Stil several games to go in this league, here are the news I can find on the games, fell free to post your picks preferences and reasons why.
SAVO SEEK SHOWDOWN BOOST
By Tim Hanlon, PA International, Barcelona
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Espanyol striker Savo Milosevic believes that Saturday night's clash with relegation rivals Osasuna could be decisive to the club's chances of avoiding the drop.
The Catalan side are currently four points above Osasuna, who occupy the third relegation slot, and so a win for Javier Clemente's man will create clear daylight between them and, if other results go their way, give them a mid-table berth.
Last week's 1-1 draw away at Real Betis has stretched their unbeaten run now to nine games and they are clear favourites to survive.
But Milosevic, who has been restored to the first team following an injury to captain Raul Tamudo, while confident, is not getting carried away just yet.
"In the world of football no one knows. If we had said two months ago that the game against Osasuna would have been like a final we would all have taken it," he said.
"Now we have our safety in our own hands. We will play the game as though it is a final, after a season in which we have been so low down we are now only a game away from resolving everything and we have to go out to win."
While he added that he would only be happy if the team avoided the drop, Milosevic's future at the club is by no means secure as his contract runs out at the end of the season and he is waiting to hear if he is to be given a new deal.
"At the moment everything is in the hands of my representative and I am only concentrating on playing but it isn't a secret that I would like to remain here. But that is not only down to me, everyone has to agree to the deal and nothing is secure until it is signed," he said.
Milosevic said the fans will have an important role on Saturday in lifting the team.
"It is clear we play better at home and it is important that we have a lot of people in the stands," he added.
Youngster Marc Bertran has been ruled out as he continues to recuperate from an ankle injury.
Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre has several injury concerns ahead of what is a crucial match for them with Italian Christian Manfredini heading the list of doubtfuls.
Leonel 'Pipa' Gancedo has a knee injury while Pablo Garcia has a badly bruised toe.
Osasuna will be looking to bounce back after a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and defender Cesar Cruchaga believes the result was a one off.
"It was an isolated game and I am sure that against Espanyol we will see the Osasuna of the previous weeks," he said.
"I am sure that it will be a good game on Saturday, we know Montjuic well and there is a lot of atmosphere. It has a big, fast pitch."
OVERMARS BLOW FOR BARCA
By Tim Hanlon, PA International, Barcelona
Barcelona winger Marc Overmars could miss the rest of the season after pulling up sharply with a hamstring injury shortly after entering the fray against Terrassa in the Catalunya Cup.
The Dutchman, who was only on the field for three minutes, will find out later on Friday the extent of the injury which could be a severe blow to Barca's stated aim of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Raddy Antic's side were humiliatingly knocked out of the regional competition on penalties by Terrassa on Thursday night, having been given a bye to the semi-finals.
However the Serbo-Montenegrin said the result was unimportant and that Sunday's match against Sevilla was the most important fixture of the week.
"I am not angry and I don't blame anyone," said Antic.
"We have controlled the game and the draw came from an isolated incident.
"What is important is the game on Sunday."
Despite his reserved satisfaction with Barca's performance, the injury to Overmars came as a shock, with Antic describing the setback and the winger's certain absence from the squad to face Sevilla as "an important loss".
ARAGONES QUIT FOR ATLETICO'S SAKE
By Paul Giblin, PA International, Madrid
Luis Aragones on Friday described his decision to quit as Atletico Madrid coach as "best for the club and players" as he set his sights on landing a new job in the summer.
The 64-year-old has elected to quit at the end of the season, a year ahead of schedule, ending his fifth spell in charge at Atletico after a series of rows with club president Jesus Gil.
Many have blamed the volatile relationship which exists between Aragones and Gil for the decision, yet the soon-to-depart coach insists that blame should not be focused on one individual.
"I work here and know the issues. Everyone has their opinions, but I know what is for the best," said Aragones.
"I have never just looked out for myself. If I'd wanted to do that, I'd have held on here and got paid - if I leave I don't get paid.
"It would have been much easier to stay, that's what most people do."
He and Gil have endured two well-publicised rows this year, including a very public argument following the 1-0 defeat to Osasuna which ruined the club's centenary celebrations a fortnight ago.
The news that Aragones is to leave Atletico broke on Wednesday evening, and the summer departure will end his 39-year association with the club where he was a playing hero.
He joined Atletico as a player in 1964 and was at the club for 10 years before taking over as coach in December 1974.
Although he has coached other clubs such as Real Betis, Valencia, Sevilla, Espanyol, Barcelona, Real Oviedo and Real Mallorca during a long career, he has always returned to Atletico when needed and that has given him a deep knowledge of the club.
Aragones has always insisted Atletico's aim this season was to avoid a quick return to the Segunda Division and with that all but assured, he believes the time is right to announce his departure.
