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Sousa, 21, currently plays for UD Rio Maior in the third group of the Portuguese second division and the midfielder has impressed watching scouts with his performances in recent times, especially in Rio Maior's Portuguese cup tie with Fátima, where he was said to have performed excellently.He will travel to La Coruña on Monday to finalise the details of his contract and undergo a medical. It it thought he will start off in Deportivo's B team before making the transition to the first team and Sousa himself is content to follow this route."In the beginning I believe that I will be with the B team," he told A Bola"But I am ready to be part of the first-team."He first came to prominence in the 2003 U17 European Championship where he was a key part of the Portugal side that progressed to the final of the competition against Spain.In the final, he gave his side the lead with a spectacular dipping volley after twenty-one minutes, only for his effort to be cancelled out by Spain just after the break. However, Sousa had the last laugh, scoring a stunning free-kick from the right, which gave Portugal a 2-1 victory and with it the European Championship trophy.Sousa also played in the U17 World Cup later that same year and scored twice in the group stages before Portugal fell to the Spanish at the quarter final stage.
La Liga Preview: Round 19Barcelona - Real MurciaAfter a spirited 1-1 draw at Sevilla midweek in the Copa, Barcelona will look to make it two Liga wins in a row against Murcia.It's been three seasons since the two met in league competition - much has changed since then, of course, but the blaugrana will look back on 3-0 and 0-2 wins with fondness.This time, though, there are problems. Yaya Toure is away on African Cup duty, and Edmilson is injured, leaving a gap in the defensive midfield. At least Samuel Eto'o remains to take part in his last game before jetting off to join the Cameroon squad.The Pimentoneros, meanwhile, take taken seven points from a possible nine in the last three league fixtures, and with no cup duty midweek, they're rested for this one.Athletic Bilbao - SevillaAthletic managed a home draw with Espanyol to match Sevilla's 1-1 tie with Barcelona, but the pressure's still on in the Liga.The San Mames crowd may be one of the Liga's more voiciferous, but it hasn't much helped the Lions up the table. Indeed, they sit just one point off the relegation zone with only one home win all season.However, they've drawn six of those games - something that the free-scoring visitors will want to avoi. A win here, and defeat for Racing, will put them in the UEFA Cup zone as they look to continue their revival.Real Betis - GetafeBetis lost out 2-1 at home to Valencia midweek, but Mariano Pavone's goalscoring will at least raise the spirits somewhat ahead of this bottom-half meeting. The verdiblancos have 18 points from 18 games and sit 18th, three behind the Azulones.Getafe, for their part, thrashed Levante 3-0 in the Copa, but have managed just one win in the last four in the Liga. They appear to be slipping back into their early-season ways, and the rot must be stopped.Oscar Ustari may earn a rare Liga start - he held his own against the granota, and given the errors that dogged Pato Abbondanzieri in last week's 3-0 loss to Valladolid, coach Laudrup may feel that it's time for a change.Real Valladolid - Recreativo HuelvaValladolid were lucky to escape the Vicente Calderon midweek with a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid, but they won't complain with that result.Indeed, the capital's been a happy hunting ground of late, with the Pucela inflicting a 3-0 thrashing on Getafe at the weekend just past.Recre, meanwhile, edged Villarreal 1-0 midweek to take an advantage in the Copa del Rey. They've also gone five games unbeaten in the Liga, and while the paucity of strikers' goals is an issue, it's a good time to be a Decano fan.Almeria - EspanyolAlmeria are out of the Copa, but they've had a busy week. Landing Brazilian duo Iriney and Guilherme, it's clear to see that the Andalucian club are determined to pull clear of the relegation zone.But on-form Espanyol will not come to the Mediterraneo to look for the draw. After a tie at Athletic, it's time to get back to Liga form.The Perequitos lie just one point behind FC Barcelona and could thus potentially finish the afternoon in second place. With a mere two defeats so far, coach Valverde and his men are much in demand, too.Villarreal - Deportivo La CorunaVillarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, is having a tough time of it. That loss to Recre in the Copa characterises