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.

La Liga goals - Week eight
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona - Highlights
La Liga goals - Week seven
Valencia boss chasing pack
Barcelona 6-1 Zaragoza - Highlights
La Liga goals - Week six
Real Madrid 4-2 Valladolid - Highlights
Valencia 0-0 Barcelona - Highlights
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona |
| 16:00 | Deportivo La Coruna vs Atletico Madrid |
| 16:00 | Espanyol vs Getafe |
| 16:00 | Malaga vs Real Zaragoza |
| 16:00 | Mallorca vs Almeria |
| 16:00 | Osasuna vs Valencia |
| 16:00 | Real Madrid vs Racing Santander |
| 16:00 | Tenerife vs Sevilla |
| 16:00 | Villarreal vs Valladolid |
| 16:00 | Xerez vs Sporting Gijon |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Almeria vs Athletic Bilbao |
| 16:00 | Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol |
| 16:00 | Barcelona vs Real Madrid |
| 16:00 | Getafe vs Xerez |
| 16:00 | Racing Santander vs Deportivo La Coruna |
| 16:00 | Real Zaragoza vs Osasuna |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Malaga |
| 16:00 | Sporting Gijon vs Villarreal |
| 16:00 | Valencia vs Mallorca |
| 16:00 | Valladolid vs Tenerife |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Sevilla 3 - 2 Villarreal | |
| Valencia 3 - 1 Real Zaragoza | |
| Almeria 2 - 0 Osasuna | |
| Racing Santander 0 - 2 Athletic Bilbao | |
| Sporting Gijon 1 - 0 Espanyol | |
| Valladolid 0 - 0 Xerez | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Atletico Madrid 2 - 3 Real Madrid | |
| Barcelona 4 - 2 Mallorca | |
| Getafe 0 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna | |
| Tenerife 2 - 2 Malaga | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Sporting Gijon | |
| Malaga 0 - 1 Valencia | |
| Real Zaragoza 2 - 1 Almeria | |
| Mallorca 1 - 0 Racing Santander | |
| Espanyol 1 - 1 Valladolid | |
| Villarreal 5 - 0 Tenerife | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Athletic Bilbao 1 - 0 Atletico Madrid | |
| Osasuna 1 - 1 Barcelona | |
| Xerez 0 - 2 Sevilla | |
| Real Madrid 2 - 0 Getafe | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 10 | 26 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 10 | 25 |
| 3 | Sevilla | 10 | 22 |
| 4 | Valencia | 10 | 21 |
| 5 | Deportivo La Coruna | 10 | 19 |
| 6 | Real Mallorca | 10 | 17 |
| 7 | Sporting Gijon | 10 | 16 |
| 8 | Athletic Bilbao | 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 | 10 | 10 |
| 16 | Villarreal | 10 | 9 |
| 17 | Racing Santander | 10 | 7 |
| 18 | Atletico Madrid | 10 | 7 |
| 19 | Xerez | 10 | 6 |
| 20 | Malaga | 10 | 5 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Guillem Balague wonders if Atletico Madrid's new coach can mastermind a shock win over Real.
Quique Sanchez Flores told Revista he is relishing the job on his hands at Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla closed on top spot with a win over Villarreal whilst Valencia kept up the chase against Real Zaragoza.
Barcelona remain unbeaten and continue to lead the way, but Real Madrid are hot on their heels.
Robinho's father has revealed that the Manchester City attacker's future is far from certain.
Real Madrid have refused Portugal permission to call-up Cristiano Ronaldo for the games against Bosnia.
Sergio Aguero believes Atletico are more than capable of winning the Madrid derby on Saturday.