What's Nou for Barca?

Guillem Balague brings you the latest on Barcelona and Real Madrid ahead of the weekend's big games.

Guillem gives his view on this week's live La Liga games

Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks ahead to another weekend of live La Liga action on Sky Sports. If you've got a question for Guillem, send it in here. Deportivo v Sevilla
Valencia v Villareal
Mallorca v Real Madrid
Osasuna v Barcelona

Deportivo v Sevilla
7.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

Deportivo are going through a little miracle patch again. They don't have much money and seven players, some of them regulars, are coming to the end of their contracts; the club probably won't be able to keep them if there are offers. But they have found a team that is working well. The key to it is the hard work of the two defensive midfielders, De Guzman and Sergio or Juan Rodriguez and what's more they are scoring goals now with three players working really well behind the striker: Lafita, Verdu and Guardado. Lafita, on the right hand side, was monitored by Liverpool until they decided they did not want to sign him. Now Verdu, and Guardado on the left-hand side are adding loads to the side offensively. And Bodipo, who in three years had scored only three or four goals, has scored as many this season alone. Sevilla, on the other hand, look like a team that needs recycling. There are differences between the coach and the players and the fans don't like the manager. I find that a little bit hard to swallow because Manolo Jimenez has actually done a good job. He managed to stabilise the ship a little bit after Juande Ramos left last year and managed to get them to the UEFA Cup. This year they went out of the UEFA Cup a little bit too early and generally the football does not look great but he would be liked more if he was a local guy. That tends to be the case.

Valencia v Villarreal
9.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

In David Silva, Valencia have found the missing link. I think Valencia are going to be very inconsistent this season - they will have some very good moments and some bad ones too. They had an excellent moment against Atletico Madrid. They came out full of intensity and played at a high tempo and that stifled their opponents. They will probably do the same against Villarreal, although they are a more mature team and after three consecutive defeats there is always the chance they could bounce back. This could be the perfect game to do just that and I wouldn't be surprised if Villarreal took all three points. There is no pressure on Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini but the limitations of his squad are clear; it is not big and if the likes of Senna or Cazorla are not on form they struggle up front; Nihat and Rossi are not scoring as they were last season.

Mallorca v Real Madrid
7.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

It's fair to say that Mallorca are a team that are really, really struggling on the pitch because of all of the ownership problems off it. Real Madrid's first priority will be not to concede goals, while the second is to do very well in the Champions League. They always look like scoring, particularly as Robben is probably playing the best football of his career. He is feeling the love of the players, his manager and the fans and scored one of the best goals of his career against Villarreal at the weekend.

Osasuna v Barcelona
9.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Osasuna have now put together a run of form and a look that they did not have in the past. That's what happened against Sevilla. They did play well, as in orderly, but didn't create many chances yet they did score a goal at the end. As Camacho said at the end of the game, this is the type of match that in the past they would have lost. Barcelona chose to rest some of their players - like Xavi, Eto'o and Gudjohnsen - in the Cup this week, while Puyol, Hleb and Marquez were all injured but they will probably be ok for this game. Guardiola has made La Liga his priority. It is a very important month for the club, in which they are playing eight games so rotation is the word of the day. But I would expect Barcelona to win.

Guillem answers your questions...

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here or use the feedback form below.
BEHAVIOUR ISSUES
Guillem, I watched Barca/Mallorca last night and wonder what your thoughts are about the disgraceful behaviour of several Barca players. I am 59 years old and have watched a lot of football but have NEVER seen anything like the cheating/feigned injuries and all-round unsporting behaviour of their players. This has crept in under Pep's custody and appears to be getting worse - I watch them regularly. The dishonesty involved is shameful. Surely they realise they are being scrutinized by TV and press? They obviously don't care as the end result is all that counts. Where I live they were the talk of the village cafes this morning and even Barca fans were embarrassed. Valid criticism or not? Ivan Jackson GUILLEM REPLIES: There is a different attitude to this in Spain from England; it is difficult to see that sort of thing from English eyes in the same way that Spanish eyes would see a lack of talent, skill or the basics of most of the English players. What I am saying is that if Spanish fans look at the Premier League they will come out with a series of conclusions that will shock English viewers. Turning it around, it is not fair for English fans to judge La Liga either. They are probably missing the point that in our literature and our history there has always been an unhealthy but ever-present respect for the cheeky, streetwise personality, for people who try to take advantage. It is part of our culture. In football it is no different. People try to take advantage and then the one who suffers, the victim, for instance the defender who puts his leg out but doesn't actually touch the striker yet still concedes the penalty will not complain to the striker but will complain to the referee for having been deceived. So that's how it works - it comes down to different types of mentalities. I understand that when it goes to the limit there are times when you can feel embarrassed about it but generally it is part of our culture. GROUNDS FOR CONCERN
Hi Guillem, I have a quick question regarding the Camp Nou. If I recall correctly you said a while back that the remodelling of the stadium had been cancelled because it would end up costing Barça more than anticipated, especially with the economic downturn. I heard Joan Laporta mention the remodelling in a recent interview and it has left me a bit confused. Is the remodelling going ahead as planned? Foster & Partners website still has the project listed. Thanks, Stuart Luff GUILLEM REPLIES: Yes, I heard the words from Laporta when he was analysing the year ahead for Barca but if you notice there is nothing happening at the Camp Nou because they still need to reach an agreement with the neighbours over the sale of the Mini Estadi, which is the stadium next to the Camp Nou and a series of things still have to be approved before they start on the job. That latest information that we were given was that it was all cancelled; there is no advancement on that and although I know it is a project Barcelona want to keep pushing, there is no date for the work to start. DOSE OF DIARRA
I'm a Portsmouth fan and having just sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid, I was wondering do you think he will do well for Real - and do you think he will play regularly? Danny Spall GUILLEM REPLIES: I think he will play regularly. Real Madrid have to choose between Huntelaar and Diarra for the Champions League as they both played in the UEFA Cup. Juande and the players want Diarra to be that man because no-one has his defensive capabilities. He has to improve his fitness because after an hour of his debut he was dead physically but he is going to have a bigger impact than Huntelaar, for instance, this season and Juande really likes him. For more from the world of La Liga, visit www.guillembalague.com.