Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks ahead to another weekend of live La Liga action on Sky Sports - and he answers your email.
Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here.
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid Barcelona didn't play very well against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League but they are at least playing the brand of football that made them champions of Europe and champions in Spain. Van Nistelrooy: best start to a season in Real colours Their football is based on utilising the wings, quick passing - one and two-touch football - and pressure from Samuel Eto'o when they haven't got the ball. They have the commitment that was lacking last year and, according to Andreas Iniesta, Pep Guardiola has been a breath of fresh air (Iniesta idolised Guardiola and used to have a picture of him on his bedroom wall!).
Guillem Balague The only criticism I have of Guardiola - and I've defended him from day one because I think he's a football man and he knows the club - is that he changes the team too much. There were seven players from the lower ranks playing against Espanyol and although players should be clever enough to adapt, he's tried three at the back, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and it's too much. Rotate, yes, but don't change the system all the time. I do wonder if that affected them in midweek. But it will be a great game and likely, as usual, to be full of goals, despite Atletico Madrid being much more solid at the back with Tomas Ujfalusi and Maniche. Atletico didn't play very well against Sevilla, who defended very deep and hurt them on the counter-attack but they recovered strongly to beat Marseille in the Champions League and they have Kun Aguero, of course. His goal against the French side showed that he's pure class. I'm looking forward to this one. Valladolid's strikers haven't scored yet and I think they are a side that will struggle; they are playing the same sort of football - fairly sleek passing, physical and with pace up front - under the same manager but they don't have Joseba Llorente. In any case, they have started really well and, as Villa said, it feels like they've signed three or four new players. Sanchez Joaquin has been back on form, too, even though he is admittedly a bit hit and miss. Valencia will certainly be favourites to win this one. Espanyol are suffering with a lot of injuries. Poor Steve Finnan; he made his debut at left-back, then got injured and is going to be out for six weeks. He's not the only injury either so I don't hold out much hope for them against a Real Madrid side whose attack is spearheaded by one lethal Ruud Van Nistelrooy. He was reported in the Spanish press of having a goals-per-game ratio of 0.7 for Los Merengues, which is amazing. People might think at 32, Real Madrid should be starting to think about replacing, or at least resting, him but he's started off this season stronger than any of his previous seasons in the white shirt. What's also helping Real Madrid is that they've got a midfield that scores goals. Ramon Calderon reckons they can get 30 goals from midfield this season; if Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart and Reuben de la Red can manager that, plus the goals of Gonzalo Hiquain and Van Nistelrooy, they won't even need Raul. I fancy them to win this by a big margin. BLUE MOVE? FOUR'S A CROWD GUILLEM REPLIES: I would personally want Diarra in there because I'd need someone to work hard for the side. And in front of Diarra, I would normally put Guti and Sneijder because I think Van der Vaart is a striker and I'd play him in a front three. I don't think Gago is as good as, say, Mascherano in doing the passing around and the defending. MARC OF A MAN Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here To hear more from Guillem, visit www.guillembalague.com
Valladolid v Valencia
Real Madrid v EspanyolBarcelona v Atletico Madrid
9.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 2
One of the problems in Spanish football at the moment is that too many people are talking about old versus young, rather than good versus bad. It's a flawed philosophy. Turning 30, like Raul has, doesn't have to spell the end of your career.
Quotes of the week
www.guillembalague.comValladolid v Valencia
7.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1
Valencia are currently top of the table but they have been a bit deceiving. Juan Mata and David Villa have scored nine out of their 12 goals but they haven't had a settled midfield. Manuel Fernandes, David Albelda, Ruben Baraja and Edu have all been in there but I'm not convinced they have the creativity or control needed for when they face the bigger teams. Real Madrid v Espanyol
9.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1
One of the problems in Spanish football at the moment is that too many people are talking about old versus young, rather than good versus bad. It's a flawed philosophy. Turning 30, like Raul has, doesn't have to spell the end of your career.Guillem answers your questions...
Hola Guillem, que tal? Just wondering what the situation is with Henry, are Barcelona still trying to find him another club, and what price tag would he be now? What are the chances of him coming to my beloved Manchester City? Ronnie Shenton.
