It’s been a busy week for Spain’s top teams so join us as we review the mixed fortunes for Barcelona and Real Madrid while also looking ahead to this weekend’s action in LaLiga.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Can Barcelona lift themselves after Old Trafford?
Winning LaLiga this season has assumed even greater importance for Barcelona following another European disappointment. The Catalan club were knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United on Thursday night following a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford and will now seek solace from the domestic competition.
“We have to pick ourselves up,” Xavi said after the game. “Tomorrow afternoon, we train. On Saturday, we go to Almería and on Sunday, fortunately, we have a game. We have to react. We are well positioned in Liga, in the Copa [del Rey] and we have to change the chip.”
Barcelona meet fierce rivals Real Madrid over two legs in the Copa del Rey in March and April and in LaLiga, Xavi’s side lead Los Blancos by eight points at the top of the table.
The Blaugrana beat Cadíz 2-0 at Camp Nou last Sunday in a routine win at Camp Nou and will now hope to bounce back from their European disappointment with all three points at 17-placed Almería.
Xavi’s side have conceded only seven goals in LaLiga this season, but let in four over two games against United. “I don’t know why [there is such a difference],” the coach said. “We have played against big teams, really strong rivals. We have competed, but we missed out because of details. We’ll try again next year.”
Barça have not won LaLiga since 2018-19 and a 27th title would still represent a positive season after a period of transition at Camp Nou. Pedri and Ousmane Dembélé remain sidelined through injury.
Real and Atlético get set for Derby Day
It was a far happier week for Real Madrid in Europe. Los Blancos produced an amazing comeback at Anfield on Tuesday night to beat Liverpool 5-2 after finding themselves 2-0 down after 14 minutes in the first leg of the teams’ Champions League last-16 tie.
Real now host Atlético in the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, a fixture Diego Simeone’s side won both times during Carlo Ancelotti’s first spell in charge. Atlético went on to win at the Bernabeu in 2015-16 as well to record three consecutive derby wins at their rivals’ stadium for the first time ever, but they have not won there since.
Madrid beat Osasuna 2-0 away from home last weekend, while Atlético were 1-0 winners at home to Athletic Club at the Metropolitano in a game which was also notable for their tribute to the Basque side. Atleti were founded by three students from Bilbao in 1903 as a branch of the Basque club and in the year of Athletic’s 125th anniversary, the Madrid side wore orange at home to allow the visitors to play in red and white.
There will be no such grand gestures against Real Madrid, whose fans will remember how Atlético refused to give Los Blancos a guard of honour in LaLiga last season. Atlético released a statement to say the guard of honour was no longer a sign of respect, as it had been previously intended, but “an attempt at ridicule” and “an exaggerated, artificial controversy.”
While Madrid need a win to stay in the title race, Atlético are now just two points behind Real Sociedad in third and will also look to consolidate their place in the Champions League positions. The Rojiblancos are currently four ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis.
Valencia and Villarreal need to turn it around
Valencia remain in big trouble after a 1-0 defeat at Getafe on Monday night. New coach Rubén Baraja was unable to stop the rot as the club fell to their seventh defeat in eight games and against Real Sociedad at Mestalla this weekend, there will be more protests against unpopular owner Peter Lim.
“I respect opinions, but we think that, through hard work and making the players believe that the situation can be turned around, we can do it,” Baraja said after the loss to Getafe.
Valencia face a difficult run of fixtures, with Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Atlético in their next four games.
Nearby Villarreal are also struggling and coach Quique Setien is under pressure after four consecutive defeats. The Yellow Submarine are at home to Getafe on Monday.
The latest round of matches gets underway tonight, with Real Betis in action at bottom club Elche, still with just one win to their name in LaLiga all season.
(Images from IMAGO)
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