League SPANISH LEAGUE
Match SOCIEDAD vs BILBAO
Match No. 1504
Sales Close ^ 21/11/04 9:00PM
1X2
Home <1.97>
Draw <3.15>
Away <3.30>
1/2 GOAL
Home SOCIEDAD (-1½) <3.85>
Away BILBAO (+1½) <1.19>
TOTAL GOALS
No. of Goals
0 <6.50>
1 <3.90>
2 <3.60>
3 <3.90>
4 <6.00>
5 <9.90>
6 <19.00>
7 <39.00>
8 <85.00>
9+ <125.00>
HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE
Selection
H-H <3.75>
H-D <12.00>
H-A <25.00>
D-H <5.00>
D-D <5.20>
D-A <5.90>
A-H <19.00>
A-D <13.00>
A-A <5.60>
League SPANISH LEAGUE
Match LEVANTE vs REAL BETIS
Match No. 1503
Sales Close ^ 21/11/04 9:00PM
1X2
Home <2.08>
Draw <3.15>
Away <3.02>
1/2 GOAL
Home LEVANTE (-1½) <4.20>
Away REAL BETIS (+1½) <1.16>
TOTAL GOALS
No. of Goals
0 <6.50>
1 <3.90>
2 <3.60>
3 <3.90>
4 <6.00>
5 <9.90>
6 <19.00>
7 <39.00>
8 <85.00>
9+ <125.00>
HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE
Selection
H-H <4.20>
H-D <12.00>
H-A <23.00>
D-H <5.20>
D-D <5.20>
D-A <5.40>
A-H <19.00>
A-D <12.00>
A-A <5.30>
League SPANISH LEAGUE
Match SEVILLA vs ESPANYOL
Match No. 1502
Sales Close ^ 21/11/04 9:00PM
1X2
Home <1.92>
Draw <3.15>
Away <3.45>
1/2 GOAL
Home SEVILLA (-1½) <3.60>
Away ESPANYOL (+1½) <1.22>
TOTAL GOALS
No. of Goals
0 <6.80>
1 <4.10>
2 <3.60>
3 <3.80>
4 <5.70>
5 <9.80>
6 <19.00>
7 <38.00>
8 <80.00>
9+ <110.00>
HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE
Selection
H-H <3.50>
H-D <12.00>
H-A <23.00>
D-H <5.00>
D-D <5.50>
D-A <6.40>
A-H <17.00>
A-D <12.00>
A-A <6.00>
Preview
Real Sociedad coach Jose Mari Amorrortu insists he will not have split loyalties when he faces up to former club Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby on Sunday.
Both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the table this season and Athletic appear to be facing the same difficulties that Real had a season ago, with their European campaign putting a strain on their squad.
``Now I am the leader of this ship and face this derby as the first `txuri urdin', ahead of the players and representative of this club,'' said Amorrortu.
``With the desire that I have this is not difficult although this is a match where it is important for me to be very professional.
``A derby is always difficult due to the importance of the game to the fans and the atmosphere this creates in the stadium.
``But while there are other elements to it the key is the three points. ``We are in a difficult position in the league and this is a measure of the matches that we have played before and the results.
``To take three points now against Athletic, who are having similar problems, would help us to climb up the table and it would give us confidence.
``Athletic are a side that is very versatile and unpredictable and I am most concerned about their many different attacking outlets.
``I think that it is good that a derby has plenty of colour and rivalry and it is important that we do not lose these kinds of things.
``I think that the poor number of tickets sold is as a result of the poor position of both teams in the league and also the kick-off (9pm).
``The aim is to win this game, we are fully aware of the importance of the match and we will go out in order to achieve this.''
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde admitted his team is more at ease after beating Villarreal last week but he knows it is important to keep fighting.
``I do not want us to be calm, if you go out in a game like this weekend relaxed you are asking for problems,'' said Valverde.
``A derby always has something special and we are looking to win. ``We have a lot to work for in a match which has come at a good time for us as we are on a winning run and are motivated.''
Athletic should have their three-pronged attack available for the encounter. Ismael Urzaiz, Joseba Etxeberria and Santi Ezquerra have all been passed fit by medical staff. However, Ander Murillo is a doubt after picking up an ankle injury.