"We have almost fulfilled our aims, that's why have announced this now," he said, continuing to insist his clashes with Gil were not responsible.
"Nothing has provoked this decision and nobody is to blame.
"I don't talk about the club directors, I think a cycle has ended and that's it.
"I'm not going for any one reason.
"I came here to serve Atletico the best I could and in the future I'll do the same with another club.
"At the moment I don't have any offers. If none come along I'll go home to have a rest.
"I'm neither happy or sad at the moment, but I'm not sad I came here.
"When I take a decision I don't regret it."
EUROPE TAKES PRIORITY FOR REAL
By PA Sport Staff
Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque has offered the clearest indication yet as to where his priorities lie for this season by resting several star names for Saturday's trip to Recreativo Huelva.
While Ronaldo was already ruled out through injury, Del Bosque has also omitted Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and the fit-again Raul from his squad in preparation for Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus in Turin.
Many observers will consider his decision a snub to the Primera Liga as the title is still very much up for grabs.
Last weekend's humiliating 5-1 capitulation to Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu has reduced Real's lead at the top to just a solitary point from nearest challengers Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad.
A visit to Huelva is not the sort of trip Real will relish at the moment. Having been promoted last season, Recre have overcome a terrible start to at least give themselves a chance of staying in the top-flight.
They are also through to the final of the Copa del Rey - where they will play Real Mallorca - and are unbeaten at the Nuevo Colombino in their last eight games.
Lucas Alcaraz's team suffered a big blow last time out, however, when they were comprehensively thrashed 5-0 by Depor at the Riazor - a result which left them level on points with Osasuna, the team occupying the final relegation spot.
Figo's absence may be explained by a troublesome groin injury, but the decision not to include Raul is somewhat mystifying.
Having had an appendix operation on April 22, the Spain star has recovered quickly after spending 10 days healing his scars in the sea around Lanzarote, and the trip to Huelva was expected to be the ideal game to build up his match-fitness ahead of the match at the Stadio delle Alpi.
Earlier this week, Del Bosque admitted: ""He could play against Recreativo, because we have a league game before the Champions League; he'd play if it were the final."
Fernando Morientes, who received a surprise call-up for Tuesday's first leg against Juve, is likely to keep his place with youngster Javier Portillo set to replace Ronaldo.
Zidane and Figo's places will probably be filled by Santiago Solari and Steve McManaman.
Recre president Francisco Mendoza is confident his side can avoid the drop, starting with a win against the defending European champions.
"I honestly think we are going to stay up and neither do I rule out the possibility that we can beat Real Madrid," he said.
"Three points on Saturday would see us halfway towards staying up and we are all very excited about what we are going to see."
GARCIA LOOKS TO STOP RAMPANT DEPOR
By PA Sport Staff
Malaga's Gerardo Garcia believes the only way to stop Roy Makaay scoring is by making life uncomfortable for Deportivo La Coruna playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron.
Garcia will be a member of the Malaga midfield mob who will look to give Valeron a rough ride on Saturday at La Rosaleda, hoping they can stem the flow of passes aimed in Makaay's direction.
Dutch frontman Makaay has rediscovered his best form this season for title-chasing Deportivo and has 27 goals in 32 league matches.
That impressive total has put Deportivo in contention for the championship. With six rounds of matches to play they are level with Real Sociedad and both sides trail leaders Real Madrid by just a point.
Few teams have been able to keep Makaay off the scoresheet this season, but Gerardo believes the ploy to keep Valeron away from the ball will be fruitful.
"Makaay is in great form, but there is someone behind him who set him up and that's Valeron," he said.
"If you can stop him, then you have a great chance of stopping Makaay."
Valeron has had a season ruined by shin injuries. He broke his leg in September and suffered a further injury setback in December, only days after returning to action.
That second injury kept him out for two months and he took a long time to get back to match fitness. Since then, however, Valeron has been back to his scheming best.
Depor coach Javier Irureta has been doing his sums this week and has come to the conclusion that his side can win the Primera Liga even if their away form slips up in the last month and a half.
With three home and three away matches remaining, Depor have 63 points, and Irureta reckons four wins and a draw will give them the title.
Malaga will not be easy opponents, as they can still qualify for the Champions League, but there are trickier games coming up over the next fortnight, with Depor having to face Valencia and Celta Vigo, the teams fighting it out for fourth place.
"I still think we will win the league with 76 points," said Irureta this week.
"To do that we need to win our home games and get four points from our three games away from home.
"Now we have a series of very complicated games with Malaga, Valencia and Celta. The three of them are fighting for ambitious objectives and they are solid sides, but we are optimistic."
However, Irureta was confident Deportivo's punch could be decisive in the final reckoning.
