La Liga: Barcelona’s mettle to be tested at a boiling Calderon

Catalan giants travel to Atletico Madrid, who are looking to lay down an early title marker.

MADRID: Atletico Madrid have a great opportunity to show their La Liga title challenge is to be taken seriously this season when an under-strength Barcelona visit the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

Both sides took the maximum six points from their opening two league fixtures last month, but it is Atletico after a summer of heavy investment in the transfer market that have looked the more impressive.

Diego Simeone’s men won 3-0 at Sevilla last time out and are at full-strength as left-back Filipe Luis has recovered from the hamstring problem that kept him out the trip to the Sanchez Pizjuan.

“Although they have some players out, the Barca squad is practically the same as last year; they have plenty of options to choose from and they are favourites for every match,” said Luis. “We have the advantage of playing at home and I am sure it will be a great, hard and intense game.”



By contrast, Barcelona are likely to be without three first team regulars as Dani Alves and Claudio Bravo miss out through injury, whilst Gerard Pique is suspended unless a last minute appeal to Spain’s administrative court for sport is successful.

“It is always a difficult place to go, one of the most difficult of the season,” said the centre-back on Thursday. “The Calderon will roar them on and we have to be a hundred per cent focused. I am desperate to play and hopefully I will be able to.”

Should Pique miss out, Thomas Vermaelen is expected to deputise once more in defence after scoring his first goal for the club in a nervy 1-0 win at home to Malaga two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will make his La Liga debut in goal with Bravo set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a calf problem.

Real travel to Barcelona

Real Madrid already trail Atletico and Barca by two points, but face a much easier task on paper this weekend when they travel to face Barcelona’s city rivals Espanyol.

Rafael Benitez will have to do without both James Rodriguez and Danilo, though, after they returned back from international duty with a thigh tear and plantar fasciitis respectively.

Gareth Bale enjoyed a better time during his international commitments as he took Wales to the brink of their first major tournament in 58 years and he is expected to be handed a central role once more by Benitez after scoring twice last time out against Real Betis. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th,  2015.

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