It promises to be another week of cracking action in La Liga, so who better to look ahead to the four live games on Sky Sports than our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
If you've got a question for Guillem, send it in here.
Real Madrid v Zaragoza
Tenerife v Atletico Madrid
Deportivo v Valencia
Villa: is he on the move?
Real Madrid v Zaragoza
9.00pm, Sat, Sky Sports Xtra
Real Madrid have finally found a system that works and they even have players that suit that system when Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo are unavailable.
The system features four defenders, then three midfielders (Marcelo on the left, Xabi Alonso in the middle and Lass Diarra on the right), then one in front of them (normally Kaka or sometimes Rafael van der Vaart) and two strikers (Cristiano is one of them).
Valencia need about 50million euros from player sales this summer and of course Villa is the main asset to cash in on.
Guillem Balague
Quotes of the week
Real Madrid v Zaragoza
9pm, Sat, Sky Sports Xtra
Tenerife v Atletico Madrid
6pm, Sun, Sky Sports 2
Deportivo v Valencia
8pm, Sun, Sky Sports 2
This system gives the defence enough protection, there is more control of the ball and everybody seems to be happier.
The problem is that the back four - who defend very high up - has lost one of its key components in Pepe. His pace and anticipation have been lost due to his injury so it will be interesting to see how they cope with that.
Meanwhile Zaragoza sacked their manager, Marcelino, even though their whole stadium was calling for him to stay and the board to go instead.
But the board felt that the manager was failing. I think they felt he was earning too much and also there has not been a good relationship between Marcelino and the board for some time.
The manager had been demanding a series of players, but the board didn't listen to him and things broke down.
Tenerife v Atletico Madrid
6.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports 2
Atletico Madrid failed dramatically at the weekend against Villarreal.
The chairman spent 45 minutes in the changing room telling everybody off and Quique Sanchez Flores has warned that the worst is still to come.
That's a way of saying that victories over Espanyol and Xerez in the previous weeks have not solved their problems. The results against Porto and Villarreal proved they still have a long way to go.
The aim for Atletico Madrid at the moment is simply to avoid relegation.
Deportivo v Valencia
8.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports 2
Valencia are still one step below Real Madrid when they are at their best, but they are still good enough to finish in the top four.
This will be an interesting game between two teams that have achieved more than what was expected of them at this stage of the season.
Deportivo are solid at the back and are happy to sit on a lead when they go 1-0 up, especially at home, so I can't wait to see how Valencia deal with a side that defends deep.
Valencia will need to get the best out of their front four. Chori Dominguez is a very good signing for them and will be a team-mate of David Villa from January - and then he will eventually replace his goals when he goes in the summer.
Guillem answers your questions...
Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here or use the feedback form below, and then look out for his answer next week.
A VILLA IN BARCELONA?
Hi Guillem, what is the current situation regarding the potential transfers of David Villa and Santi Cazorla? Cazorla nearly went to Madrid a few transfer windows ago if I remember correctly. With Villa we hear of Valencia's debt problems yet they seem unwilling to part with him. Both the big Spanish clubs have spent big recently on the likes of Benzema and Ibrahimovic, so it seems unlikely they will fork out another 40-50 million on another striker, and I've heard quite a few times that Villa doesn't want to leave Spain. What do you see happening to both players? Maybe the World Cup will effect their situations, especially if Villa was to finish top scorer? Gracias y Feliz Navidad. Owen Pocock.
GUILLEM SAYS: Cazorla has just recovered from a herniated disc and I don't believe he is thinking about going anywhere. He didn't go to Real Madrid because they didn't offer enough money and Villarreal gave him a better contract. He simply felt Real Madrid weren't treating him with the respect he deserved.
As for Villa, he is just waiting to see what happens. Playing abroad is a possibility for him now but I also get the impression that one of the two big boys, particularly Barcelona, will try once again to get him. It will be interesting when Thierry Henry goes to the MLS. But if that doesn't happen there is the possibility he could go to Manchester City or maybe to Chelsea if they can appeal against their transfer embargo and sign players in the summer. I'm not sure if that will happen. What I do know is Valencia need about 50million euros from player sales this summer and of course Villa is the main asset to cash in on. David Silva is the other one and Barcelona are interested in him. We'll see what happens.
