[rcgills]

Espanyol v Villarreal looks a bit of a lottery now. Espanyol without 4 players, including three defenders (Chica and Jarque who are regulars, and Velasco who's played 9 games), with midfielder Zabaleta (13 played) also missing.

Villarreal without Nihat, Pires and Gonzalo (long term), plus Senna, Tacchinardi, Peña and Jose Mari. Best to avoid this game, I think.

The press think Emerson is suffering from stage fright for Madrid. He was booed in the last home game he played, against Betis, and since then he apparently refused to come on as sub against Bayern, and has now been ruled out for tomorrow, apparently due to injury, but the press aren't convinced by that excuse. They're also without Cannavaro, Guti, Diarra, Cicinho and Raul, although Sergio Ramos, van Nistelrooy and Roberto Carlos are back. Marca thinks van Nistelrooy and Carlos will be saved for the Champions League game though.

Getafe will be without Alexis Ruano and David Belenguer in defence, which is a blow for them. Also unavailable up front are Del Moral, Paunovic and Verpakovskis. Am still tempted by a lay of Madrid in this one, but will leave a decision until tomorrow.