Barcelona looking to make it a perfect dozen against Malaga
The Catalans have won their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Barcelona made it 11 wins in a row as Messi scored a hat-trick in his 300th La Liga appearance. PHOTO: AFP
MADRID:
Barcelona can move to the top of La Liga for the first time since early November when they look to stretch their winning run to 12 games against Malaga on Saturday.
The Catalans have struck 42 goals in that hot streak to close to within a point of Real Madrid and to the brink of reaching the Copa del Rey final.
However, Luis Enrique’s men will be intent on not only taking top spot for at least 24 hours before Madrid travel to Elche on Sunday, but also ensuring they suffer no injury setbacks ahead of their return to Champions League action away to Manchester City on Tuesday.
“We know there is a lot of work ahead of us until the end of the season and it is a key moment for us. We need to be at a hundred per cent,” said Barca full-back Adriano.
Barca have no fresh injury worries with Andres Iniesta available once more after missing last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Levante due to a fever. However, Enrique is expected to make a raft of changes after handing a rest to the likes of Gerard Pique, Dani Alves and Luis Suarez last time out.
Atletico’s title challenge hanging by a thread
Champions Atletico Madrid suffered a huge blow to their hopes of retaining the title when they lost 2-0 at Celta Vigo just eight days after thrashing Real 4-0 to fall seven points behind the leaders.
Diego Simeone’s men also return to Champions League action in midweek, away to Bayer Leverkusen, and will be hopeful of a problem-free evening when they host struggling Almeria at the Vicente Calderon.
Spanish international Koke is still sidelined by a hamstring problem, but midfielders Arda Turan and Raul Garcia will be free to return after missing out through suspension last weekend.
Indeed, rather than challenging for the title, Atletico’s primary objective in the coming weeks may well be fighting off Valencia and Sevilla for the final
two Champions League places.
Valencia can move level on points with Atletico should they beat Cordoba on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2015.
Barcelona can move to the top of La Liga for the first time since early November when they look to stretch their winning run to 12 games against Malaga on Saturday.
The Catalans have struck 42 goals in that hot streak to close to within a point of Real Madrid and to the brink of reaching the Copa del Rey final.
However, Luis Enrique’s men will be intent on not only taking top spot for at least 24 hours before Madrid travel to Elche on Sunday, but also ensuring they suffer no injury setbacks ahead of their return to Champions League action away to Manchester City on Tuesday.
“We know there is a lot of work ahead of us until the end of the season and it is a key moment for us. We need to be at a hundred per cent,” said Barca full-back Adriano.
Barca have no fresh injury worries with Andres Iniesta available once more after missing last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Levante due to a fever. However, Enrique is expected to make a raft of changes after handing a rest to the likes of Gerard Pique, Dani Alves and Luis Suarez last time out.
Atletico’s title challenge hanging by a thread
Champions Atletico Madrid suffered a huge blow to their hopes of retaining the title when they lost 2-0 at Celta Vigo just eight days after thrashing Real 4-0 to fall seven points behind the leaders.
Diego Simeone’s men also return to Champions League action in midweek, away to Bayer Leverkusen, and will be hopeful of a problem-free evening when they host struggling Almeria at the Vicente Calderon.
Spanish international Koke is still sidelined by a hamstring problem, but midfielders Arda Turan and Raul Garcia will be free to return after missing out through suspension last weekend.
Indeed, rather than challenging for the title, Atletico’s primary objective in the coming weeks may well be fighting off Valencia and Sevilla for the final
two Champions League places.
Valencia can move level on points with Atletico should they beat Cordoba on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2015.