VICENTE VIEW
Hi Guillem, First of all, great job on the coverage on the low downs in La Liga over the past years. It's been a pleasure reading your thoughts and answering some great questions from the English faithful who have had, over the recent years a sort of obsession with the Spanish league. But my question to you Guillem is I'm a huge Valencia fan and have been following them for many years. One of the players I enjoyed most when he was fit was Vicente, he was a typical winger who ran at any defence and contributed to many assists and goals, he reminded me a bit of Ryan Giggs in his prime. However unfortunately his career was blighted with injuries and I remember a few years back you did say his ankles seem to be made up of glass on a show of Revista de la Liga. He was a great talent and at one point he was linked with Manchester United. But lately he seems to have been injured for a while and last season he did play a few games but recently I read that he has been frozen out of the team by the manager all together and also Tottenham have been interested in him as well as PSV. Is there any truth in this and have you got any update to his career and possibly his future? Monty, Valencia Fan, Derby
GUILLEM SAYS: Thanks you for your kind words Monty. Vicente hasn't had any offers in the last 12 months as far as I know. I've been in Valencia quite a lot recently and I've seen him train and he seems to have his head elsewhere. I'm not so sure he is actually injured, I think he has lost his competitive edge and hunger and is just going through the motions. It's not so much he has been frozen out of the team, more that he does like to be seen a little bit out of the squad. Every now and again he appears for a run of games then disappears again. It's a shame because he's got a long contract with Valencia, but the fact he never really recovered from his injuries means he's not really a top-flight player any more.
TOP STOPPER?
Hi Guillem, I love your blog. I am a Spurs fan and after Carlo Cudicini's unfortunate injury we have taken Asier Riesgo on trial from Real Sociedad. Do you know much about this keeper? Also with Jermaine Pennant seemingly quite popular in Spain, do you think any other English players will make the move to Spain within the year? Andrew Marenghi
GUILLEM SAYS: I do like Asier Riesgo. He was prone to mistakes when he first came onto the scene and he was often on the bench because the club already had a good number one goalkeeper. But he is good in the air, he plays the ball well with his feet and he's a strong young goalkeeper. It's good that Spurs are giving him a chance.
As for your other question, I don't think English players are too happy about going to Spain at the moment. Some would like to, but when they realise the difference between the wages at any English Premier League club compared to 75-80 per cent of the clubs in Spain then they decide to stay in England. Also they are in their comfort zone on home soil and their style of play often doesn't transfer over. There's too many reasons not to make the jump. I'd like to see more players going to Spain - and every time I speak to players I try to convince them - but it's not been happening so far.
Comments (36)
Rahul Advani (Manchester United fan) says...
hi guillem i follow you and the la liga closely from back home in india and am a regular reader of your coloums there have been rumors of manutd signing villa and silva from valencia for 55 million and nani moving the other way how much truth is there in this report and do the players specially villa want to move to united or this this a story made by the press
Posted 13:00 20th December 2009
Faniel Tesfay (Manchester United fan) says...
hi guillem i was wondering what are the chances of sergio aguero or david viilla arriving at old trafford and who would suit man utd
Posted 20:15 19th December 2009
Daniel Nwiyordee (Arsenal fan) says...
i think the best cf for arsenal is david villa
Posted 18:37 19th December 2009
John Bosco (Manchester United fan) says...
I'm a united fan but when it comes to Sparnish football i love Vallencia just b'se of one of the best striker in the Sparnish Football that is David Villa and i would pray if Sir Alex could use the money the club got from the sale of C. Ronaldo and as i talk united is lacking a complete striker who could help united to fight for the fourth trouph. That could be David Villa.
Posted 17:37 19th December 2009
Aqiemz Minami (Liverpool fan) says...
hello Guillem..i just want to ask you a question.. as we know,david villa is a best striker for spain and also he work very well alongside torres..is there any chance to see villa move to liverpool?
Posted 23:13 18th December 2009
R Fagan (Manchester United fan) says...
Hi Guillem, Love your insight into boardroom machinations on Revista as well as the verbal jousting with Graham Hunter! Just wondered if you know what the situation is with Yaya Toure at Barca. Guardiola seems to have a preference for Busquets in midfield when it¿s clear that Toure is the better player in that holding role. Has there been a bust up between manager and player?
Posted 12:21 18th December 2009
Chris Silvester (Manchester United fan) says...
Hi Guillem Im a massive Man Utd fan and i was just wondering whether both Villa and Silva have any chance of joining Man Utd either in January or next summer as i would love to see both players here i think we need them both.
Posted 10:39 18th December 2009
Maurice Culleton (Malaga fan) says...
Saludos Guillem, As a Malaga CF season ticket holder, and part of the expat army that follows the club, this season so far has been a great disappointment after the showing last season. Malaga CF is on the verge of signing Miku from Valencia. Do you think he will be the player to put the ball in the net as this is the area we have been sorely lacking this season. The club deserves to be in better shape and at all times the hinchas (fans) have been behind the team.
Posted 07:56 18th December 2009
Giampieri Babazzi (Bologna fan) says...
I love the blog as always and you're always prolong my interest in La Liga. I was just wondering whether a return to English soil or a move to Italy may be on the cards with the current plight at the Vicente Calderon showing little signs of halting? Cheers Guillem!
Posted 07:52 18th December 2009
Arash Mansouri (Real Madrid fan) says...
hi Guillem i am an real Madrid fan i would like to know about Fabrigas and Frank Ribery i want to know what the current is and who is the favorite to land the two star players real Madrid Barcelona or other clubs.
Posted 00:32 18th December 2009
Philip Sullivan (Real Mallorca fan) says...
