The Debt-Drowning Weekend Predictions - Round 21

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Saturday

Athletic (10th) vs Málaga (7th)

Imagine for one miserable moment that those scandalously high Telefonica bills were getting a little bit too much for you.

Imagine you had flogged your super-duper, love-of-your-life plasma TV to your friend to pay the bills and keep the financial wolf from the door.

Now imagine your scumbag friend failing to pay for the TV in question, but instead sitting in their sofa of smugness watching quality canned-laughter Spanish entertainment such as âÂÂEscenas de MatrimonioâÂÂ.

This is exactly what has happened to poor old Athletic Bilbao - apart from the TV, telephone bill and sofa part - a club that has been completely messed up by those muppets at Mallorca.

Close to transfer deadline day in the summer, the Basque club flogged striker Aritz Aduritz to Mallorca to raise some much-needed funds.

Unfortunately, report AS, the Balearic clubâÂÂs pecuniary problems led to their first payment cheque bouncing and the second failing to arrive, meaning that nearly two million euro is now owed to Athletic - a debt that has led to the Spanish League banning Mallorca from signing players (in the remaining days left).

But this is as much use as a Guti on Countdown to Athletic, who have been left with their thumb up their jacksi, without a very good striker and the money the club should have got for him.

LLL Prediction - Home win

Numancia (17th) vs Real Madrid (2nd)

In order to help soothe the souls of those kind-hearted La Liga Loca readers who continue to fret over the future of Ramón Calderón, the blog is pleased to bring another update from his post-Madrid existence.

Last week, the world read how the forgiving figure-of-fun was out chuckling and backslapping at Pachá with the two gentlemen who were fired for supposedly fixing the Assembly vote, which in turn led to CalderónâÂÂs tearful resignation.

But there was another reason for RamónâÂÂs crazy night of congas as he has landed a brand new job. Current Spanish FA president, Angel Villar has put Calderón in charge of the Spanish federationâÂÂs centenary celebrations.

âÂÂI always help my friends,â explained Villar on the careful selection process undertaken in choosing their new appointee.

âÂÂPerhaps the president of the Federation doesnâÂÂt understand that things donâÂÂt get done through friendships or paternalism?â mused Santiago Segurola in Marca, forgetting for one crazy moment what country he is living in.

Now that everyone can breath a sigh of relief knowing that Calderón will not be spending his dying days busking in metro Bilbao, itâÂÂs time to spare a thought for poor old Roberto Gómez - MarcaâÂÂs man-in-the-know.

Ever since the âÂÂmost honourable man in the world, ever, everâ Calderón quit, Gómez has been fairly quiet on the whole sleazy subject.

With Florentino Pérez yet to announce his candidature (perhaps, put off by the opposition), the crazed columnist has had to focus all his toadying energy on, current Madrid president, Vicente Boluda.

On Wednesday, Gómez wrote about the 17 wonderful ways in which Boluda had improved Real Madrid and, in FridaypâÂÂs edition, he purrs that the combination of the current Bernabeu bigwig and Juande Ramos is âÂÂlike a very comfortable marriage.âÂÂ

LLL Prediction - Away win

Sunday

Atlético (6th) vs Valladolid (12th)

Off the field, the latest paper talk in the rojiblanco world concerns - of course - the eventual sacking of Javier Aguirre. The question now is not if, but when the flat-topped genius will be packing his bags and quitting the Calderón.

The current favourite to replace the Mexican manager is, former Espanyol boss, Ernesto Valverde, who is currently doing a fine job with Olympiacos.

On the pitch, it looks like Atlético will be continuing with their bad boy tag team with Ever Banega returning to the line-up after his sending off against Almería two weeks ago.

âÂÂIâÂÂll try not to make the same mistakes again,â promised the self-managing midfielder.

Banega could be taking up the big berth left by Maniche who is sitting out the match against Valladolid whilst serving out a suspension for a yellow card picked up last week against Málaga - an encounter where he returned to the line-up after picking up a two game suspension after seeing red against Athletic.

LLL Prediction - Home win

Espanyol (19th) vs Recreativo (15th)

After the faux-chum hugging between Ramón Calderón and Joan âÂÂJoanâ Laporta of the past couple of years, it was refreshing to return to decent, old-fashioned, back-to-basics, family values hatred between a presidential pair.

Espanyol boss, Daniel Sánchez Llibre and his Barcelona counterpart share a deep loathing for each other that has its origins in the non-transfer of Javier Saviola and the loan of a hairdryer.

For that reason, the world was blessed with the fantastic image of the duelling duo sitting next to each other last week in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey clash, doing their level best to avoid each otherâÂÂs eye contact.

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FourFourTwo Staff