Espanyol out to prove they can last the pace

MADRID: Primera Liga surprise package Espanyol are out to prove they can remain a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the season when they host fellow high fliers Villarreal at Montjuic on Saturday.

A 13-match unbeaten run has catapulted Ernesto Valverde's side into third spot in the table, a point behind city rivals Barcelona, and a win over Villarreal will provide them with an important boost at the start of a demanding month.

"We couldn't have had a better 2007," said Valverde. "We ended the year close to the top of the table and now we want to consolidate that position by getting a good result against Villarreal.

"Getting into a good position in the table isn't that difficult, but staying there is. We want people to take us seriously and that will happen if we maintain this sort of consistency."

Spanish international strikers Luis Garcia and Raul Tamudo have scored half of their side's league goals this season and both players were on target again in Wednesday's 2-1 King's Cup win over Deportivo Coruna.

Real Madrid opened up a comfortable seven-point lead at the top of the table after their 1-0 win at Barcelona last time out and will be confident of maintaining their 100-percent record at the Bernabeu when they host Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Frank Rijkaard's side, who were held 2-2 by third division Alcoyano in the Cup, will be without the injured Lionel Messi while Ronaldinho is a doubt because of tendinitis in his left knee.

The weekend's other stand-out game is the Andalucian derby between Sevilla and Real Betis at the Sanchez Pzjuan on Sunday.

Agencies

(China Daily 01/04/2008 page24)