"We have won 19 games whereas Madrid and Real Sociedad have won only 18, so we have to carry on and see if we can get three points in Malaga," he said.
Irureta also hinted he would be cheering on Madrid in their attempt to qualify for the Champions league final.
Madrid lead Juventus 2-1 after the first leg of their semi-final.
"The Champions League is a very positive factor as far as tiredness goes. I want to see Madrid go through and centre their attention on the Champions; that way we'll have an advantage," he said.
Makaay has hinted this week that he could consider a move to the English Premiership in the future.
He would not come cheap though, with a hat-trick in last weekend's 5-0 rout of Recreativo Huelva more evidence that the Dutchman is determined to go on scoring for his current club.
His tally of 27 goals is one more than the entire Rayo Vallecano team have scored all season.
Malaga will be without the injured Kike Musampa, Francisco Bravo and Raul Iznata, while Dario Silva and Miguel Angel Lozano are both suspended.
JUANFRAN WANTS GOOD SUPPORT
By PA Sport Staff
Celta Vigo full-back Juanfran urged the boo-boys to stay away from the Balaidos this weekend as he urged true supporters to give maximum backing to the team's push for a Champions League place.
It would be a club first if Celta were to qualify for the elite European competition, and yet supporters heckled the team during their goalless draw with Real Valladolid a fortnight ago.
Juanfran was disgusted by the crowd's reaction, while long-serving Russian forward Aleksandr Mostovoi had to take several days off training due to depression brought on by abuse from the stands.
Celta and Valencia are locked in a head-to-head battle for the fourth place which would qualify them for the Champions League, with both teams on 53 points.
And Juanfran reckons the time has arrived for supporters to realise just what is now at stake.
"I'd like the people to get behind us, but if a lot of people who come to see us against Racing on Sunday are going to whistle, I'd rather they stayed at home," he said.
"It would be better if only the 10,000 fans who get behind us whatever came to the ground, because that way we'd feel their support more.
"The fans should realise that if we can win our remaining home games then we have a great chance of getting into the Champions League because we are conceding very few goals away from home and getting good results."
Despite the current lukewarm levels of excitement in Vigo, Juanfran is confident Celta can pip his former club Valencia and finish fourth.
"Valencia may have a slightly better side, but we are in better form," he said.
"Also, the atmosphere in Valencia is not the best either because their supporters are very demanding and recently they have not been doing well away from home."
Celta suffered a late setback to their plans when loan striker Mido was ruled out with a muscle strain.
His injury coincides with the expected visit of Ajax's sporting director Leo Beenhakker to Vigo. He will try and persuade the Egyptian to patch up his differences with Ajax coach Ronald Koeman and return to Amsterdam for next season.
Mido's absence will give another chance to Catanha, who has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks.
Meanwhile Racing Santander travel along the north coast to Vigo in high spirits.
Last week's 2-1 home win over Valencia not only did Celta a favour, it also put Racing seven points clear of the relegation zone with their hopes of beating the drop looking positive.
After slipping into the bottom three not long after Ukrainian Dimitri Piterman took over as president, Racing are now sitting pretty on 40 points.
They are closer to qualifying for Europe next season than to going down, even though a mid-table standing at the end of the season would satisfy them.
"We have practically assured salvation. We have six games left and it would be hard for us to lose them all and the teams at the bottom to get the points they need to overtake us," explained coach Chuchi Cos.
With his side only four points off sixth place, Cos has even started to think about qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
He added: "If we can win in Vigo, we can start to dream."
GURPEGI ROW LOOMS OVER BILBAO
By PA Sport Staff
Athletic Bilbao are determined that the controversy sparked by the drugs ban handed out to Carlos Gurpegi this week will not get in the way of their bid for a place in next season's UEFA Cup.
Tuesday saw the 22-year-old midfielder handed a two-year suspension by the Spanish FA's disciplinary committee for failing a drug test, a decision which has stunned his fellow players.
Gurpegi tested positive for 19-norandrosterone - a product normally produced following the use of illegal anabolic steroid nandrolone - following Athletic's opening game of the season.
Although the club produced an independent study in conjunction with the University of Extremadura, which implied the player produced the substance naturally, the Spanish FA rejected their findings.
"I'm very affected by it; the sentence is completely disproportionate," said defender Aitor Ocio after the result was made public.
"Whoever made this decision must realise it's an atrocity. It's a savage punishment and whoever has carried it out must realise what they are doing to a young player whose guilt is in doubt."
Forward Joseba Etxeberria returns to action on Saturday in the home game against Real Valladolid after injury kept him out of last week's 5-1 win against Osasuna.
Commenting on the Gurpegi ban, he added: "It's a blow, but now he has our support more than ever.
"It's a long hard sanction and I hope he can show his innocence."
Athletic look to put the week's news to the back of their minds when they take to the field in Bilbao, looking to continue their fine run of recent results.
