Primera Liga Preview Wrap: Survival battle reaches climax

Primera Liga Preview Wrap: Survival battle reaches climax

Friday May 16, 2008
MADRID - The spotlight falls on the battle to avoid the last relegation spot this weekend as the Primera Liga reaches its grand finale, with all four clubs involved knowing their destiny lies in their own hands.

As the races for the title and Champions League spots are now over, the main interest will be at the bottom of the table where only two points separate relegation rivals Real Zaragoza, Osasuna, Recreativo Huelva and Real Valladolid.

On paper, the objective for each team is simple enough - a victory and that club will be playing top-flight football next season.

That is because Recre must play Valladolid at the Nuevo Colombino, so a lifeline has been handed to both Real Zaragoza and Osasuna, who each face tough away games on Sunday.

Zaragoza are the team with most to do as they currently occupy the final relegation place, and they travel to seventh-placed Real Mallorca with the Balearic Island side buoyant following their comeback win over Barcelona last weekend.

Osasuna, whose 2-1 win over Real Murcia last time out ended a run of four successive defeats, face arguably an even tougher away trip though as they go to sixth-placed Racing Santander, who are looking to hold off Mallorca in the chase for a UEFA Cup spot.

Osasuna midfielder Hugo Viana said: "We are aware that only a victory is sure to stop us going down, although we could also depend on Zaragoza, who are below us.

"We could end up not winning and still not going down, but that is not the idea."

Zaragoza midfielder Alberto Zapater said: "We must go out and be ready to die.

"All the players have the feeling that we are preparing for a final, it is a game in which play for everything and the only thing that we can look at is the win."

While those four clubs look to avoid joining already-relegated Levante and Murcia in slipping through the trap door, the top five sides in the division have precious little to play for - while champions Real Madrid might not even have a game.

That is because bottom club Levante have called an indefinite strike starting on Saturday due to unpaid wages, and if that goes ahead as planned then Madrid - who are due to be presented with the Primera Liga trophy on Sunday - could be without any opposition.

Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder said: "Right now we're thinking about our fellow footballers from Levante.

"We'd like to give them our full support and we hope they can find a solution shortly. We want to play on Sunday to bring the season to a close and to celebrate the title with our fans."

Second-placed Villarreal will look to end a memorable campaign with a sixth successive win when they go to Deportivo La Coruna, while Sevilla - who are assured of fifth spot - host Athletic Bilbao.

Third place is still up for grabs though, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both locked on 64 points. Barca travel to Murcia in the only match to be played on Saturday while Atletico are at Valencia 24 hours later.

This weekend's other matches pit Espanyol against Almeria and Getafe at home to Real Betis.