Preview
Real Betis midfielder Juan Jose Canas believes that his side's victory over Barcelona last weekend can give them the belief they need to turn around their season, as they prepare to face Levante.
The Andalusian side are struggling in mid-table this season but showed their potential by defeating leaders Barcelona 2-1 and ending their unbeaten run.
Now Canas feels that Betis can start to march up the table. ``It was an important victory because we beat the top team in the country that were undefeated and now the win can give us the boost that we needed to help us challenge at the top of the table,'' he said.
``In the Barca team any player can win a game, Xavi (Hernandez) is playing at a good level at the moment and our mission was to try and cut out his influence in the match.
``But the key was that in the second half Betis played at a very high level. ``We need to continue playing like this and working hard. If we work and run hard during matches then we have the basis and on top of this we have players that can break down teams and can score in front of goal.
``The signs are good at the moment that Betis can finish high up the table. ``Serra Ferrer is a trainer that knows me very well and knows what I can give to the team. I am helping the team and that is the role of a player. Little by little we are finding the style which the coach is looking for.
``We have now been with him for two and half months and the team has changed and we are showing our quality now.''
Ferrer was equally positive about the win and thinks the team can now go from strength to strength.
``The victory was important especially as it was against a team which was on a good run. Now we are approaching the zone in which we are looking for and it is pleasing to give the fans what they want,'' he said.
``We have shown that we have what is necessary to be successful and we are now capable of beating Levante in their own stadium. Barcelona played very well and did well in the first half but in the second Betis was better and scored two goals.''
Ferrer is likely to play Fernando Varela in left-midfield with Benjamin Zarandona injured and not making the trip to Valencia.
Levante coach Bernd Schuster left the Riazor fuming last weekend after his side was beaten by Deportivo La Coruna as a result of a debatable penalty.
The surprise package of the Primera Division this season are riding high among the European places will soon be able to welcome back Johan Mjallby from injury.
The Swedish centre-half returned to training this week but this weekend's match will be too soon for him.
Preview
Midfielder Antonio Alvarez `Ito' is hoping to make a successful return to Seville with his new club Espanyol this weekend.
Alvarez spent six years playing for Sevilla's bitter city rivals Real Betis but has never been on the winning team against Joaquin Caparros.
``It would be superb to break this bad run on Sunday,'' he said. ``To win is always important and at the moment we are both doing well at the top of the table.
``Now I have moved from Betis but it is still special for me to play against Sevilla and although it is not worrying that I have not won against them, it is a coincidence that I would like to change.''
Ito is expecting a tough match at the Sanchez Pizjuan and admits he is likely to receive a less than friendly reception from the home fans. ``When two teams have a rivalry like in Seville this often happens,'' he said.
``It is not going to be an easy game for Espanyol, all games are different and this is going to be a complicated one, especially as Sevilla have picked up a lot of points at home.
``We will have to play as we have so far, if not better.'' Coach Miguel Angel Lotina has admitted that third-placed Espanyol cannot afford to get carried away despite their excellent start to the season, and also acknowledges they are unlikely to finish the season in the top four.
``I don't want to break the dreams of the people but the team needs to go on winning week in week out and the idea of us qualifying for the Champions League is a dream,'' he said.
``A lot depends on injuries but we also need to be realistic and have clear our real objective which is to fight, do things well and to stay in the top flight for another year.
``We are doing better than the last two years because we are conceding fewer goals. ``All the players know how to work defensively together, when we don't have the ball we defend and we are all together.''
Espanyol have achieved their success this season without Raul Tamudo and Ivan de la Pena, who were key players during the last campaign.
Both played an integral part in the Catalan side's survival, which was ensured in the final game of the season, but Tamudo did not start this year with his usual sharpness and is currently out with a thigh strain.
De la Pena started on the bench against Santander and Lotina insists he needs to learn to defend better.
Sevilla, meanwhile, undid some of their good work this season by losing to then- bottom side Numancia last weekend.
But Joaquin Caparros's charges are still sitting in sixth position and they are likely to be able to call on Ariza Makukula against Espanyol.
Makukula has been out of action for the last eight months with a serious knee injury but should return this weekend.