They will face a Tenerife side who downed Sabadell 1-3 last time out and who will be looking to seal their safety in Liga Adelante.
Sporting’s Abelardo Fernández spoke about his side's motivation: "We don't have it in our own hands but we need to win in order to keep up our hopes of finishing second. The side are doing well and we will try our best".
Real Betis - AD Alcorcón (8pm, Estadio Benito Villamarín)
The Andalusian side will celebrate their return to Liga BBVA if they down Alcorcón at home, although they could even be promoted before they kick off. They would need Girona to lose against Llagostera or for Sporting to achieve a draw or less against Tenerife. If they do need to win, Betis will need to end the Madrid side’s run of seven without a loss.
"I'd prefer for us to go up as soon as possible. We're league leaders because we deserve it. I think Betis should be one of the two sides that goes up" said their boss Pepe Mel.
Albacete B. - RCD Mallorca (9pm, Carlos Belmonte)
Matchday 40 is closed with a game between two sides who both won last time out. They have no immediate needs going into the game, other than the fact a win would bring them three points and their fans some joy.
Mallorca boss, Miquel Soler, said that given safety had been attained, the new objective was to "finish as high as possible," adding his side will go out "to win".
© LALIGA - 2015