By DPA
Madrid : Villarreal are keen for Sunday to arrive. That’s when Real Madrid visit their tiny Madrigal stadium, for a match which could well decide who will be the first real La Liga leader.
Both teams won their opening games – Real 2-1 against neighbours Atletico whilst Villarreal thrashed Valencia 3-0 away – and are now looking for their second win.
Last season Real crashed 0-1 in Villarreal, and Manuel Pellegrini’s players are confident about turning the same trick again.
“They are probably a better team now,” defender Javi Venta told Super Deporte Thursday, “than when they lost here last January. But I also think that we have improved since then.”
Real might still make a last-minute bid for Sevilla right-back Daniel Alves, though it is doubtful he would play in Villarreal.
Real coach Bernd Schuster will be able to use, for the first time, new signings Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze, while forward Gonzalo Higuain is fit again.
Earlier Sunday Barcelona should have few problems at home to Athletic Bilbao, especially if they play as they did in Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan.
Thierry Henry – keen to score his first goal in the Nou Camp – will probably come in for Samuel Eto’o, who pulled a muscle in his right calf against Inter.
On the Barca bench will be teenager Giovani Dos Santos – star of the show against Inter – now that he has been granted Spanish nationality.
Also Sunday, Valencia will go down to Almeria without Spain forwards David Villa and Joaquin Sanchez, both sent off in the meltdown against Villarreal.
In Sunday’s other games Atletico Madrid are at home to Mallorca, Real Betis host Espanyol, Deportivo Coruna visit Villarreal and Recreativo Huelva travel to Getafe.
The second round of games kick off Saturday with Zaragoza at home to Racing Santander and Levante against Murcia.
All of the weekend’s matches will be preceded by a minute’s silence for Antonio Puerta, the Sevilla left back who died Tuesday after several heart attacks.
Sevilla’s away match against Osasuna has been postponed because of their forthcoming European clashes against AC Milan and AEK Athens.