The Premier League in La Liga

Playing Yahoo Fantasy Football and being exposed to the whole gamut of La Liga's playing staff leads to many surprise revelations about forgotten players. Every week, some player I hadn't thought about for years seems to loom into view and asks to be remembered. 


Baptista, Malaga and Arsenal

By my count there are 30 former EPL players currently in La Liga. Where are they now? Naturally we only tend to hear about the headline stars but I'm generally more excited to notice some obscure lurker, who loiters on the periphery untroubled by the burdens of superstardom. The likes of Julio Baptista, Noe Pamarot and Xisco. They barely registered in England. What are they doing in Spain?



And what do their Fantasy Football scores look like? As there's 30, this will need to be a staggered project over the coming weeks. I'll particularly want to focus on the forgotten men: those fly-by nighters who barely caressed our skin before vanishing from view leaving us wondering whether they were really ever there at all. Firstly, allow me to present the comprehensive list. In due course, I will undertake the in depth analysis into individuals' performances this season.



Pamarot celebrates with Hercules

Atletico Madrid

Fran Merida, Jose Reyes, (both Arsenal) Tiago (Chelsea), Diego Forlan (Man Utd)

Barcelona

Gerard Pique (Man Utd), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

Deportivo

Xisco (loan - Newcastle)

Hercules
Noe Pamarot (Portsmouth, Tottenham)

Levante
Asier Del Horno (Chelsea), Felipe Caicedo (Man City)

Malaga
Julio Baptista (Arsenal), Quincy Owusu Abeye (Portsmouth, Arsenal)


Pandiani, Osasuna and Birmingham



Osasuna

Nico Medina (Sunderland), Ricardo (Man Utd), Pandiani (Birmingham)

Racing Santander

Dos Santos (loan Spurs)

Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, Dudek (all Liverpool) Ronaldo (Man Utd), Carvalho (Chelsea), Lass Diarra (Chelsea, Portsmouth, Arsenal), Adebayor (loan - Man City)

Sevilla

Kanoute, Zokora (both Spurs)


Villarreal
Altidore (Hull), Borja Valero (WBA), Rossi (Man Utd)

Zaragoza

Florent Sinama Pongolle (Liverpool), Jiri Jarosik (Birmingham, Chelsea)



Week 33 predictions

Week 33 predictions using Spiegelhalter's model + players I like this week:

Valencia CF 0-1 Real Madrid

FC Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna**
(BAR) Affellay, Bojan, Keita

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Sociedad*
(BIL) Muniain, Toquero, Amorebieta

Racing Santander 1-1 Málaga CF*
(RAC) Munitis, Dos Santos

RCD Mallorca 1-0 Getafe CF
(MAL) Aouate, Nsue, Ramis, De Guzman

Sporting Gijón 1-0 RCD Espanyol
(SPO)Eguren

Hércules CF 1-0 Deportivo La Coruña
(HER) Portillo, Trezeguet

Atlético Madrid 1-0 Levante UD*
(ATL) Aguero, Reyes, Diego Costa, De Gea

Sevilla FC 1-1 Villarreal CF
(SEV) Rakitic

Real Zaragoza 1-0 UD Almería*
(ZAR) Jarosik, Braulio, Ponzio, Bertolo


*Asteriksed wins are rated +50% likely. i.e. best results to back.

Last weeks predictions: (actual results in bold)

Sat, Apr 16 MGA 1-1 MAL 3-0
Sat, Apr 16 MAD 1-3 BAR 1-1
Sat, Apr 16 ALM 0-2 VAL 0-3
Sat, Apr 16 GET 2-2 SEV 1-0
Sun, Apr 17 OSA 1-1 BIL 1-2
Sun, Apr 17 RSO 1-0 SPO 2-1
Sun, Apr 17 DEP 0-0 RAC 2-0
Sun, Apr 17 LEV 1-0 HER 2-1
Sun, Apr 17 ESP 1-1 AMR 2-2
Mon, Apr 18 VIL 1-0 RZG 1-0


1 correct score
5 correct results (win,draw, or loss)

Week 28 roundup: hunting with cats

Benzema is the top scoring fantasy footballer of the week, thanks to his dominance in Real Madid's 2-0 defeat over Hercules. The french striker netted a brace and perhaps should have had more with 5 shots on target and scoring 35.5 points. Real's no.9 has scored 7 goals in his last 5 games since the arrival of Adebayor. He had managed 2 in 18 previous to the arrival of the Togalese.

The 2-2 draw between Almeria and Atletico Madrid was a points feast: Aguero (30.5) with two for Atletico and Crusat (19) for Almeria were 2nd and 3rd highest scoring strikers respectively. Atletico's Jose Reyes impressed and was 3rd top scoring midfielder with 14, without scoring a goal. Jesus Navas scored the equaliser and registered an overdue double figure score (15) as Sevilla held Barcelona 1-1. Ex-Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik was the top scorer for Zaragoza in their surprise 4-0 demolition of third placed Valencia. Duda returned to Malaga's starting 11 and registered a magnificent 23.5 as the relegation threatened side leapt off the bottom of the table with a shock 2-0 win at Real Sociedad.

In defence, Espanyol's David Garcia represented super value scoring 13.5 from a market price of 4.99. Mallorca's Ivan Ramis made another appearance in the top scoring defenders list with a goal and 12 points at Levante. Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa (12) and Iker Casillas (18) complete the line up: Spain's number one surprisingly busy with 4 saves in the 2-0 victory over Hercules.


Team of the week 28



My team


Benzema, Real, 35.5

Aguero, Atmad, 30.5

Crusat, Almeria, 19

Duda, Mga, 23.5

Navas, Sev, 15

Reyes, Atmad, 14.5

Jarosik, RZG, 14

David Garcia, ESP, 13.5

Arbeloa, Real, 12.5
Ramis, Mallorca, 12

Casillas, Real, 18

Results:

Getafe 2- 2 Athletic BilbaoG: Manu (58, 85) AB: Manu (og 71), Vera (90+4)

Espanyol 2-0 Deportivo La CorunaIvan Alonso (62) Verdu (82)

Levante 1-1 MallorcaL:Gomez Juanlu (37) M: Ramis (60)

Osasuna 3-1 Racing SantanderO: Kike Sola (20), Nekounam (pen 25), Soriano (49)RS: Rosenberg (52)

Real Sociedad 0-2 MalagaM: Duda (25), Jose Rondon (58)

Sevilla 1-1 BarcelonaS: Jesus Navas (49), B: Bojan (30)

Villarreal 1 -1 GijonV: Rossi (29) SG: Diego Castro (pen 90+2)

Almeria 2- 2 Atletico MadridA: Crusat (49) Goitom (77) AM: Aguero (39, 61)

Real Madrid 2 - 0 HerculesBenzema (24, 56)

Real Zaragoza 4-0 ValenciaJarosik (5), Herrera Ander (40), Fernandez Gabi (pen 66, pen 76)