what has been a poor festive season for the Yellow Submarine.In the Liga, Villarreal have won just twice in their last seven, and now sit two points outside the Champions League spots - a far cry from a team that was so close to topping the table not so long ago.Still, Depor would love to be in such a position. They're out of the cup and floundering in the Liga, sitting second last. Only a major turnaround can save them now, and to this end coach Lotina is looking at the transfer market. But are the funds there?Real Zaragoza - Real MallorcaZaragoza's 1-1 draw with Racing in the Cup was hardly ideal, but at least it showed that Ricardo Oliveira's still scoring goals. He'll need to do so again as Mallorca come calling.Amazing, the blanquillos remain top half - albeit only just - while the islanders sit below them on mere goal difference.Real Mallorca once again proved themselves apt to put goals past Madrid - albeit a rotated Madrid at that. Still, a 2-1 first leg Copa del Rey result cannot be sniffed at, and that'll raise confidence after what has been a difficult time in the Liga of late.Osasuna - Racing SantanderEliminated Osasuna have only the Liga to count on after their cup misadventures, and it's high time that they started taking the main competition seriously.The Pamplonans have, however, won just one of their last eight meetings with Racing in the Liga, while the Cantabrians emerged victorious by a goal to nil in each game last season.A similar result here would see coach Marcelino's men cement their UEFA Cup credentials.Levante - Real MadridLevante players - unpaid, 3-0 down on aggregate in the Copa, bereft of a goodly proportion of their early-season teammates due to contractual disputes - may as well not show up for this one.At least, that's what the form books say. The granota side still have just eight points to show for their work so far, while Real Madrid are surging ahead with 44.But stranger things have happened, and in the last Liga game, Levante did manage a draw away from home against the might of Valencia.Madrid, meanwhile, are still going great guns in the league, in terms of points, at least. Their 2-0 win over Zaragoza was perhaps ill-deserved, though, so karma enthusiasts will have enjoyed that 2-1 loss at Mallorca midweek.However, that was the product of a heavily rotated side, and they still secured an away goal, so clearly all is not lost for Bernd Schuster's men. Now, will Levante face the backlash?Atletico Madrid - ValenciaAtleti wasted a boatload of chances as they drew 0-0 with Valladolid midweek, but that's always a risk ran by a rotated side. This time around, they'll look to punish the team whose last-season fourth place they currently occupy.Los Che arrive having won 2-1 in the Copa themselves midweek, but that victory over Betis masks the problems in the league. Valencia may be firmly top half, but they are sinking, and this is not an easy ground at which to turn around a slide.Still, Joaquin appears to be back on form, and with Simao and Maxi being rested for the hosts, this ought to be a game full of action on the wings.
Nistelrooy was great. he deserves having his contract renewed.
Getafe CF - Sevilla FCGetafe kick off the weekend having just defeated Levante over two legs in the Copa del Rey. Now, they meet last season's Copa final tormentors, Sevilla.The Andalucians, themselves eliminated by Barcelona midweek, won this fixture 4-1 back in August. However, that match will be remembered not for its scoreline, but the collapse and eventual tragic death of Antonio Puerta.Coach Manolo Jimenez's men will seek to do his memory proud at the Coliseum, but they'll do well to remember that they have never won - nor even scored - at this stadium on Liga duty.Villarreal CF - Valencia CFPerhaps the most eventful game of Matchday 1, Villarreal enjoyed a fine 3-0 win at Valencia to kickstart their tremendous opening stage to the season, and throw Quique Sanchez Flores' job into jeopardy.The Valencia coach eventually left, of course, but his replacement has found it little easier. Ronald Koeman's side are going great guns in the Copa, but they're still without a Liga win since November 10th. What's more, the injury situation at the Mestalla isn't getting any better anytime soon.Villarreal, however, have their own problems. The Yellow Submarine have slipped out of the top four and are suffering from inconsistent performances in all areas of the pitch.Things could be better for both sides: the hosts are favourites, but they cannot take this game lightly.CA Osasuna - Athletic ClubTwo relegation strugglers come head to head in what is a pseudo-local derby in Pamplona.The