REAL VALLADOLID-ALMERÍA The leadership is at stake at the José Zorrilla

The José Zorrilla will be the stage that decides who is the leader of Second. After Eibar’s draw against Las Palmas yesterday afternoon, the blanquivioletas and rojiblancos can take first place if they win. A tie would clearly favor the gunsmiths who would still be in the lead. The duel also faces the two highest scoring teams in the category and two of its top scorers: Weissman vs. Sadiq. But the party is much more than this duel. It is a meeting between two author teams, groups that insistently seek the goal.

At Real Valladolid, Pacheta recovers El Yamiq for the central zone and although Javi Sánchez seems recovered as well, it seems difficult for the two to play together coming from injury. The one who will play, for sure, is Weissmann. He retired at La Rosaleda, but his discomfort has subsided during the week and there are no doubts, more so with the absence of Sergio León due to his “disproportionate” sanction. The Hebrew has 16 goals and is the visible head of the highest scoring team in the Second Division. The rest of the team will be similar to the one that played in Malaga, with three midfielders plus Iván Sánchez, his great match against the Blue and Whites, while Toni Villa will join on the left.

The penalty to the pucelano striker and the lack of penalties in favor the blanquivioleta fans are hot which, despite the dates, will be in significant numbers in Zorrilla. The fans will push Pacheta’s men so that, finally, they can secure first place and not suffer from altitude sickness. And it is that, every time the blanquivioletas have a shot at the first two places, they don’t end up settling down. Now, with seven games, with today’s, it’s time to hit the table.

Almería, meanwhile, visit José Zorrilla aware that they have a golden opportunity to lead Valladolid in two games and that with a hypothetical defeat he would continue alive in the fight for direct promotion. Already in the first leg his thorn with Valladolid was removed: seven consecutive games without beating him and just one victory in the last twelve games that both had played. Now he wants to assault a José Zorrilla which is really bad. He won on his first visit (0-1 in March 2005) and since then he hasn’t done it again, with five draws and as many losses.

The rojiblancos appear in Valladolid once the state of optimism has been decreed after thrashing Ponferradina last Monday. Rubi has managed to improve his team defensively, without worrying about the scoring aspect as it is easy for him to see the rival goal. The coach from Vilasar de Mar, who get Akieme and Villar back after both serving their sanctions, they will continue their last eleven, being quite likely to repeat it, although the Hispanic-Equatorial Guinean winger has many ballots to occupy the left-handed winger, without ruling out the presence of Eguaras either. With the ex-Zaragoza player, Almería would gain experience in midfield, although a position in the rojiblanca midfield is priced upwards. Another of the proper names is that of Umar Sadiq, the main visiting asset. The Nigerian, on a roll, scored last Monday and, with 16 goals, wants to storm the top scorer. And in front of him he will have Weissman.

Time: 18:15.

TV: Let’s go

Field: Jose Zorrilla

Referee: Francisco José Hernández Maseo (Extremadura).

VAR Referee: Daniel Ocón Arráiz (La Rioja).

KEYS

Punch. The two teams with the highest scorers in the championship will face each other, so it is expected, a priori, an open match with many alternatives for both.

Fort. The blanquivioletas are the best local team in the category and they will try to assert that virtue to defeat Almería.