The Celebration-Busting Weekend Predictions - Round 3

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Deportivo vs Espanyol

And that place is Zaragoza, who won the ownership case sparked off by the activation of a buy-back clause from Deportivo 10 minutes before the close of SpainâÂÂs transfer window.

But Depor are set to fight the PowersThat Be, mind, with club president Augusto Lendoiro burping that âÂÂour understanding is that Zaragoza have not made the payment that is stipulated.âÂÂ

Poor Manolo Jiménez must dread Champions League matches. The extra round of games gives local hacks more opportunity to doubt his worthiness to run Sevilla, once again.

Despite a handy 4-1 victory over Zaragoza on Saturday - and the whole matter of guiding his team to third last season - Juande Ramosâ former No.2 had to be bailed out, once again, by his club president from the pee-taking press.

âÂÂIf the bosses werenâÂÂt convinced that Jiménez wasnâÂÂt capable of achieving success then we wouldnâÂÂt have put him in charge of the side,â sighed José Maria del Nido, for the umpteenth time in the last two years

Málaga vs Racing Santander

Number of months since publication of a taped conversation of former Tenerife player, Jesuli, suggesting Málaga involvement in match-fixing antics - 10.

Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid

For Enrique Cerezo at Atlético it was a chance to make a quick buck and perfect that centre parting - or so say supporter opposition groups.

Florentino Pérez just wants to be loved and possibly pick up a few construction projects on the side, while the multi-chinned Augusto Lendoiro at Deportivo is merely in it for the pie.

But itâÂÂs a very different kettle of kittens for Joan âÂÂJoanâ Laporta at Barcelona.

But this isnâÂÂt the blog relaying this oft-repeated retort - itâÂÂs the Barcelona press.

In the bravest of editorials, considering the sheer volume of hi-tech weaponry at LaportaâÂÂs disposal, Mundo DeportivoâÂÂs Miguel Rico has slammed Laporta's recent appearance at a Catalan independence rally and constant comments in the press regarding his breakaway desires.

âÂÂJoan Laporta has no right as Barcelona president to use the club as his political platform,â writes Rico.

âÂÂBarça belongs to its members and he should respect every one of them and their opinions. ItâÂÂs time for him to chose - Barcelona or politics.âÂÂ

But the Yellow Submarine may once again not have rub of the tortoise on Sunday, as they take on an Athletic side that La Liga Loca has decided to call âÂÂdeterminedâ as opposed to "dirty" or "a bunch of hoofers."

Last weekend saw a fine flashback to the Days in ValladolidâÂÂs Yore. A great age where coach José Luis Mendilibar would be of a mind to position his defence on the halfway line, playing an offside trap.

The most famous example of the results was a 7-0 tonking by Real Madrid, but there was a revival of these terrific tactics in last SundayâÂÂs 2-4 defeat by a fast-breaking Valencia.

âÂÂWe need to be more compact and balanced,â noted the observant Valladolid coach.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt like it when they boo their own player at home, especially when itâÂÂs someone who has been here for a thousand years.âÂÂ

Almería vs Getafe

But they aren't the only footballers with distance issues on their minds.

Since Miguel Torres was booted out of the Bernabeu and moved on to Getafe, the full-back has had trouble participating in his bestest ever hobby - breaking into other peopleâÂÂs goal celebrations.

SpainâÂÂs very own version of Rio Ferdinand was famous for being the one to give the first hug and pump the first fist at a Real Madrid goal even when he had absolutely nothing to do with it.

But that's something thatâÂÂs a lot harder to do now he's at the Coliseum club.

However, the blog has calculated that a revival may be possible this weekend â if Torres pegs it from the Almería ground into a waiting private jet to be transferred via motorbike to the Bernabeu.

But it isnâÂÂt and besides, no one apart from footballers currently have jobs in Spain.

Nevertheless, there is a hefty difference between this seasonâÂÂs 8.5m Euros budget for Xerez to the hostâÂÂs whopping warchest of some 440m.

Not that this has stopped Xerez sporting director Miguel Angel Rondán pointing out the old cliché that on Sunday, âÂÂthere are no supermen, it will be 11 men against 11.âÂÂ

Even so, if Madrid donâÂÂt win by 52 goals - the difference in size between the two budgets - then Florentino Pérez can logically consider his summer expenditure to have been an enormous waste of money.

But that left Valencia as the only Spanish side in the competition without a win on Thursday night, with both Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao picking up victories against some other sides that La Liga Loca can't be bothered looking up.

LLL Prediction - Home winâ¨

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