Saturday
Athletic Bilbao (5th) v Real Madrid (2nd)
Some big questions sprung up in regards to KakáâÂÂs surprise squad inclusion and subsequent appearance in TuesdayâÂÂs Champions League win over Spurs. Is the Brazilian groin-crocker back in business? Are his knee-knack troubles firmly behind him? Can he play a critical role in the seasonâÂÂs final run-in for Real Madrid? Has he taken away that restraining order which stopped LLL from going near his wife?
But that would be overlooking the testing topic which took up some of MarcaâÂÂs time on Thursday morning - why was Kaká sporting a brand new beard? The paper suggested that it was a means of putting pressure on Gillette - one of the forwardâÂÂs sponsors, with whom the Brazilian is reportedly in the process of brokering a new deal. If these negotiations take as long as many have done in the past, then Kaká may look like Moses before the tâÂÂs are dotted and the râÂÂs crossed.
But Marca then proposed another reason for the new growth - a change of appearance leading to an improvement in fortunes for poor Kaká. âÂÂThe beard is another superstition that coincides with the new deal heâÂÂs negotiating,â said the paper firmly.
LLL Prediction - Home win (yes, home win)
Barcelona (1st) v AlmerÃÂa (20th)
If you canâÂÂt beat them, then join them. Again. ThatâÂÂs the attitude of maverick AlmerÃÂa president Alfonso GarcÃÂa Gabarrón, who fired his second coach of the season. The first to walk was Hugo Sánchez after AlmerÃÂaâÂÂs 8-0 home walloping by Barcelona in November. His replacement, José Luis Oltra, has only lasted just over four months before being axed following AlmerÃÂaâÂÂs loss to Athletic Bilbao on Monday night.
Taking over and leading AlmerÃÂa to their inevitable relegation is Roberto Olabe, who was the clubâÂÂs sporting director in 2006-07 - the year that the club won promotion from la Segunda under Unai Emery.
LLL Prediction - Home win (yes, home win)
Mallorca (9th) v Sevilla (6th)
SevillaâÂÂs immediate future looked a little less bright with the news that the eternally wonderful Freddie Kanouté is set to miss the next three weeks with a muscle tear in his leg. This departure, added to Luis Fabiano doing a bunk back to Brazil a while back, leaves Alvaro Negredo as Billy No Mates up front for Sevilla. Judging by the strikerâÂÂs personality, thatâÂÂs no great surprise.
LLL Prediction - Draw
Sunday
Sporting (13th) v Osasuna (12th)
ThereâÂÂs still work to be done in SportingâÂÂs survival campaign but they certainly enjoyed a Knight Rider style turbo boost through some empty cardboard boxes with last weekendâÂÂs win in the Santiago Bernabeu, a victory that potty-mouth, Manuel Preciado, is still being asked about.
âÂÂI had red ears,â recalls the Sporting boss on his post match memories, âÂÂI got 236 messages an hour after the game.â The moustachioed marvel also showed that the hatchet was well and truly buried with José Mourinho after their early season spat. âÂÂWe were all surprised when he came into the dressing room. He didnâÂÂt say anything to us, just shook our hands and thatâÂÂs it.âÂÂ
LLL Prediction - Home win
Hércules (18th) v Espanyol (7th)
So how did the delightful Hércules president deal with the sacking of Esteban Vigo, the manager who took the team up to the top flight and masterminded an away win over Barcelona this season? By being an a-hole, thatâÂÂs how. But LLL expected little different from ValentÃÂn Botella.
When reacting to an opening win under new coach, Miroslav Djukic, Botella took the time to needlessly insult his predecessor by commenting that âÂÂif we have sacked (Vigo) sooner that would have been betterâÂÂ.
LLL has never wanted Espanyol to win a game so much in the blogâÂÂs life. And thatâÂÂs unfortunate timing considering the Pericos are hopeless at the moment.
LLL Prediction - Home win
Racing Santander (11th) v Levante (10th)
From relegation certainties in January, Levante are now a side just four points from Europe, although that doesnâÂÂt say a great deal about the likes of Sevilla, Espanyol and Atlético who are currently scrapping for some of the spots available above the Valencia team.
But, it would be âÂÂmadâ for the third best side in la Primera in the second half of the season to think about the Europa League, scoffs midfielder Xavi Torres.
LLL Prediction - Home win
Málaga (19th) v Deportivo (16th)
SpainâÂÂs economic crisis and its football clubâÂÂs having as much financial acumen as the government of Portugal has meant money has thus far been the biggest talking point in la Liga in 2011.
One of the many teams having a few economic issues is Dull Deportivo, who are still paying the debts of the Super Deportivo days. This has left the club âÂÂon the limitâ of going into administration revealed club president, Augusto Lendoiro. However âÂÂit would be a shame to (go into it) to suit ourselves,â admitted the jowly big wig. âÂÂFor some clubs the law is used as an excuse to stop paying bills.âÂÂ
LLL Prediction - Home win
Atlético Madrid v Real Sociedad
There was an excitement and a big buzz in and around the Vicente Calderón this week. not only did José Antonio Reyes finish his first colouring book all by himself but the club received a letter from the President and First Lady of the US of A, all the way from the New World.
LLL immediately suspected it would be a firm missive warning of air strikes in support of a UN motion condemning the teamâÂÂs crimes against defending. But instead itâÂÂs a lovely thank you note from Barack and Michelle in appreciation of Atlético giving two shirts given to Sasha and Malia whilst the first family were on their holidays in Spain.
LLL Prediction - Home win
Valencia v Villarreal
Not a bad week for Spanish teams in Europe this week. Four goals for Real Madrid, five for Barcelona and a rather impressive five for Villarreal in ThursdayâÂÂs Europa League win against FC Twente. âÂÂThe second leg still remains, but we took a huge step forward,â admits a still cautious Villarreal coach, Juan Carlos Garrido.
LLL Prediction - Home win
Monday
Real Zaragoza v Getafe
Getafe president Angel Torres is the blogâÂÂs hero of the week. The Coliseum crusader is tired of rival teams making no attempt whatsoever to pay their debts to other clubs for transfers and going into administration whenever the going gets too tough - all without punishment from the Spanish League who stand idly by like Luis Perea facing an attacker.
Torres has been musing over the idea of calling for the administrative relegation of MondayâÂÂs opponents, Zaragoza, over a failure to pay an installment for the transfer of forward, Ikechukwu Uche, in 2009. The Getafe president claims that he sent 10 missed calls to his Zaragoza counterpart, Agapito Iglesias, in one day asking for the cash needed to pay GetafeâÂÂs own bills.
âÂÂIâÂÂm tired that la Liga is being ruined by clubs who donâÂÂt pay their debts,â complained Torres. âÂÂThis is fraud in every aspect of the law.â ZaragozaâÂÂs response was to assure in a soothing but wholly unconvincing manner that they would try to reach an agreement with Getafe. That probably doesnâÂÂt involve money.
LLL Prediction - Draw
