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False start Real Madrid aiming to halt domestic slump
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Struggling Real Madrid hosts No. 15 Espanyol on Saturday haunted by the specter of its worst-ever league start. The titlist stands two games away from equaling its ignominious record of the 1929-30 season when it drew one and lost four of its opening five games. Vicente del Bosque's star-studded side languishes in 18th place with a solitary league point yet boasts a 100 percent Champions League record after Wednesday's emphatic 4-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow. The key to Madrid's contrasting fortunes in the two competitions appears to be its world-record signing Zinedine Zidane, whose European absences through suspension have coincided with the team's return to winning ways. "Zidane is an extraordinary player who has come to a team which has a settled formation from last year. He is adapting to this style little by little," Del Bosque declared in the Frenchman's defense this week. Although the US$65 million midfielder notched his first goal for Madrid in last Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Real Betis, Spanish fans take a harder line. Eighty percent of respondents in a poll conducted by the newspaper As this week believe that Madrid plays better without its new star. Six points clear of Madrid at the loftier end of the table, the top trio of Celta de Vigo, Alaves and Valencia look set for stern tests this weekend. Leader Celta entertains Champions League side Mallorca hoping that history does not repeat itself. Last season Victor Fernandez's side began in style with three straight wins but then slumped. While Mallorca lost to Panathinaikos on Wednesday its defense will be boosted by the return of its influential Javier Oliazola in place of Turkish international Fatih Akyel. No.2 Alaves plays Saturday against No.4 Deportivo de La Coruna, which was held 2-2 by Olympiakos in the Champions League Tuesday. The Basque side, which like Celta has yet to concede a goal, will lack its Dutch international Jordi Cruyff, who has been ruled out for three weeks after tearing fibers in his thigh. Deportivo could miss its injured wide men, Spanish internationals Fran Gonzalez on the left and Victor Sanchez on the right. Third-place Valencia visits a resurgent No. 6 Athletic de Bilbao on Sunday. Galvanized by the return of German coach Jupp Heynckes after a seven-year absence, Bilbao gave a declaration of intent with its surprise 2-1 win at Deportivo last week. A weary Valencia returned from its second trip to the Black Sea in a week with a UEFA cup win over Russia's Chernomorets after the match was postponed in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States. Coach Rafa Benitez wisely spared Argentine internationals Roberto Ayala and Pablo Aimar the long haul and the pair are certain to return against Bilbao. Eighth-place FC Barcelona, undefeated in three league matches, gained a stylish 3-0 Champions League win at Fenerbahce Tuesday. Still without its injured Brazilian ace Rivaldo, the Catalan club welcomes a Tenerife side which was buoyed by its first win -- and goals -- of the season against Villarreal last weekend. Coach Carles Rexach has vowed to select teenage striker Javier Saviola after the Argentine came on as substitute to steal a cheeky goal in Turkey. "Only he could get a goal like that. He played really well and he's earned his place against Tenerife," Rexach said. Other 4th-round matches this weekend are: Valladolid vs. Real Betis; Las Palmas vs. Malaga; Villarreal vs. Real Sociedad; Zaragoza vs. Osasuna; and Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano.
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