Underwhelming is one way to describe it. Mediocre may be more apt. There is certainly very little that’s positive about how this season has panned out for either Valencia or Atletico Madrid. Leading into the season there was some hope that both would push on, and in Atletico’s case in particular, genuinely challenge La Liga’s duopoly for the title. Now, a few days before they resume their Champions League campaign in knockout games for which neither are favourites, Valencia and Atletico face off at the Mestalla with the main aim focused on returning to Europe’s premier competition next season. It all feels a little drab for what should be one of the big games of the La Liga season. Valencia received a shellacking for the ages at Getafe last weekend, so fans of Los Che will demand a much better performance at home. Considering how rotten Diego Simeone’s men have been on their travels this season, it may not require much more than some focus and intensity to beat them. With only two points separating the teams and players riddled with doubt on both sides, it is possible that pressure may get the better of the game.
If one were predicting a match based on a side having a set identity established by a brilliant manager than Getafe would be favourites against Barcelona. But this is Barca at the Camp Nou and a Barca that played its best half of football under Quique Setien in their comeback win at Betis last weekend. That however, is still some way short of the Blaugrana at their best. There’s also some needle between the managers thanks to Setien being condescending towards Bordalas’ methods in the past. And this is after all a match between second and third (yes, it bares repeating, Getafe are third!), so expect it to be tight.
Elsewhere we have two Basque derbies this weekend, following another two last weekend. I actually think both Athletic and La Real could have done without another local game. Both teams have come to the front of the press cycle after their heroic wins over Real and Barca in the Copa del Rey, which was quickly followed by facing off against each other last Sunday. The pressure was evident in their semifinal first legs against lesser teams in midweek, and I think both are bound to have a bit of an emotional comedown against Eibar and Osasuna.
Valencia 1 Atletico 0
Mallorca 1 Alaves 1
Barca 1 Getafe 0
Villarreal 3 Levante 1
Granada 0 Valladolid 0
Sevilla 1 Espanyol 1
Leganes 1 Betis 1
Eibar 1 La Real 1
Athletic 0 Osasuna 0
Real 2 Celta 0
Season Score - 23/50