Dear Guillem, i am just wondering do you think that real mallorca will finish in the top 10 this season ? beacuse at the start of the year you taught they would be one of the teams in the mix for relagation from la liga.
Posted 22:09 17th December 2009
Brinn Skelton (Manchester United fan) says...
i agree with thomas i would love to see nolan play at United even though it seems very unlikely, but i think he has want united need at the moment, someone young with a touch of class and skill, we have rooney but people in the preimer league are use to him now and berbatov and owen are good players but they dont have flare and skill (my opinion), so i think aguero will give us that touch of class, but i doubt fergie will pay the price tag, also i heard rumors of maybe david silva and yaya toure possibly coming to united, could these be true or just idle fantasys?
Posted 21:19 17th December 2009
Enzo Palka (Arsenal fan) says...
Hi Guillem, i must say that i love watching revista la liga to find out all the latest on la liga as it is a brilliant league this season , but i was wanting to know about the situation with david villa and he has emurged as a possible target for arsenal and sounds reasonable for them aswell , with van persie out injured and the gunner in need of a striker better than the ones we got in january transfer window, and only one or two come to mind but david villa is the one fans would love to see , not sure if wenger would spend big on him but as we know we have been without a trophie for a long time and cannot afford to go without again this season. so villa could emurge as a top target in wengers mind as he is not cup tied in the champions league and could come in and make a big impact on the team , and with the possibility of playing with fabregas, arshavin and van persie when he gets back fit must come acorss good because it sounds devestating. but all depending on arsenal(wenger) and valencias decitions to buy and sell as he would cost alot of money but also would david villa be willing to leave his home land is the question with barca and real waiting for him??
Posted 18:47 17th December 2009
Darren Mccann (Barcelona fan) says...
Hi Guillem, Im a true barca fan and have enjoyed watching them play for a few years now. with the introduction of Ibrahimovic seems to be doing well, barca still dont look the same passing team and dominating team they were last year. I dont expect them to achieve the sucess they did this year but i enjoy the way they played with such confidence especially xavi in midfield. But this year i dont think they have the confidence in midfield, What do you think is the problem this year ?
Posted 18:34 17th December 2009
Estin Brown (Arsenal fan) says...
i would love to see david villa leave valencia in january for arsenal as we are in need of a top striker and would fit in straight away at arsenal and would smash in loads of goals with the football we play , if wenger would consider signing him as he is free to play in all cups he would be a great signing all though he would cost about 20 30 mil, but arsenal have that kind of money and need to buy him and he would be tempted by it as he could jump straight into the team in champions league and premire league and make a big impact and elevate his name even bigger than it is
Posted 18:32 17th December 2009
Nick Kelsall (Arsenal fan) says...
Guillem, I am an Arsenal season ticket holder and regularly travel to away games. I enjoy watching La Liga on Sky sports but find it curious that not many fans follow their team away from home. Is there any particular reason for this? I am aware that Spain is a larger land mass that England so travelling distances are further, but surely with the quality of football on show, fans would want to watch their teams play away.
Posted 18:08 17th December 2009
Mothin Miah (Arsenal fan) says...
You can tell Y Larport that Cesc Is going now where even for 80 million, even if i am a barc fan as well !!!! plus question is why is Yaya not playing he is better than Basques? is thier a rift ?? would like him at Arsenal we need some like that
Posted 16:12 17th December 2009
Steve Sandhu (Liverpool fan) says...
Hi, If mash wants to leave Liverpool, in Jan 2010 or in the summer, i think rafa should not keep a player that does not want to stay, so i think rafa should swap mash with yaya toure, plus 20m from barca. with the 20m, rafa should sign MATA from valencia. silva will struggle in the EPL and villa will cost too much. i also think rafa should sign Capel, quality winger. he would compete with reira. Guilliem, i think rafa is 4 Quality players short of winning the EPL. ie rafa needs to sign a Quality left back, left/right mids/wingers and a striker.
Posted 14:49 17th December 2009
Muidul Miah (Liverpool fan) says...
Hi Guillem, First of all,i wanna say what great you are doing a great job on the coverage in La Liga over the past years. It's been a pleasure reading your thoughts and answering some great questions from you. I am a big liverpool fan and my corcern is that will liverpool qulifly for the champions league? another questions is that im a big fan of two players from valencia which are ever banega and hernandez pablo and i was wondering do you think they would be perfect for the liverpool team. I belive we need players like these and rafa should consider them players. What do you think about the two players I have mentioned and have they had any offers from any clubs? And will torres stay?
Posted 13:53 17th December 2009
Wayne Johnson (Real Madrid fan) says...
Hi Guillem, as usual I am in a country that is torn between Spanish and English football. Which is the best? What I want to know is can Madrid obtain the revenue to get players like Ribery and Villa and who would they sell? Also, are they going to get a replacement for the long term injury defender Pepe? Keep up the good work.
Posted 13:36 17th December 2009
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