Struggling Recreativo face formidable Barcelona

After humiliating Bayern Munich 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday Barcelona switch their attention back to the league on Saturday when they host Recreativo Huelva at Camp Nou.

Barcelona, who have crushed Malaga 6-0 and Bayern 4-0 in their last two home matches, go into the wekeend with a six-point lead over Real Madrid.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground after the Bayern game,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “The way to do that is to focus on the next three points in the league and maintaining our six-point cushion at the top.”

Barcelona are still on course for a historic treble with one foot in the Champions League semi-final, a place in the Kings Cup final and top spot in the domestic championship.

Real have only dropped two points from the past 14 league matches and need to maintain that consistency if they are to topple Barcelona.

After enviously watching Barcelona in European action this week Real entertain Valladolid on Sunday.

Valladolid, more famous for wine-making than its football, beat Real 1-0 in mid-November and are looking for a memorable double over the champions.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been on top form for Real with eight goals in 12 league matches and believes Barcelona are showing signs of getting tired.

“Barcelona continue winning and the distance stays the same but we want to be champions and are fighting to close the gap on them,” said Huntelaar. “Barcelona are showing signs of fatigue and we can get closer to them.”

Sevilla host Getafe on Sunday looking to keep up the momentum and seal third place sooner rather than later.

Manolo Jimenez’s side have a nine-point cushion over fourth-placed Villarreal and the objective of qualifying for the Champions League – after missing out last season – is all but achieved.

Freddy Kanoute has been a major factor with his 16 goals and last weekend the Mali striker equalled the record for Sevilla goals from a foreign player matching Croat Davor Suker’s haul of 90.

Getafe, Kings Cup finalists for the past two seasons, are one point above the relegation zone and coach Victor Munoz is feeling the pressure.

Rather than chasing Sevilla, Villarreal, who drew 1-1 with Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final match on Tuesday, are clinging to fourth and need to get back to winning ways against Malaga on Saturday.

Valencia are now just two points adrift of Villarreal and hope to improve their awful away form at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid are five points behind Villarreal and last weekend’s 4-2 home drubbing by lowly Osasuna saw players subjected to intense jeering from the disillusioned Vicente Calderon crowd.

Osasuna striker Walter Pandiani scored twice in the match and twisted the knife into Atletico saying they defended like schoolboys.

“Atletico concede a lot of goals because they are pretty weak in defence,” said Pandiani. “We had a lot of chances and the four goals were a fair reflection.”

Atletico travel to Deportivo La Coruna, who are level on points, knowing games are running out of games to break into the top four.

Down at the bottom things are incredibly tight with ten teams involved in the relegation dogfight.

Almeria are in 11th but only lie four points above the drop zone and all the teams below them are scrambling for survival.

Espanyol prop up the table despite winning against Deportivo La Coruna last time out and are six points adrift of safety.

Second from bottom Numancia are just two points better off and the bottom two meet in Soria in Sunday for a crucial six-pointer.

“There is certainly pressure and anxiety but we have been in the relegation zone for most of the season and that could be an advantage,” said Espanyol midfielder Moises Hurtado.

Real Betis, a point above the drop zone, sacked coach Paco Chaparro on Tuesday after just one win from the last 10 league matches and stop-gap coach Maria Nogues has the task of keeping the Seville club in the top-flight.

Nogues’ first match in charge is a trip north to Racing Santander on Sunday.

Fixtures

Saturday

Barcelona v Recreativo Huelva, Villarreal v Malaga

Sunday

Real Madrid v Valladolid, Real Mallorca v Almeria, Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao, Numancia v Espanyol, Racing Santander v Real Betis, Sporting Gijon v Valencia, Sevilla v Getafe, Deportivo La Coruna v Atletico Madrid