Barcelona and Actual Madrid are trying over their shoulders in La Liga at in-form Atletico Madrid, cautious of a letdown after taxing wins away from dwelling within the Champions League this week.
A 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund ensured Barcelona will advance to the knockout part of Europe’s prime membership competitors, whereas Madrid received by the identical scoreline away to a beforehand unbeaten Atalanta.
That win saved the holders in rivalry for automated qualification to the final 16, however Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted the match drained quite a lot of vitality from his injury-hit squad.
“It was a troublesome match as a result of Atalanta demanded loads from us bodily,” mentioned Ancelotti, whose facet path leaders Barcelona by two factors however have a recreation in hand.
Vinicius Junior scored on his return from a hamstring damage in Italy on an evening Kylian Mbappe netted his fiftieth Champions League purpose earlier than going off injured.
“We have now to hold in there till Christmas,” added Ancelotti, who additionally welcomed again Rodrygo and is anticipating to have Eduardo Camavinga match once more quickly.
“The calendar may be very demanding, we have now a lowered squad and that does not enable us to rotate gamers as a lot. We have now to hold in there in the interim.”
Madrid make the brief journey to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday realizing they will snatch prime spot from Barcelona, for twenty-four hours no less than, earlier than subsequent week’s Intercontinental Cup closing in Qatar.
However they may very well be with out Mbappe as a result of hamstring drawback he suffered on Tuesday.
“Mbappe has some discomfort in his hamstrings. It would not appear critical however we’ll see,” Ancelotti mentioned after the Atalanta recreation.
“He could not dash, it damage him a bit and we thought it greatest to exchange him.”
Barcelona host a struggling Leganes on Sunday trying to arrest their home dip in kind, with a run of 1 win in 5 video games opening the door to their title rivals.
Atletico are three factors adrift of Barcelona having additionally performed a recreation much less, and have received 5 in a row in La Liga going into Sunday’s dwelling derby with Getafe.
Not far behind are Athletic Bilbao, whose 2-0 win at Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on Wednesday pushed them nearer to the Europa League final 16.
Athletic, unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions, are going for a fifth straight league win away to Alaves this weekend, whereas Villarreal and Actual Betis meet in a conflict of groups whose outcomes have tailed off lately.
Participant to look at: Julian Alvarez
The Argentine is Atletico’s prime scorer with 12 targets general since his August arrival from Manchester Metropolis.
The 24-year-old left England in search of a brand new problem after largely enjoying second fiddle to Erling Haaland regardless of his crucial position in his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
Alvaraz set Atletico on their strategy to a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava midweek with a terrific curling effort earlier than Antoine Griezmann’s double sealed the factors.
“He is an awesome participant,” mentioned Griezmann, who himself is in a wealthy vein of kind with seven targets in his final 5 outings. “It is a pleasure and a supply of delight to have him with us and to have the ability to assist him.”
Key stats
5 – after failing to attain till November 9, Jude Bellingham has now discovered the web in every of Madrid’s final 5 league video games
8 – months since Valencia’s final away league win, a 1-0 victory at Osasuna in April
10 – consecutive wins for Atletico in La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey
Fixtures (all instances GMT)
Friday
Valladolid v Valencia (2000)
Saturday
Espanyol v Osasuna (1300), Mallorca v Girona (1515), Sevilla v Celta Vigo (1730), Rayo Vallecano v Actual Madrid (2000)
Sunday
Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1300), Alaves v Athletic Bilbao (1515), Villarreal v Actual Betis, Actual Sociedad v Las Palmas (each 1730), Barcelona v Leganes (2000)
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