Matchday 21 - Featured Preview: Espanyol vs Villarreal

Sunday throws up what promises to be a thrilling encounter between Espanyol and Villarreal at the Cornella El Prat. Mauricio Pochettino's men's stunning home form this season has seen them lose just once in El Prat (to Barcelona) and away victories in recent weeks have kept them in the hunt for Champions League football. One of their major rivals on that front is Villarreal and victory for Los Pericos on matchday twenty-one could bring them ever closer to their top four dream. Financial difficulties have forced Espanyol to sell young defensive prodigies Didac Vila and Victor Ruiz to AC Milan and Napoli respectively this week. We will get some idea of how that will affect the team on Sunday when they face Villarreal's impressive attack.

ESPANYOL

Player to Watch: Luis Garcia

Espanyol's stock continues to rise as their problems away from home seem to have been put to rest for the time being. Previously, the only doubts about their ability to compete for a Champions League spot stemmed from their failure to balance their outstanding home form with away wins. Victories on the road over Sevilla and Getafe in the last two matches have put paid to those fears and kept Espanyol in the hunt for a top four finish. At the moment, the only obstacle is the fine form of Villarreal and Valencia just above them, but their progress is in their hands this weekend when they welcome the Yellow Submarine to the Cornella El Prat stadium. They have only been beaten once there this season, by Barcelona, and their overall form is LLWWW in their last five league encounters. They were thrashed 4-0 at the Madrigal in September so Mauricio Pochettino will invite his players to prove they are better than that.

Financial restraints at Espanyol mean that, if they receive decent offers for any of their high performers they have to consider them. That eventuality occurred twice this week as Napoli swooped for Victor Ruiz and Milan snapped up Didac Vila. The young defenders will be a big loss to Pochettino, but the manager understands the situation. With Ruiz and Didac gone, there will be novelties in the back four. David Garcia will resume his place when he is fit and Victor Alvarez has been called up from the youth team for now as cover. Jordi Amat, Javier Chica, Juan Forlin and Javi Lopez may start this weekend if Garcia is eased back in from the bench. Raul Baena, Pablo Osvaldo, Felipe Mattioni and Ivan de la Pena are still injured. The fresh uncertainty this week surrounded Luis Garcia, who had to withdraw from training to put his participation in doubt, but he has recovered to take his place in the squad and, after last week's heroics against Getafe, he could be in the mood to do some damage again. If he were not fully fit, Jesus Datolo could come in next to Joan Verdu and Jose Callejon behind Sergio Garcia, or Garcia himself could slip back and allow Ivan Alonso or Alvaro Vazquez to play in the lone striking role. Ernesto Galan returns to Pochettino's matchday squad after over four months out injured but is unlikely to be named from the start.

Possible starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Carlos Kameni; Javi Lopez, Juan Forlin, Javier Chica, Jordi Amat; Aldo Duscher, Javi Marquez; Joan Verdu, Jose Callejon, Luis Garcia; Sergio Garcia;

VILLARREAL

Player to Watch: Giuseppe Rossi

Villarreal have Valencia and Espanyol snapping at their heels at the moment but another win, their fourth in five La Liga matches, at home to Real Sociedad on matchday twenty keeps the Castellon-based club in 3rd place in the table. Their long-term ability to consolidate that position will come under scrutiny this weekend when Juan Carlos Garrido takes his team to Barcelona to play Espanyol at the Cornella El Prat. The Catalans are five points behind Villarreal but their recent form is enough to match the Yellow Submarine's own WWLWW run. A defeat to the Pericos, whom they beat 4-0 at home in September, would throw the Champions League race wide open.

Giuseppe Rossi is in splendid form at the moment but the attacking dynamic at Villarreal could be about to improve as Nilmar started training again this week after a significant lay-off. When both first choice strikers are firing on all cylinders, Villarreal's front line is a match for anyone in the world. The Brazilian has been named in the squad and, if he is deemed fit enough, he will replace Marco Ruben up front next to Rossi. Ruben has proved a worthy deputy in the Brazilian's absence but Nilmar definitely offers a lot more. Of Juan Carlos Garrido's regulars it is just Marcos Senna and Angel Lopez missing due to injury now, as well as substitute keeper Juan Carlos. Cicinho is finding it hard to break into the team since joining from Roma as Mario has made the step up from Villarreal B without any hitches. One of the two will line up at right back next to Joan Capdevila and two from Gonzalo Rodriguez, Matteo Musacchio and Carlos Marchena, who is ready to start for the first time in weeks. The midfield four of Bruno Soriano, Borja Valero, Santi Cazorla and Ruben Cani will probably go unchanged.

Possible starting XI: (4-4-2) Diego Lopez; Mario, Matteo Musacchio, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila; Bruno Soriano, Borja Valero, Santiago Cazorla, Ruben Cani; Giuseppe Rossi, Marco Ruben;