last game ended in a stalemate, but Athletic - who have hit something resembling form of late - will be out for victory.They edged past Espanyol on penalties in the Copa midweek while Osasuna, who were long since eliminated, no doubt watched in trepidation.The misfiring rojillo side are on a terrible run, losing their last two Liga games and winning just once in the last six. Coach Ziganda is under pressure, but a result here could save his skin - and move his team out of the relegation zone.Real Zaragoza - Real MurciaOne boss who couldn't hold onto his job was Zaragoza's Victor Fernandez. He's gone, but the team's problems remain. New coach Ander Garitano watched his side lose out 4-2 in the Copa at Racing, ending their chances of silverware in 2008.Now, though, comes a great chance to seal their first Liga win since October as Murcia come calling.The Pimentoneros are level on points with their hosts, but have won five of the last Romareda encounters between these teams in the top flight.Levante UD - RCD MallorcaHapless Levante mixed youth with experience midweek, yet still fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Getafe. Now comes the near-impossible task of saving themselves from relegation.The cash-strapped Valencians are a mammoth 13 points off safety and still in single figures. Whether or not coach De Biasi can muster his meager resources and overcome the deficit is looking increasingly unlikely.Mallorca, meanwhile, are on a high - but no doubt exhausted - after their midweek smash-and-grab win at the Bernabeu. They'll face Getafe in the next round of the Copa, but will be more immediately concerned with climbing to the top half with a win here.UD Almeria - Deportivo La CorunaAlmeria were given a warm welcome to La Liga by Depor back in August, with the A Coruna men being so good as to give their visitors a three goal victory at the Riazor.Now, Depor are hell-bent on turning that around. Not just for reasons of revenge, but also survival. The stricken club sit second bottom of the table, four points off safety, after controversially losing out 4-3 to Villarreal in a penalty-laden game last week.The Mediterraneo side, for their part, are performing admirably well in their first season in the top flight, sitting pretty in the upper half of the table and six points ahead of Depor.Real Valladolid - RCD EspanyolValladolid look like the weakest of all the newly-promoted sides; ironically, they're also the ones to give the big guns the toughest games. The Pucela have come close to scalping both Real Madrid and Barcelona; now, Espanyol will underestimate them at their peril.The Perequitos were shocked out of the Copa midweek by comeback kings Athletic, but remain strong in the Liga, sitting in the Champions League spots.However, losing to Almeria last week in a terrible game was a hammer blow - that was the Montjuic men's first defeat since September.Real Betis - Recreativo de HuelvaBetis overcame Getafe in a close, eventful game at the Ruiz de Lopera in the last round, and now must do the same if they're to avoid the kind of last-minute relegation dogfight that they were subjected to last season.Chaparro appears to have the Beticos playing with heart, albeit maybe a bit too much - Xisco and Juanito are both out suspended as the disciplinary situation in Seville deteriorates.Recre are out of the Copa and just one game above the safety zone - what's more, their striking problems have begun to resurface. They drew this fixture 1-1 earlier in the season - what they wouldn't give for a win now...Club Atletico de Madrid - Real MadridMadrid are out of the Copa while city rivals Atletico edged past Valladolid. That will the vocal home support something to crow about at what will be a packed Vicente Calderon, but in truth all eyes are on the Liga side of things.The blancos are still seven points clear at the top, having won their last six league games. Atleti, meanwhile, are looking good for a Champions League spot, but must beat the big guns.They took a first minute lead in this fixture on Matchday 1, but went on to lose. We can only hope for a match as eventful as that one this time around.FC Barcelona - Real Racing ClubFinally, Barcelona welcome the men from Santander as they aim to avenge that 0-0 draw earlier in the campaign.The Blaugrana edged past Sevilla in the Copa del Rey midweek, further boosting spirits ahead of what should be a difficult game.The verdiblancos have one of the best defensive records in the Liga, but will need to ensure that they're at their best to preserve it here. For Samuel Eto'o may be en route to Ghana, but Lionel Messi is back from injury and set to take part here.
