MADRID, April 25 - Brief news from the Primera
Liga ahead of this weekend's matches:
* Levante's players are standing by their strike threat for
Sunday's match away to Recreativo Huelva. The players have
rejected the latest offer from the cash-strapped club to pay
debts owed to the squad.
"We are still open to a solution and are hopeful of one,
but without some form of guarantee that they'll pay 100 percent
of what we are owed, we won't agree anything," Levante captain
Luis Rubiales told reporters.
The Primera Liga's bottom club could be relegated without
kicking a ball this weekend.
* Third-placed Barcelona travel to face in-form Deportivo
Coruna on Saturday without defender Gabriel Milito and
midfielder Andres Iniesta who are suspended.
With the Champions League semi-final second leg away to
Manchester United next Tuesday, coach Frank Rijkaard will
probably seek to rest players such as Lionel Messi and Deco,
both recently returned from injury.
* Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has returned to
training with the rest of the squad after ankle surgery but is
unlikely to be available for Sunday's match at home to Athletic
Bilbao.
The leaders, who could wrap up the title this weekend, will
be without Italy centre back Fabio Cannavaro who is suspended.
* Villarreal travel to face Real Betis on Sunday looking to
secure their hold on second place.
"Barca will be less focused on a league that Real Madrid
have all but won," said striker Nihat Kahveci. "We are focused
on second place and avoiding having to enter the Champions
League through the play-offs."
* Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid will need to find a
replacement for Simao Sabrosa on the left flank with the
Portual winger out injured.
They visit King's Cup finalists Getafe on Sunday who are
deprived of injured Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche. Michael
Laudrup's side are without a win in nine matches in all
competitions.
* Valencia's new coach Salvador Gonzalez Voro takes charge
for his first match at home to Osasuna on Sunday, with the
King's Cup winners only two points above the bottom three.
Striker Fernando Morientes is unlikely to feature after
being hospitalised with serious stomach pains during the week.
(Writing by Mark Elkington, Editing by Ossian Shine)