MADRID | Xinhua |
- On Wednesday night, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will play in La Liga. These games are crucial in determining who will go to the Champions League the next season.
- The Real Madrid team’s participation in the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia caused the postponement of both Wednesday’s games and Thursday night’s trip to Getafe. These events were originally scheduled for January.
- In a rematch of their Supercup semifinal, which Barcelona won 2-0 in Riyadh, Barcelona hosts Osasuna on Wednesday. However, the conditions of the game are significantly different.
- Following his team’s wild 5-3 loss to Villarreal at home, Xavi Hernandez revealed shockingly that he will resign as coach at the end of the campaign. The first game following the announcement will gauge the mood among the players and spectators.
- The players from Barcelona met at Robert Lewandowski’s house on Monday without the presence of the coaching staff, ostensibly to build team unity, but the game is undoubtedly scheduled during a difficult period.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid
MADRID | Xinhua |
A team that is presently fourth in La Liga and needs results to guarantee their spot in the Champions League for the following season will not benefit from the speculation that has already started about Xavi’s replacement.
Due to his extensive injury list, which includes injuries to Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Alejandro Balde, Raphinha, Gavi, Inigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso, and Sergi Roberto, Xavi will once more rely on youthful players Hector Font and Pau Cubarsi to assist cover for their absences.
With an intense schedule, Atletico Madrid will play Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday after their match at home against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
After the trip to the Bernabeu, Atletico will play Athletic Bilbao at home in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal before focusing on their Champions League last-16 matchup with Inter Milan.
In order to prevent exhaustion, Diego Simeone will need to carefully manage his team. He has already had one setback when Jose Gimenez sustained a hamstring injury, coinciding with the confirmation of Caglar Soyuncu’s loan to Fenerbahce.
Alvaro Morata, who did not sustain any muscle damage despite taking a blow to his thigh during Sunday’s victory over Valencia, and Antoine Griezmann may begin the match on the substitute bench on Wednesday.