GUILLEM REPLIES: Barcelona are not trying to find Henry another club. There were reports in the Madrid press that they were looking for him to go in December and he did say, 'You never know in football,' which created all the speculation but no, he's there to stay and they're not looking for a replacement. Slowly but surely, he's becoming more comfortable with his situation, especially if he's allowed to stay at No. 9. Arsenal cleared the front line for Henry, so he could play right, left, centre; they dropped deeper than Barcelona so people had space in front of him but he's not going to find that now so he's still in a process of adaptation. I think he has realised that he needs to focus on that and work hard at developing a new side of his game.
If you were coach for Real Madrid and had Guti, Gago, Diarra, Van der Vaart and Sneijder fit for a game, which of the three midfielders would you play in the 4-3-3 formation that Real Madrid is known for? Wawa
Hello Guillem, with the recent link between Celtic and Barcelona I was wondering what your opinion of Marc Crosas is? In the handful of games I have seen he has looked extremely comfortable on the ball and likes to try killer passes. Also do you think there are any other Barca youngsters that Celtic could benefit from getting? Mick W (Celtic fan).
GUILLEM REPLIES: Crosas is very good at passing, reading the game and wanting possession so for a team that wants to play - Celtic are changing a little bit and want to play more now - he'd be a good type of player to have. There are lots of players like Marc Crosas about though. People didn't really fancy him when he was in Spain but they're going to see a different Marc Crosas because he's going through a learning process. And of course there are youngsters at Barcelona who would be good at Celtic. I'll give you one: Guy Assulin. He's an Arsenal type of player, who likes running at defenders the from the left-hand side, and is a good goalscorer. He's already trained a bit with the first team and he'll have a chance with them at some point.
Comments (17)
Jake Parr (Liverpool fan) says...
Hello Guillem. I have been wondering about the prospect of Henry to Liverpool? He would relish the oppurtunity he has stated something along them lines before. I also think it would allow Ryan Babel to really come out of his shell and try and impress his idol. Plus Babel would learn so much from him and he could make him a quality striker for the future.
Posted 17:15 8th October 2008
Chris Oknokwo (Manchester United fan) says...
Hello... i appreciate the way you take on questions. its quite elaborative. though i am a man united fan but have portsmouth as my second beloved team . i want to know if Harry Rednapp is playing pranks? he is not given enough games to his F A cup heo Kanu though he is fully recovered from injury. is he playing ' play and keep fit english strikers' ? i think Kanu should watch it cos he is got two english strikers to contend with but personally i think e is better than crouch.
Posted 00:14 7th October 2008
Iain Singleton (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...
Hi Guillem, your column made great reading as always last week; good to read about accurate ideas/predictions from a real football expert for a change (apart from the Real Madrid v Espanyol game). As a Barcelona fan, I have a couple of questions about the La Liga season so far. Firstly, do you think that Hleb, Keita and Pique will have difficulty in getting into (and staying in) the Barca first team? I don't think, having seen them through pre-season and the start of the season, that they are Barcelona quality, unless standards have been lowered. Pique seems to be the only regular out of the three and I get nervous every time I see him on the ball, especially in the Champion's League. Also, what do you make of the decision to plan out fixtures this season so that Real Madrid get the reverse fixture of Barca's from the previous round of matches every time? I don't want to go into conspiracy theories but it feels as though it is a good help to Real since teams will most likely play the same way against both them and Barca.
Posted 13:58 6th October 2008
Stuart S (Coventry City fan) says...
Shaun???? Puyol or Casillas? Buffon?...are you having a laugh, all this money is getting to peoples heads!
Posted 12:54 6th October 2008
Isaac Mathew (Manchester City fan) says...
i was saddened by losing to the reds. robinho oh that boy can play
Posted 11:07 6th October 2008
Sean Haughton(mcfc fan) (Manchester City fan) says...
Hey Guillem, do you think Man City can sign any of the top stars in spain come january? Personally, if we cant get Buffon, i'd like Casillas along with Puyol.
Posted 17:50 5th October 2008
Marcell Henley (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
Adetola Osindero: Allow me to correct you. Madrid have an Argentinian and Brazilian First choice left back in (Marcelo & Heinze) as well as the top two all time highest Champions league goalscorers (Van Nistelrooy and Raul). Barcelona have France no.1 left back (until the Euros) (Abidal) and (Valdes) who was tied with Van Der Saar for conceeding the least goals in last years Champs League. Barcelona bought 4 defenders in the transfer window so where are the showbiz players? Get the facts right.
Posted 11:06 5th October 2008
Luke Moore (Northampton Town fan) says...
