Attack the solution to Valverde’s problem

Andy Mitten, Spanish Football Correspondent

• Last Updated: October 17. 2009 9:01PM UAE / October 17. 2009 5:01PM GMT

Villarreal’s Cani, left, in action against Real Madrid’s Marcelo. Villarreal are winless this season. Alberto Saiz / AP

Spain’s top five clubs were all in action late last night, with the leaders Barcelona at fifth-placed Valencia and second-placed Real Madrid at home to Valladolid. Sevilla, in third, were at Deportivo La Coruna who are riding high in fourth.

Inevitably, today’s fixtures feel an anti-climax by comparison.

Five o’clock (7pm UAE) on a Sunday has long been the default kick-off time in Spain, but as in England, television’s influence has meant more games being shifted to Saturday night. Last night’s fixtures were played and televised consecutively, which is great for television and the staunchest football addicts, but not so good for a husband explaining to his wife that he is watching football for the next six hours.

It is inconceivable that the next Primera Liga champions will come from any of the teams playing today. All have their own hopes and expectations for the season. Some teams are exceeding them, others are falling well short.

Villarreal play bottom placed Xerez at El Madrigal. At the start of the season this would have been seen as a guaranteed home win, but Villarreal sit just one place above Xerez and have failed to win a single one of their six league games so far. Relegation favourites Xerez have showed an upturn in form, drawing their last two matches and scoring their first ever top flight goal two weeks ago.

Fernando Roig, the Villarreal president, is a patient man and he is aware that new coach Ernesto Valverde may have needed time to overcome the injury problems at the club, but defeat for Villarreal would mean serious questions being asked of the club who have become Champions League regulars.

“It’s a huge game, we’ve waited long enough for a win and we’re going to attack against Xerez from the start,” said Valverde, whose side have only scored four league goals. “Xerez will be going for a win too after their recent form, but we have the players to achieve a victory.”

Espanyol, in 10th place, have seen their form improve and they remain unbeaten in four games, but there are problems in the camp ahead of today’s match against a Tenerife side who have scored just there goals.

Their striker and long-term captain Raul Tamudo, 32, who made his first team debut in 1996, spoke of his anger at the way his contract negotiations had been treated this week. “I am very, very, very angry with the club,” said the Espanyol’s record goal scorer, whose contract expires next June.

“I normally stay silent, but private details about conversations with my agent have been released publicly. They said I want to leave, I don’t want to leave. There have also been many, many lies and I deserve better,” added the clearly emotional striker. Atletico Madrid face a difficult game at Osasuna ahead of an even tougher away match at Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday. After a winless first five matches, Atletico moved away from the foot of the table with victory over Zaragoza in their last game.

Sixth-placed Mallorca are the highest team in action today, with the islanders hoping to add more consistency to their league form which has seen two of their three wins followed by a defeat.

Mallorca have won all three of their home games convincingly without conceding a goal, yet they have picked up just one point away from the Son Moix. They will be feeling confident given they are at home to a Getafe side who sit just a point and two league places behind.

In today’s other Primera Liga matches, seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao are going for a first win in four against their northern neighbours Sporting Gijon, who have yet to record an away win but looked impressive beating Mallorca at home in their last match.

Struggling Malaga, who have not tasted victory since their opening day win against Atletico, aim to halt their slide down the table when they greet fellow Andalusians, Almeria. Hugo Sanchez’s side also have just one win to their name, but made life difficult for leaders Barca in their last outing.

amitten@thenational.ae

Xerez v Villarreal, KO 7pm, Aljazeera Sport + 4