ZCZC
BSP-05
FBL-ESP-LIGA,PREVIEW
Barcelona win shifts La Liga heat onto misfiring Madrid
MADRID, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Real Madrid could have been forgiven for
watching on with envy as Barcelona lifted the mood with a rousing win over
Tottenham on Wednesday.
Spain’s established pair have endured a turbulent fortnight, registering
just one win between them in six league games. While the Champions League
offered Barca some respite, Madrid’s dip only deepened.
A strong start saw some predicting the European champions might even
improve without Cristiano Ronaldo. After three opening wins, Madrid looked
more balanced and better suited to gleaning the best from Gareth Bale and
Karim Benzema.
But Benzema was chief among those that failed to deliver in the 1-0 loss to
CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, the sharpness of his early-season form gone, just
like his team’s. It was Madrid’s third game without a win, and without a goal
either.
“We have to keep pushing, keep creating the chances,” Real coach Julen
Lopetegui said. “We missed chances but also missed that little bit of luck
too.”
Bale was absent in Russia with a minor groin strain, which he could shake
off in time for Saturday’s trip to Alaves and they will be desperate to have
him back. However, Isco, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal, who all give attacking
impetus to varying degrees, are unlikely to return before the international
break.
Ronaldo’s name is never far from any conversation about Madrid’s offensive
edge and president Florentino Perez may be wondering if he should have pushed
harder for a marquee replacement. Eden Hazard’s electric performances in the
Premier League will not have gone unnoticed.
Mariano Diaz is an alternative to Benzema, the 25-year-old who the club re-
signed in the summer from Lyon and who enjoys the support of the fans, having
started in Madrid’s C team. He is more direct than Benzema but may offer less
to his team-mates.
“We have maximum confidence in Karim,” Lopetegui said.
– Messi on song –
In Spain, when Madrid or Barca do well, the other seems automatically to be
doing badly and Real’s defeat by CSKA was compounded by Barcelona’s victory
24 hours later at Wembley.
Lionel Messi is staying true to his word of an all-out assault on Europe
this season. He now has five goals from two games in this year’s competition.
“It was important after the recent results,” Messi said.
For his team, the task is now to carry the euphoria from London to the
Mestalla on Sunday. Valencia held Manchester United to a goalless draw in the
Champions League and are showing signs of life after beating Real Sociedad
last weekend. That was their first win in five games.
Barca coach Ernesto Valverde may decide to persist with the rotation that
seemed to disrupt so much of his side’s rhythm last week. Ousmane Dembele and
Arturo Vidal were both left out of the line-up that beat Spurs and could be
given a chance to reintegrate.
As much as the momentum appears to be back with Barca, the table shows them
level on points with Real. Another slip-up and the feel-good factor could
instantly be lost.
“Nothing has changed,” Valverde said. “When you have not won some games it
is difficult to react as the team has done. We have reacted.”
Sevilla sit third after three wins on the bounce, a run they will be hoping
to continue at home to Celta Vigo, who are without a win in four.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, fresh off the back of their own Champions
League win over Club Brugge, host Real Betis, in a battle of fourth against
fifth.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Friday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (1900)
Saturday
Girona v Eibar (1100), Getafe v Levante (1415), Alaves v Real Madrid
(1630), Leganes v Rayo Vallecano (1845)
Sunday
Real Valladolid v Huesca (1000), Atletico Madrid v Real Betis (1415),
Espanyol v Villarreal (1630), Sevilla v Celta Vigo (1630), Valencia v
Barcelona (1845)
BSS/AFP/MRI/0820 hrs