Barcelona and Real 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 section of Europe’s prime membership competitors, whereas Madrid gained by the identical scoreline away to a beforehand unbeaten Atalanta. That win stored the holders in competition for computerized qualification to the final 16, however Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted the match drained a whole lot of power from his injury-hit squad.
“It was a tricky match as a result of Atalanta demanded so much from us bodily,” mentioned Ancelotti, whose aspect path leaders Barcelona by two factors however have a sport in hand.
Vinicius Junior scored on his return from a hamstring damage in Italy on an evening Kylian Mbappe netted his fiftieth Champions League aim earlier than going off injured.
“We have 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 decreased squad and that does not enable us to rotate gamers as a lot. We have to hold in there in the intervening time.”
Madrid make the quick journey to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday understanding they’ll snatch prime spot from Barcelona, for twenty-four hours at the least, earlier than subsequent week’s Intercontinental Cup ultimate in Qatar.
But they could possibly be with out Mbappe because of the 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 sport.
“He could not dash, it damage him a bit and we thought it greatest to interchange him.”
Barcelona host a struggling Leganes on Sunday making an attempt 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 sport much less, and have gained 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 Real Betis meet in a conflict of groups whose outcomes have tailed off not too long ago.
Player to observe: Julian Alvarez
The Argentine is Atletico’s prime scorer with 12 objectives general since his August arrival from Manchester City.
The 24-year-old left England searching for a brand new problem after largely taking part in second fiddle to Erling Haaland regardless of his important position in his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
Alvaraz set Atletico on their option to a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava midweek with a terrific curling effort earlier than Antoine Griezmann’s double sealed the factors.
“He’s an incredible participant,” mentioned Griezmann, who himself is in a wealthy vein of kind with seven objectives in his final 5 outings. “It’s a pleasure and a supply of pleasure 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 online 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 occasions GMT)
Friday
Valladolid v Valencia (2000)
Saturday
Espanyol v Osasuna (1300), Mallorca v Girona (1515), Sevilla v Celta Vigo (1730), Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid (2000)
Sunday
Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1300), Alaves v Athletic Bilbao (1515), Villarreal v Real Betis, Real Sociedad v Las Palmas (each 1730), Barcelona v Leganes (2000)
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