Hola Guillem, I am a huge Real Madrid fan and wasnt surprised to see the likes of Balboa, Soldado and Baptista leave this summer. One player I was surprised to still see at the club this season was Royston Drenthe, who clearly doesnt have the confidence of Schuster. Did the club try and offload him in the summer but had no takers?
Posted 01:20 5th October 2008
Haris Chaudhry (Manchester United fan) says...
hey guillem, do u think the time is up for Morientes and raul or the still have a part to play for Valencia and real. I maen they r not being selected in the national squad. 5 years back they were the main players in the spanish squad. But now with players like villa and torres they r not needed. They are like the new Morientes and raul. So what is your opinion. Is their time up?Should they hand in their shirts? What do you think? Thanks
Posted 08:57 4th October 2008
Windelll Wignal (Arsenal fan) says...
hey guillem i'm a big fan of your column and while i don't get the chance to watch that much La Liga anymore (got to get back Gol TV) BUT i WAS WONDERING do you think that Alex Hleb made a mistake leaving Arsenal for Barca, I don't remember him even starting a game for Barca this season?
Posted 05:37 4th October 2008
Alan Macdonald (Manchester United fan) says...
Hey, Guilliem i was just wondering what you think on the cristiano ronaldo situation, it looks like that he will spend the next couple of season's at Man United but do you think that it is fair what Man United are doing? because it is obvious that he does wan't that move to Real Madrid?
Posted 21:24 3rd October 2008
Adetola Osindero (Leeds United fan) says...
Guilliem my man.I think the reason why premiership is on the rise and arguably better than la liga is because English teams take football seriuos.Look at the big four,they have quality in all the areas of football unlike madrid(no left back/striker)barca(no keeper/leftback).Madrid/barca know this yet they wont attend to the problem rather they go for showbiz players.What do you think?
Posted 16:46 3rd October 2008
Phil Donovan (Leeds United fan) says...
Hi Guillem. Big fan of your suave work on Revista along with the effervescent Mr Bolton, was interested to know whether you think Villareal will sustain their current status as a top six or seven team in La Liga? I think Pellegrini is the main reason they are doing so well, he's such a stable presence. How long before some of the bigger clubs come knocking? Gracias!
Posted 15:17 3rd October 2008
Alex Martin (Liverpool fan) says...
FAO: Joe Kasolo: Woah! I think that was a bit of an overreaction about the Daniel Agger situation! Yes, Real have "reportedly" claimed that they want to sign him, but that is all that's really been said on the matter. Has he himself come out and said it's his "Dream move"? Has his mother publicly declared her wish is that he moves? Has there been a major fracas between the two clubs over it? Is he owned by an obscure third party that will lead us to contravene FA Law? I think not. This isn't the Ronaldo/Berbatov/Ronaldinho/Tevez sagas that have surrounded recent media hype, and the last thing we need to do is to overreact and create that sort of situation. Yes, Madrid have expressed an interest, but he is one of our top defenders, and I'm sure that Rafa will do his utmost to keep hold of him. Most importantly though, give the guy a chance to have his say on the matter before you condemn him. If he tries a Ronaldo, slate him, otherwise, he's still part of our team!
Posted 15:09 3rd October 2008
James Cowell (Leeds United fan) says...
Hi Guillem, love you're blog but enough about Barca, Real, Chelsea and Arsenal! My beloved Leeds United have recently signed Luciano Becchio , formerly a striker with Barcelona, Mallorca, and thrid division Merida - where he scored 28 goals in 50 games. I wonder how you rated him whilst he was playing in the teams of your home country and why you think he fell from La Liga to League One (apart from the huge draw of playing for the mighty whites!)? Thanks! James, London
Posted 14:39 3rd October 2008
Callam Mills brown (Chelsea fan) says...
hey guillem, i was just wondering what side is the next best to win the LA LIGA if real madrid or barcelona didnt win it. and could you explain why please.
Posted 13:48 3rd October 2008
Joe Kasolo (Liverpool fan) says...
Hola Guilliem, do you think Agger will make a mistake if he decides to go to Madrid? Madrid already have a number good players in central defence, yes its Madrid calling, but I cannot see him being the number one choice. At Liverpool he is only one injury away from coming into the team. Besides Rafa seems to rate him highly and is only 23years old. Rafa stood by him when he was injured and gave him chance to join one of the biggest club in Europe and 24months down the line he thinks he is too big for the club.
Posted 12:20 3rd October 2008