Real Madrid will be
hoping to put the disappointment of the UEFA Champions League exit
behind them by ensuring they win tonight’s away at Real Valladolid.
The Galaticos
suffered another heartbreak from Lyon to bid farewell to the European
competition despite their over £200million pound investment on new
players last summer but they must now concentrate on wrestling the
Spanish title away from Barcelona. Valladolid, who have Nigeria striker
Batholomew Ogbeche in their fold, are flirting with relegation and with
13 games left to play in the season, they will need to brace themselves
up by gathering valuable points especially at home if they hope to stay
at the top.
But with Madrid
enjoying a slender lead on goal difference ahead of Barcelona, the
likes of new signings Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso must be
ready to pull themselves together by maintaining a winning run to have
a chance of dethroning Barcelona in Spain. Madrid are aware that
Barcelona have a more difficult night with Valencia at the Nou Camp and
winning at Valladolid could give them a chance of extending their lead
at the top should their Catalan rivals falter again against Valencia.
England
Manchester United
will be hoping to step up their bid to clinch their fourth Premier
League title when they host Fulham this afternoon at Old Trafford.
United are enjoying
a terrific run of eight wins from 10 games in all competitions and they
have proven their 3-1 defeat to Everton last month at Goodison Park was
just a blip after winning four matches in a row since the loss. Wayne
Rooney has been at the heart of the Red Devils’ impressive campaign
this season with his remarkable run in front of goals. Rooney brought
his tally for the season to 30 goals in all competitions last Wednesday
when he struck twice to lead his side to a 4-0 thumping of AC Milan as
United marched to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The Premier League
champions will hope to maintain their winning momentum against Fulham
and the visitors will have to find a way of shutting out the rampaging
Rooney who has a record of 23 goals from 29 league matches. The
Cottagers will worry that they have failed to record a single point
from their last five visits to the Theatre of Dreams after the modest
London side’s last win in October 2003. But Fulham could draw
motivation from the fact that United have lost six games in the ongoing
campaign and one of them was recorded at Old Trafford when Aston Villa
ran away with the three points courtesy a goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor.
United will also have at the back of their mind that their biggest
defeat this season was inflicted on them by the same side they are
facing today, a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage in December.
Mid-table side
Fulham still fancy
their chances of finishing the season with a Europa League ticket and
with the array of unexpected results that have characterised the title
race this season, it cannot be ruled out that the Craven Cottage outfit
can spring a surprise against Sir Alex Ferguson side.
At the Stadium of
Light, Sunderland will hope to avenge their last December defeat in the
hands of Manchester City this afternoon when both sides battle for the
three points at stake. It was a close tie at the City of Manchester
Stadium but the Citizens still won 4-3 in front of their home fans.
Manager Roberto
Mancini is hoping to lead his club to finish in a UEFA Champions League
spot at the end of the season and they will have to battle the trio of
Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspurs and Aston Villa.
The Black Cats, as Sunderland are known, are still without Andy Reid while Martin Petrov is still out for City.
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