By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 24th August 2007
Baptista: City target?
Skysports.com understands Manchester City are weighing up a move for Julio Baptista as they look to ease their striking problems.
City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is searching for a new forward after losing summer signing Valeri Bojinov to a long-term injury.
A host of players including Nicolas Anelka and Nuno Gomes have been linked with City and now Baptista is believed to have come under Eriksson's scrutiny.
Baptista last season on loan at Arsenal and it is not known if he features in the plans of new Real coach Bernd Schuster.
Baptista nicknamed 'The Beast' failed to shine at Arsenal, but the striker enjoyed a good summer helping Brazil win the Copa America and Eriksson sees the striker as the ideal replacement for Bojinov.
City are pondering making a loan move for the burly forward as they look to add to their attacking options.
A snag could be that Real are only thought to be willing to sell the burly forward rather than sending him out on loan again like they did with Arsenal last season.

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La Liga goals - Week eight
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona - Highlights
La Liga goals - Week seven
Valencia boss chasing pack
Barcelona 6-1 Zaragoza - Highlights
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 17:00 | Sporting Gijon vs Villarreal |
| 19:00 | Valencia vs Mallorca |
| 21:00 | Sevilla vs Malaga |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Almeria vs Athletic Bilbao |
| 16:00 | Getafe vs Xerez |
| 16:00 | Racing Santander vs Deportivo La Coruna |
| 16:00 | Real Zaragoza vs Osasuna |
| 16:00 | Valladolid vs Tenerife |
| 18:00 | Barcelona vs Real Madrid |
| 20:00 | Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia |
| 16:00 | Deportivo La Coruna vs Barcelona |
| 16:00 | Espanyol vs Racing Santander |
| 16:00 | Malaga vs Osasuna |
| 16:00 | Mallorca vs Real Zaragoza |
| 16:00 | Real Madrid vs Almeria |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Valladolid |
| 16:00 | Tenerife vs Sporting Gijon |
| 16:00 | Villarreal vs Getafe |
| 16:00 | Xerez vs Atletico Madrid |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Villarreal 3 - 1 Valladolid | |
| Xerez 0 - 0 Sporting Gijon | |
| Espanyol 0 - 2 Getafe | |
| Osasuna 1 - 3 Valencia | |
| Malaga 1 - 1 Real Zaragoza | |
| Mallorca 3 - 1 Almeria | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Tenerife 1 - 2 Sevilla | |
| Deportivo La Coruna 2 - 1 Atletico Madrid | |
| Athletic Bilbao 1 - 1 Barcelona | |
| Real Madrid 1 - 0 Racing Santander | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Valladolid 0 - 0 Xerez | |
| Sporting Gijon 1 - 0 Espanyol | |
| Almeria 2 - 0 Osasuna | |
| Racing Santander 0 - 2 Athletic Bilbao | |
| Valencia 3 - 1 Real Zaragoza | |
| Sevilla 3 - 2 Villarreal | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Tenerife 2 - 2 Malaga | |
| Getafe 0 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna | |
| Barcelona 4 - 2 Mallorca | |
| Atletico Madrid 2 - 3 Real Madrid | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 11 | 28 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 11 | 27 |
| 3 | Sevilla | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Deportivo La Coruna | 11 | 22 |
| 5 | Valencia | 10 | 21 |
| 6 | Real Mallorca | 10 | 17 |
| 7 | Athletic Bilbao | 11 | 17 |
| 8 | Sporting Gijon | 10 | 16 |
| 9 | Espanyol | 10 | 13 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 10 | 12 |
| 11 | Almeria | 10 | 12 |
| 12 | Getafe | 10 | 12 |
| 13 | Real Zaragoza | 10 | 11 |
| 14 | Real Valladolid | 10 | 10 |
| 15 | Tenerife | 11 | 10 |
| 16 | Villarreal | 10 | 9 |
| 17 | Racing Santander | 11 | 7 |
| 18 | Atletico Madrid | 11 | 7 |
| 19 | Xerez | 10 | 6 |
| 20 | Malaga | 10 | 5 |
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Lionel Messi is a major injury worry for Barcelona ahead of their games with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Wigan Athletic target Raul Tamudo has admitted that things for him at Espanyol are not easy.
Real Madrid have moved to the top of the table after beating Racing while Barcelona were held at Athletic Bilbao.