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Clasico leaves Real Madrid and Barca vulnerable to distractions
MADRID, Dec 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Barcelona and Real Madrid could be
playing to be first in La Liga over the Christmas break on Wednesday but both
are at risk of pre-Clasico defeats if their focus wavers this weekend.
There are few tougher fixtures in the league than Barca’s away at free-
flowing fourth-placed Real Sociedad on Saturday or Madrid’s trip on Sunday to
a revived Valencia, who have won three games on the bounce and beat Ajax in
Amsterdam to win their group in the Champions League.
Already qualified in Europe, Barcelona and Real Madrid had the luxury of
rotating key players in midweek but as the emphasis shifts towards their
crunch meeting at Camp Nou, the danger is that they underestimate the tasks
in front of them.
Both have hit their stride in recent weeks, pulling away from the chasing
pack while leaving behind early-season bumps that had placed the futures of
their coaches in doubt.
Barcelona have won 13 of their last 15 games and seven out of their last
seven, a run that has coincided with the return to form and fitness of Lionel
Messi, who has 14 goals and two hat-tricks in his last 11 matches.
Madrid, meanwhile, have won nine out of their last 12, If their own surge
has been slightly less consistent than Barca’s in terms of results, their
performances have been more convincing. In their last 10 games, they have
scored 28 goals and conceded only five.
In normal circumstances, both might therefore have been expected to come
away from Anoeta and Mestalla with victories but each have reason to be wary.
Off the pitch, the threat of political unrest around the Clasico lingers,
with Catalan independence demonstrations expected at Camp Nou both before and
during the game next week.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu called for calm on Thursday and
insisted the match would not be postponed again but, with families and
friends in the city and likely to attend the game, it would be understandable
if his players’ minds were not fully on football this weekend.
Valencia and Real Sociedad are hardly opponents to be taken lightly
either.
– Signs of resurgence –
Under Albert Celades, Valencia are showing signs of a resurgence, having
won six out of their last eight, the two slips owing to a last-minute goal
against Real Betis and a hatful of chances missed against Chelsea.
At Mestalla, they have lost only once in their last five meetings with
Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, have arguably been the most attractive team to
watch in the division this season, even if their strong start has faded in
recent weeks.
They will also attack Barcelona, who have repeatedly been proven
vulnerable against sides with pace and ambition on the break.
A slip for either of the top two could play into the hands of Sevilla, who
are at home to Villarreal on Sunday, or Atletico Madrid, who host Osasuna on
Saturday, fresh from their morale-boosting win over Lokomotiv Moscow in the
Champions League.
Getafe, in fifth, play the early game on Sunday at home to Real
Valladolid.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Alaves v Leganes (2000)
Saturday
Granada v Levante (1200), Real Sociedad v Barcelona (1500), Athletic
Bilbao v Eibar (1730), Atletico Madrid v Osasuna (2000)
Sunday
Getafe v Real Valladolid (1100), Celta Vigo v Mallorca (1300), Espanyol v
Real Betis (1500), Sevilla v Villarreal (1730), Valencia v Real Madrid (2000)
BSS/AFP/BZC/1350HRS