Around the League: Round 25
Around a La Liga is the weekly column here at Laligaweekly.com where we recap all the news on the peninsula from O Coruña to Barcelona and San Sebastian to Sevilla, onward to the Balearic and Canary Isles.
Real Madrid: Madrid are undefeated in 12 games at home, but are facing their toughest test to date with Sevilla and the in-form Jesus Navas coming into town. Marcelo was burned at the Sanchez-Pizjuan, so a viable option might be to start Arbeloa on the left to cover Perotti, start Ramos on the right to guard against Jesus Navas, and pair Garay and Albiol in the center. While Benzema is still hurting, Guti will return to the lineup. In preparation for the May 22nd Champions League final, a press conference was given on Friday in Madrid where amongst the club representatives, Florentino Perez spoke, “Real Madrid and the European Cup are synonymous. It is the club most associated with that competition. Madrid loves the Champions League above all others.” Real Madrid defender Pepe is 80% certain to play for Portugal in the World Cup this Summer, recovering from his knee injury.
Barcelona: Pep Guardiola spent almost the entire presser commenting on Thierry Henry’s form and why he isn’t starting, “It isn’t true that a player of his level is saving himself for the World Cup. He isn’t at his best, he accepts it and why others are playing in his stead.” Oriol Giralt, a Barca member who instigated the recall of Laporta two years ago was relieved of his membership for a year and won’t be able to participate in Barcelona election this Summer to nominate Joan Laporta’s successor.
Lower Division: The Antiviolence Commission has fined Compostela President Jose Maria Caneda for not complying with security protocols before the 28th of Fenruary match against Alaves.