They have bagged a haul of 11 points from their five latest outings to hurtle up the table to seventh - level on points with sixth-placed Real Mallorca who are in the last UEFA Cup-qualifying position.
The emphatic victory over Osasuna last week was greeted with joy by coach Jupp Heynckes whose side had defeated Real Betis 3-1 in their previous game.
Left-back Asier del Horno comes back into the squad after suspension forced him to miss last weekend's trip to Pamplona.
Ocio misses out after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign and will be replaced by Luis Prieto, who returned to action as a late substitute in Pamplona.
Oscar Vales is expected to continue in central midfield.
Shock over Gurpegi's ban was felt not only in Bilbao.
Valladolid coach Pepe More showed his sportsmanship by added his voice to those defending Gurpegi, even though his absence theoretically helps the Valladolid cause.
"It's a shame and a barbaric punishment; it's must be really hard for the lad, I'm certain he hasn't taken anything," said More.
"It's a shame he can't play, my long experience as a coach and a player means I can say I am certain he is innocent."
Valladolid will travel in good heart to a ground where they won 4-1 last season, although Tote, who did the damage with a hat-trick, has long since returned to Real Madrid after the expiry of his loan.
More's side have also turned their season around in recent weeks and last weekend's 3-1 defeat of Atletico Madrid means that have taken seven points from three games.
Such form has all but banished the threat of relegation which was hanging over them a month ago.
Striker David Aganzo was partly responsible for last week's win with two goals against Atletico and will remember the two he scored against Athletic in Valladolid's 3-0 home win last December.
AGUILERA LOOKS TO DO THE WRITE THING
By Mark Elkington, PA International, Madrid
Atletico Madrid captain Carlos Aguilera is a veteran of the many upheavals at the capital club, and he insists a win on Saturday against Alaves will re-write all the current headlines.
Nearing the end of his 13th season with the Rojiblancos, the phlegmatic 33-year-old has experienced his fair share of Atletico's turbulent history, and the past few days have been almost business as usual for him.
The club's ignominious defeat to Osasuna on the day of their centenary match two weeks ago prompted a blistering assault on the players by outspoken club president Jesus Gil.
While, in itself this was nothing new, it ruptured a pact forged between Gil and Aragones after a similar incident back in January.
Aragones, perhaps swayed by rumours that the club were sounding out replacements, decided to jump before he was pushed, leaving the way clear for the club's 26th coach since Gil became president, although he will stay on until the end of the season.
Add to this the fact that Atletico, who just a few weeks ago were knocking on the door of the Champions League places, are, after seven winless games, sliding rapidly down the table, and fans could be forgiven for thinking they were in the middle of a crisis.
"These things happen at this club," said Aguilera.
"I have always believed that for a footballer it is important to remain calm and focused on your own job. Admittedly the latest upheaval does not help us particularly.
"The coach has told us his reasons for leaving and I respect them. He will definitely go at the end of the season. It is unsettling and it was not something that we wanted. But that's done now and we have to focus on the next game.
"We need to get three points against Alaves to ensure our place in the top-flight, but it will be difficult because they also need a win to survive.
"I am sure that if we win it will provide some stability, and that you will find a different set of headlines next week. We are six games from the end of the season and only three points away from the UEFA places."
As if Aragones' departure were not enough, Atletico's leading scorer, and their most gifted star, Fernando Torres is once again the target of transfer speculation, this time from Juventus.
While the player, a life-long Atletico fan, insists he does not want to go, the club's dire financial position may dictate otherwise.
Torres, who has missed the last three games, and Luis Garcia are both struggling to be fit for Saturday, so Aragones looks set to partner Fernando Correa with former Alaves star Javi Moreno up front. Jose Mari is suspended.
After almost three months out, Garcia Calvo will return to the centre of defence, alongside Fabricio Coloccini. The Argentinian has conducted a personal war of words with his former club throughout the week, after criticising Alaves chief Gonzalo Anton for a lack of ambition.
Sergi Barjuan returns from suspension at left-back, Jose Maria Movilla will continue wide on the left, while Txomin Nagore makes a rare appearance in midfield in place of the injured Demetrio Albertini.
German Burgos is near match fitness, after cancer surgery, but Esteban Suarez will probably continue in goal.
While 12th-placed Atletico are not in serious danger of relegation, Alaves, down in 19th, certainly are. But Ibon Begona claims the team are confident of recording their first ever win in the Vicente Calderon.
"Atletico are having one of their worst runs of the season so it is a good time to be playing them" said Begona.
"We all know that these runs can end very quickly with the big clubs, but we are quite capable of winning and moving further up the table.
"We played well against them in the Mendizorroza [Alaves won 2-0] and we are convinced we can do it again."
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