Caretaker coach Juan Ramon Lopez
Caro faces his first Primera Liga test when Real Madrid visit Malaga on Sunday.
Lopez Caro was snatched from the relative obscurity of Real's youth team to
replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo when the Brazilian was sacked last Sunday and lost
his first game at the helm on Tuesday.
Real, who had already qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League,
were beaten 2-1 by Olympiakos Piraeus but had rested several top players ahead
of Sunday's game.
Defender Ivan Helguera believes Lopez Caro is the right man to re-ignite Real's
season.
"I think he is the perfect choice," Helguera told sports daily Marca on Thursday.
"We need to start playing good football again. This is the most important thing
independent of the results.
"Even if we lose we need to recover our morale and show we are as good as we say
we are."
Real, fourth in the table six points behind leaders Barcelona, have an injury
doubt over Brazil striker Ronaldo.
England captain David Beckham is suspended following his red card last weekend.
While Real's problems have dominated the headlines recently, there are a number
of other top-flight coaches also feeling the heat.
UNDER PRESSURE
Real Zaragoza's Victor Munoz, who was given the board's backing to continue
little more than a week ago, will hope to build on his side's first away win of
the season last Sunday.
The 2-1 victory at Cadiz eased the pressure on Munoz but it will be no easy game
at home to third-placed Celta Vigo, whose coach Fernando Vazquez is also under
fire.
Vazquez, who has led the promoted club into the Champions League places, has
been criticised by fans for his team selections.
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has given coach Carlos Bianchi his
support ahead of their home match with second-from-bottom Alaves. Atletico, in
11th place, have not won in five outings.
Alaves's outspoken president Dmitry Piterman and coach Chuchi Cos were barracked
by fans after their 3-0 home defeat by Real Mallorca last Sunday.
Espanyol's Miguel Angel Lotina was last month given the go-ahead to continue
with the Barcelona-based side but their 3-1 defeat by Valencia prompted an angry
response from home fans last weekend.
Lotina's side travel to face Real Betis whose coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer, while
not in immediate danger, has his work cut out to drag his team off the foot of
the table.
Leaders Barcelona will chase an 11th consecutive win in all competitions at home
to Sevilla on Sunday while second-placed Osasuna host Real Mallorca the same day. |