Source: Xinhua

04-21-2009 17:26

MADRID, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Football club Barcelona kicks off its most difficult run of matches in what remains of the season when Sevilla are the visitors in the Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday night.

Sevilla is the first rival in a run of four games against the top teams in the country, that has been nicknamed the "Tourmalet" in Spain after the legendary mountain that is often climbed in the Tour de France cycle race.

After Sevilla, Barcelona visits Valencia and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, before receiving the visit of Villarreal.

Should Pep Guardiola's men emerge from that run unbeaten, they have an excellent chance of lifting this season's Primera Liga trophy.

Barcelona has its full squad available and it is expected that Guardiola will kick off with Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and Leo Messi in attack.

Sevilla meanwhile is third in the Primera Liga table, but suffered a 1-3 defeat in Valencia on Sunday night. That match saw Manuel Jimenez's side shown 8 yellow and one red card and defender Adriano is suspended for Wednesday night.

There are three more games to be played on Wednesday night with both a place in Europe and the chance to secure Primera Liga survival up for grabs.

Seventh placed Malaga visits Osasuna. Malaga needs a win to have a chance of playing the Europa Cup next year, while Sunday's defeat in Almeria left Osasuna too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Sporting Gijon kicks off against second from bottom Espanyol, knowing that a win would go a long way towards sinking Wednesday night's rivals, while providing three vital points. Sporting is currently fourth from bottom and defeat would seriously jeopardize the club's chances of survival.

Finally Deportivo la Coruna entertains an Almeria side that usually loses gas away from home. A win would maintain Deportivo's European aspirations following Saturday's lucky win in Bilbao.

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Editor:Zheng Limin