La Liga Previews: Sevilla Barca's toughest test yet
Reuters - Friday 28 November 2008, 17:17
MADRID - Brief news from the Primera Liga
ahead of this weekend's matches:
Sevilla have warned Barcelona and returning player Daniel
Alves to expect their sternest test yet when the Primera Liga
leaders visit the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
"The statistics show Barca have had their best start to a
championship in their history. But we will be the toughest bone
they've had to chew since the start of the competition," Sevilla
president Jose Maria del Nido told the club's radio station.
"We will give Dani a standing ovation when he salutes us
from the pitch tomorrow. We were lucky to enjoy many years with
him and with his help won five trophies and competed in six
finals."
Fifth-placed Sevilla will be without suspended winger
Jesus Navas. Barca have captain Carles Puyol, midfielder Yaya
Toure and striker Samuel Eto'o back after being rested against
Sporting Lisbon during the week. Striker Bojan Krkic has
recovered from an Achilles problem.
Champions Real Madrid travel to face neighbours Getafe on
Saturday with seven players missing through injury.
Strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy,
midfielders Arjen Robben, Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben de la Red
and defenders Gabriel Heinze and Fabio Cannavaro failed to make
the squad. Getafe will be without injured Mario Cotelo and
Joffre Guerron.
Villarreal's Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci was wary of
rushing back into action too soon after five months out with a
thigh tendon injury, ahead of the trip to face Recreativo Huelva
on Sunday.
"I want to play as soon as possible. I have been training
with the squad this week but that does not mean I am 100
percent. I should enter the side little by little," he said.
Fourth-placed Valencia romped to a 4-0 victory away to
Rosenborg in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, but have little time to
prepare for the visit of in-form Real Betis on Sunday.
Betis have climbed from the foot of the standings up to
eighth with a run of seven victories in their last eight matches
in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid have doubts over defenders Luis Perea and
John Heitinga for the visit of Racing Santander on Sunday. Perea has a thigh strain, while Heitinga was substituted
in the midweek 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven after a blow to the
head.
Racing came from behind to draw 2-2 at Paris St.Germain in
the UEFA Cup on Thursday.