Barcelona, Spain: Rafa Benitez held on to his job last year but faces another tough test of his coaching credentials on Sunday when Real Madrid visit Valencia for their first Spanish league game of 2016.
Benitez has been the focus of criticism from disgruntled fans for Madrid's unpredictable campaign, which has included a lopsided loss to fierce rival Barcelona and their embarrassing disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.
Madrid travel to Mestalla Stadium after two easy victories at their own Santiago Bernabeu home that failed to win over their most skeptical supporters, some of whom jeered Benitez.
Madrid defender Pepe has called for calm.
"We have to let our coach continue to improve," Pepe said. "If a new manager came, we'd have to adapt to new systems and that isn't good. We should save the evaluations for the end of the season."
Madrid have struggled on the road this season, dropping points on four of eight of their outings. Its last away game ended in a 1-0 loss at Villarreal.
Madrid are in third place, two points behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Defending champion Barcelona has played one less game than their rivals.
Here are some more things to know about the 18th round of La Liga:
ALSO IN NEED
Benitez's counterpart on Sunday is also in need of a victory.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville's coaching debut has got off to an uninspiring start.
Valencia has only beaten a third-division side in the Copa del Rey since he took over. Otherwise, the team has recorded a pair of draws and two losses, including a poor showing in a 1-0 league defeat at regional rival Villarreal on Thursday. That loss left Valencia 10th — and 11 points from the Champions League spots.
"The team is united and we are trying to get a win as soon as possible," said Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo. "January will be a key month."
BARCELONA DERBY
Barcelona make the short trip across the Catalan capital to play the first of three derbies against Espanyol on Saturday.
The two clubs will also meet in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey over the next two weeks.
Barcelona will be heavily favored to continue their record form of 2015, when Luis Enrique's team won five titles and set a new record — 180 — for goals scored.
The strike trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez combined for 137 of those goals. Suarez is leading the league this campaign with 15, followed by Neymar and Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo with 14 each.
Espanyol's defence is the fourth worst in the competition with 28 goals conceded. Only the three teams in the relegation zone have conceded more.
BEFORE THE STORM
Atletico Madrid host last-place Levante on Saturday before facing a difficult run of matches in the rest of January.
Diego Simeone's team then plays at Celta Vigo and Las Palmas, return home against Sevilla, and finishes the month at Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Levante have lost four of their last five, scoring just two goals in that stretch, while Atletico have the best defence in the league with only eight goals conceded.
SURPRISE CLASH
Other than Madrid at Valencia, the most intriguing fixture of the round promises to be Deportivo La Coruna hosting Villarreal on Sunday.
Villarreal head to Riazor on the strength of four consecutive wins that have pushed it into fourth place.
Deportivo, meanwhile, are the surprise side of the season. Led by striker Lucas Perez and his 12 goals, it is in sixth place after not losing in eight rounds.
On Saturday, fifth-place Celta play at a resurgent Malaga who have won three straight.
Comments
0 comment